Newcastle Knights 2007
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This article is about the 2007 season of the Newcastle Knights.
2007 was a year of turmoil for the club both on and off the field. After making a promising start to the season with victories over contenders such as the Canterbury Bulldogs - the club and rugby league world was rocked by the shock retirement of Andrew Johns. The departure of their captain and most influential player had an obvious effect on the team, and although they managed to stay in touch with the top eight until the last third of the season, their season was irreperably damaged by his absence. In addition to this - the Knights endured the worst injury toll in the 2007 season - fielding thirty seven players in first grade by season's end.
The club also struggled off-field, with Brian Smith's decision to release loyal clubmen such as Clint Newton, Kirk Reynoldson, and Josh Perry meeting with displeasure from the Sydney media and some sections of the Newcastle support base. Newton's defection to Melbourne and Reynoldson's threats of legal action over the club refusing to play him in the fifteen games required to trigger his fourth contract year saw the club's reputation dragged through the mud. The Daily Telegraph campaigned strongly for the sacking of Smith whilst Bluetongue owner John Singleton also threatened legal action after the releases lead to a multi-million dollar advertising campaign being cancelled. To cap it all off, Andrew Johns again made the press late in the season after being arrested for ecstacy possession in the United Kingdom and confessing to having been a drug addict for the entirety of his playing career.
Despite these pressures, the Knights managed to avoid a second wooden spoon in three years - offloading the dreaded piece of 'silverware' to the Penrith Panthers with a last round victory over the Wests Tigers.
Contents |
[edit] 2007 Season Ladder
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | B | PF | PA | PD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Melbourne |
24 | 21 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 627 | 277 | +350 | 44 |
| 2 |  Manly-Warringah |
24 | 18 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 597 | 377 | +220 | 38 |
| 3 |  North Queensland |
24 | 15 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 547 | 618 | -71 | 32 |
| 4 |  Warriors |
24 | 13 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 593 | 434 | +159 | 29 |
| 5 |  Parramatta |
24 | 13 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 573 | 481 | +92 | 28 |
| 6 |  Bulldogs |
24 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 575 | 528 | +47 | 26 |
| 7 |  South Sydney |
24 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 408 | 399 | +9 | 26 |
| 8 |  Brisbane |
24 | 11 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 511 | 476 | +35 | 24 |
| 9 |  Wests Tigers |
24 | 11 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 541 | 561 | -20 | 24 |
| 10 |  Sydney |
24 | 10 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 445 | 610 | -165 | 23 |
| 11 |  Cronulla-Sutherland |
24 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 463 | 403 | +60 | 22 |
| 12 |  Gold Coast |
24 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 409 | 559 | -150 | 22 |
| 13 |  St George Illawarra |
24 | 9 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 431 | 509 | -78 | 20 |
| 14 |  Canberra |
24 | 9 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 522 | 650 | -128 | 20 |
| 15 |  Newcastle |
24 | 9 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 418 | 708 | -290 | 20 |
| 16 |  Penrith |
24 | 8 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 539 | 607 | -68 | 18 |
[edit] 2007 Results
| Season 2007 - Draw and Results | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round | Date & Time | Knights vs | Venue | Result | Scorers | Crowd | ||||
| 1 | Sun, 18th March 2pm |
Bulldogs | Energy Australia Stadium | Win | Knights(25): Terrence Seu Seu, Josh Perry, Todd Polglase, James McManus tries; Kurt Gidley (4/5) goals; Kurt Gidley field goal. Bulldogs(24): Andrew Ryan, Luke Patten, Reni Maitua, Trent Cutler tries; Hazem El Masri (4/4) goals. |
18,791 | ||||
| 2 | Fri, 23rd March 7:30pm |
Dragons | Oki Jubilee Stadium | Win | Dragons(12): Chase Stanley, Keith Lulia tries; Wes Naiqama (2/3) goals Knights(16): Clint Newton, James McManus, Brad Tighe, George Carmont tries; Kurt Gidley (0/3), Daniel Abraham (0/1) goals |
12,326 | ||||
| 3 | Mon, 2nd April 7pm |
Raiders | Canberra Stadium | Loss | Canberra(48): William Zillman(3), Marshall Chalk, Lincoln Withers, Scott Logan, Colin Best, Phil Graham tries; Michael Dobson (8/10) goals. Knights(18): Adam MacDougall, Milton Thaiday, Cory Paterson tries; Andrew Johns (3/3) goals. |
13,109 | ||||
| 4 | Sat, 7th April 5:30pm |
Storm | Energy Australia Stadium | Loss | Knights(12): Steve Simpson, Daniel Abraham tries, Kurt Gidley (2/2) goals. Storm(22): Israel Folau(2), Matt King, Anthony Quinn tries, Cameron Smith (3/4) goals. |
20,051 | ||||
| 5 | Sun, 15th April 2pm |
Rabbitohs | Bluetongue Stadium | Win | Rabbitohs(22): David Faalogo, Dean Widders, Nigel Vagana, John Sutton tries, Joe Williams (3/4) goals. Knights(23): Kurt Gidley(2), James McManus, Brad Tighe tries, Kurt Gidley (3/4) goals, Kurt Gidley field goal. |
18,321 | ||||
| 6 | Sun, 22nd April 7pm |
Broncos | Energy Australia Stadium | Loss | Knights(16): Todd Polglase(2), Adam MacDougall tries, Kurt Gidley (2/3) goals. Broncos(20): Darren Lockyer (1/1), Michael Ennis (1/3) goals. |
25,524 | ||||
| 7 | Mon, 30th April 7pm |
Sharks | Energy Australia Stadium | Win | Knights(20): Kirk Reynoldson(2), Kurt Gidley tries, Kurt Gidley (4/4) goals. Sharks(16): David Simmons(2), Ben Pomeroy tries, Luke Covell (2/3) goals. |
15,453 | ||||
| 8 | Sun, 6th May 3pm |
Bulldogs | Telstra Stadium | Loss | Bulldogs(30): Luke Patten(2), Reni Maitua, Matthew Utai, Hazem El Masri tries, Hazem El Masri (5/5) goals. Knights(16): Cory Paterson, Danny Buderus, James McManus tries, Kurt Gidley (2/3) goals. |
12,654 | ||||
| 9 | Sat, 12th May 5:30pm |
Warriors | Energy Australia Stadium | Win | Knights(24): Kurt Gidley(2), Steve Simpson, Adam MacDougall tries, Kurt Gidley (4/4) goals. Warriors(18): Ruben Wiki, Nathan Fien, Jerome Ropati tries, Lance Hohaia (3/3) goals. |
15,107 | ||||
| 10 | BYE | - | - | - | - | |||||
| 11 | Sun, 27th May 2pm |
Broncos | Suncorp Stadium | Loss | Broncos(71): Tonie Carroll(2), Brent Tate(2), Justin Hodges(2), Joel Moon, Greg Eastwood, Ben Hannant, Petero Civoniceva, Darius Boyd, Karmichael Hunt tries, Corey Parker (4/5), Michael Ennis (4/4), Darren Lockyer (3/3), Darren Lockyer field goal. Knights(6): Jarrod Mullen try, Cory Paterson (1/1) goal. |
27,433 | ||||
| 12 | Sat, 2nd June 5:30pm |
Roosters | Bluetongue Stadium | Win | Roosters(18): Mitchell Pierce, Braith Anasta, Anthony Minichiello tries, Craig Fitzgibbon (3/4) goals. Knights(22): Brad Tighe, James McManus, Nathan Hinton, Cory Paterson tries, Cory Paterson (3/4) goals. |
11,263 | ||||
| 13 | Sun, 10th June 3pm |
Tigers | Energy Australia Stadium | Loss | Knights(14): Brad Tighe(2), Cory Paterson tries, Cory Paterson (1/3). Tigers(33): Liam Fulton, Chris Heighington, Taniela Tuiaki, Dean Collis, Robbie Farah tries, Dean Collis (6/6) goals, Robbie Farah field goal. |
13,609 | ||||
| 14 | Mon, 18th Jun 7pm |
Raiders | Energy Australia Stadium | Win | Knights(22): Adam MacDougall(2), Chris Bailey, Brad Tighe tries, Kurt Gidley (3/5) goals. Raiders(18): Brad Cross, Lincoln Withers, Colin Best tries, Michael Dobson (3/3) goals. |
11,349 | ||||
| 15 | Sat, 23rd June 7:30pm |
Titans | Carrara Stadium | Loss | Titans(28): Matthew Peterson(3), Brett Delaney, Mat Rogers tries, Mat Rogers (4/5) goals. Knights(22): Daniel Tolar, Luke Walsh, Adam MacDougall, James McManus tries, Kurt Gidley (3/4) goals. |
15,306 | ||||
| 16 | Fri, 29th June 7:30pm |
Rabbitohs | Energy Australia Stadium | Loss | Knights(25): Adam MacDougall, George Carmont, Cooper Vuna, Cory Paterson, James McManus tries, Cory Paterson (2/5) goals, Luke Walsh field goal. Rabbitohs(28): Roy Asotasi(2), Nigel Vagana, Jeremy Smith, Ben Rogers tries, Reece Simmonds (2/2), Isaac Luke (2/3) goals. |
16,320 | ||||
| 17 | Mon, 9th July 7pm |
Eels | Parramatta Stadium | Win | Eels(10): Krisnan Inu, Feleti Mateo tries, Krisnan Inu (1/1), Mark Riddell (0/1) goals. Knights(34): George Carmont(2), Steve Simpson, Mitchell Sargent, Adam MacDougall, James McManus tries, Kurt Gidley (5/7) goals. |
10,363 | ||||
| 18 | Mon, 16th July 7pm |
Storm | Olympic Park | Loss | Storm(44): Steve Turner(2), Anthony Quinn(2), Billy Slater(2), Ryan Hoffman, Matt King, Clint Newton tries, Cameron Smith (3/6), Steve Turner (1/3) goals. Knights(0) |
10,223 | ||||
| 19 | Sat, 21st July 7:30pm |
Roosters | Energy Australia Stadium | Loss | Knights(17): Cooper Vuna(2), Adam MacDougall tries, Kurt Gidley (2/3) goals, Luke Walsh field goal. Roosters(20): David Shillington, Joel Monaghan, Lopini Paea, Mitchell Aubusson tries, Craig Fitzgibbon (2/4) goals. |
15,171 | ||||
| 20 | Sat, 28th July 7:30pm |
Warriors | Mt Smart Stadium | Loss | Warriors(52): Wade McKinnon(2), Grant Rovelli(2), Jerome Ropati(2), Steve Price, Wairangi Koopu, Manu Vatuvei tries, Michael Witt (8/9) goals. Knights(10): James McManus, Kirk Reynoldson tries, Kurt Gidley (1/2) goals. |
11,301 | ||||
| 21 | Fri, 3rd August 7:30pm |
Dragons | Energy Australia Stadium | Loss | Knights(4): Kurt Gidley try, Kurt Gidley (0/1) goal. Dragons(20): Jamie Soward(2), Dan Hunt, Chase Stanley tries, Jamie Soward (2/4) goals. |
12,573 | ||||
| 22 | Fri, 10th August 7:30pm |
Sea Eagles | Bluetongue Stadium | Loss | Sea Eagles(50): Brett Stewart(2), Jamie Lyon(2), Jack Afamasaga, Glenn Stewart, Steve Menzies, Matt Orford, Adam Cuthbertson tries, Matt Orford (2/4), Jamie Lyon (4/4), Steve Menzies (1/1) goals. Knights(16): Brad Tighe, Steve Simpson, James McManus tries, Scott Dureau (2/3) goals. |
17,122 | ||||
| 23 | Sun, 19th August 3pm |
Panthers | Energy Australia Stadium | Loss | Penrith(46): Frank Pritchard(3), Michael Jennings(3), Michael Gordon tries, Michael Gordon (9/9) goals. Knights(12): 2 tries, Kurt Gidley (2/2) goals. |
14,351 | ||||
| 24 | Fri, 24th August 7:30pm |
Cowboys | Energy Australia Stadium | Loss | Cowboys(34): Ashley Graham(2), Johnathan Thurston, Matthew Bowen, Ty Williams, Neil Sweeney tries, Thurston (5/6) goals. Knights(18): Cooper Vuna, Chris Bailey, Cory Paterson tries, Kurt Gidley (3/3) goals. |
12,264 | ||||
| 25 | Fri, 31st August 7:30pm |
Tigers | Energy Australia Stadium | Win | Tigers(24): Benji Marshall(2), Chris Lawrence, John Morris tries, Marshall (4/5) goals. Knights(26): Cooper Vuna(2), Cory Paterson, Kurt Gidley tries, Kurt Gidley (5/5) goals. |
13,446 | ||||
[edit] 2007 Season Players
| Newcastle Knights 2007 Fulltime Squad | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Position | DOB (Age) | Height | Weight | Previous Club | |||||
| Daniel Abraham |  |
Lock/Utility | 11/03/1981 (26) | 188cm | 106kg | Macquarie United | ||||
| Chris Bailey | |
Lock/Utility | 05/07/1982 (24) | 186cm | 94kg | Inverell Hawks | ||||
| Riley Brown | |
Utility | 15/10/1984 (22) | 181cm | 92kg | Singleton | ||||
| Danny Buderus | |
Hooker | 06/02/1978 (29) | 178cm | 91kg | Taree | ||||
| George Carmont |  |
Centre/Wing | 30/06/1978 (28) | 180cm | 91kg | Otahuhu | ||||
| Scott Dureau | |
Five Eighth/Halfback | 29/07/1986 (20) | 174cm | 83kg | Port Macquarie | ||||
| Paul Franze | |
Centre | 03/05/1982 (25) | 185cm | 97kg | Castleford Tigers | ||||
| Kurt Gidley | |
Fullback/Utility | 07/06/1982 (24) | 182cm | 87kg | Western Suburbs (Newcastle) | ||||
| Nathan Hinton | |
Fullback | 13/10/1985 (21) | 178cm | 84kg | Western Suburbs (Newcastle) | ||||
| Marvin Karawana | |
Five Eighth | 30/07/1986 (20) | 180cm | 94kg | Canterbury Bulldogs | ||||
| Adam MacDougall | |
Centre | 08/05/1975 (31) | 183cm | 95kg | South Sydney Rabbitohs | ||||
| Luke MacDougall | |
Wing/Centre | 05/02/1983 (24) | 183cm | 95kg | St George Illawarra Dragons | ||||
| James McManus |  |
Wing/Centre | 15/01/1986 (21) | 185cm | 89kg | - | ||||
| Jarrod Mullen | |
Five Eighth/Halfback | 09/04/1987 (20) | 179cm | 86kg | Western Suburbs (Newcastle) | ||||
| Cory Paterson | |
Second Row | 14/07/1987 (19) | 194cm | 105kg | - | ||||
| Josh Perry | |
Prop | 04/02/1981 (26) | 187cm | 119kg | Valentine-Eleebana | ||||
| Todd Polglase | |
Fullback/Wing/Centre | 21/03/1981 (26) | 178cm | 85kg | South Sydney Rabbitohs | ||||
| Kirk Reynoldson | |
Second Row/Lock | 11/03/1979 (28) | 186cm | 102kg | Melbourne Storm | ||||
| Jesse Royal | |
Prop/Second Row | 20/05/1980 (26) | 190cm | 107kg | Penrith Panthers | ||||
| Mitchell Sargent | |
Prop | 02/07/1979 (27) | 187cm | 107kg | North Queensland Cowboys | ||||
| David Seage | |
Fullback | 29/11/1979 (27) | 183cm | 90kg | - | ||||
| Terrence Seu Seu | |
Hooker | 20/11/1987 (19) | 180cm | 89kg | - | ||||
| Steve Simpson | |
Second Row | 27/09/1979 (27) | 187cm | 104kg | Singleton | ||||
| Kade Snowden | |
Prop/Second Row | 31/12/1986 (20) | 188cm | 113kg | - | ||||
| Zeb Taia |  |
Second Row | 11/10/1984 (22) | 186cm | 104kg | Parramatta Eels | ||||
| Reegan Tanner | |
Second Row/Lock | 27/09/1982 (24) | 183cm | 99kg | Kurri Kurri | ||||
| Mark Taufua | |
Prop/Second Row | 24/10/81 (25) | 188cm | 103kg | Waratahs (Newcastle) | ||||
| Milton Thaiday | |
Fullback | 15/02/1980 (27) | 175cm | 83kg | - | ||||
| Brad Tighe | |
Centre/Wing | 05/04/1984 (23) | 183cm | 89kg | West Tamworth | ||||
| Daniel Tolar | |
Prop | 04/11/1982 (25) | 188cm | 100kg | Central Charlestown | ||||
| Willie Tupou | |
Second Row | 26/10/1985 (21) | 191cm | 105kg | St George Illawarra Dragons | ||||
| Akuila Uate |  |
Wing | 06/10/1987 (19) | 185cm | 94kg | - | ||||
| Cooper Vuna | |
Wing | 05/07/1987 (19) | 182cm | 97kg | New Zealand Warriors | ||||
| Luke Walsh | |
Halfback | 12/05/1987 (19) | - | - | - | ||||
| Matthew White | |
Prop | 17/05/1984 (22) | 190cm | 110kg | - | ||||
| Adam Woolnough | |
Prop | 24/05/1982 (24) | 187cm | 109kg | Wingham Tigers | ||||
| Michael Young | |
Lock/Utility | 11/02/1984 (23) | 181cm | 90kg | - | ||||
