As the NSW Cup Knights charge into the grand final against the Wyong Roos, we take a look back on the team’s 2015 season.
While the season has seen its ups and downs, the team has hit its straps at the right time of the year and have closed in on a spot in the NSW Cup grand final for the second year in a row.
NSW Cup 2015 season summary
Round 1
The NSW Cup Knights failed to rise to the occasion in their season opening match at Hunter Stadium going down to the New Zealand Warriors 18-26.
Round 2
The Knights defeated the Newtown Jets 32-16 with two late Knights tries closing out the game at Kurri Kurri Sports Ground.
Round 3
In the highly anticipated local derby against the Wyong Roos, the Knights were on the wrong end of the 18-6 score line at Morry Breen Oval.
Round 4
The Knights’ home ground advantage at Hunter Stadium spurred the team to an 18-16 win over the 2014 premiers, the Penrith Panthers.
Round 5
The NSW Cup Newcastle Knights conjured a late second half comeback to secure a 34-26 win over the Illawarra Cutters in Corrimal.
Round 6
While the Newcastle Knights laid a solid platform to lead the match for 72 minutes against the Mounties, it was a perfect conversion rate that saw the opposition steal a 22-24 victory at Aubrey Keech Oval.
Round 7
It was a narrow but satisfying 25-22 win at Hunter Stadium against the Wentworthville Magpies with a Jaelen Feeney field goal stretching the Knights lead.
Round 8
The Knights came out 20-12 winners against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at Morry Breen Oval. Relocated due to bad weather, the loss of the home-ground advantage did not affect the Knights with the side scoring four tries to two in the eight-point win.
Round 9
While the NSW Cup Newcastle Knights battled uncertainty around it’s line-up right up until kick off, it played little bearing on the team, with the Knights securing a rewarding 26-22 win over the North Sydney Bears in Newcastle.
Round 10
The Wests Tigers defeated the Knights 20-18 at Hunter Stadium despite showing plenty of character throughout and an impressive Honeti Tuha hat trick.
Round 11
BYE
Round 12
The New Zealand Warriors were too strong for the Knights winning 28-22 at Mount Smart Stadium. The Knights were in grasp of the lead in the second half but weren’t able to overtake a solid lead build by the opposition in the first half.
Round 13
The Knights defeated the Mounties 34-22 at Hunter Stadium. After the Canberra Raiders feeder club came from behind late to beat the Knights 24-22 in Round 5, the men in red and blue were clearly intent on getting a win this time around.
Round 14
The Panthers defeated the Knights 30-24 at Pepper Stadium with Knights’ young middlemen Joseph Tapine and Fitzgibbon contributing to the score line.
Round 15
The Tigers came out 36-16 winners at Campbelltown Stadium. Wests Tigers scored 24 unanswered second-half points to overcome a 16-12 halftime deficit against the Knights.
Round 16
The Knights were overcome by the Wentworthville Magpies 16-12 at Ringrose Park with winger Honeti Tuha emerging the standout point scorer for Newcastle.
Round 17
The NSW Cup Newcastle Knights enjoyed a dominating win over the Manly Sea Eagles with a second half storming for the home side resulting in a 48-14 victory.
Round 18
BYE
Round 19
The Knights lost out to the Wyong Roos 28-26 in a passionate and entertaining match at Newcastle’s No. 2 Sports Ground.
Round 20
It was a spectacularly tight match against the Bulldogs at Belmore Sportsground with the Knights clawing their way back from the opposition’s first half lead to win 35-34 after Carlos Tuimavave nailed a last minute field goal.
Round 21
BYE
Round 22
The Knights defeated the Cutters 32-16 in a three game fixture at Hunter Stadium. The red and blues were dominant throughout the 80 minutes, Damian Sironen in particular shining in the middle with plenty of offloads and strong runs.
Round 23
The Knights were trounced 52-20 by the North Sydney Bears at the opposition’s home ground, North Sydney Oval.
Round 24
The NSW Cup Newcastle Knights surged back in the second half to defeat the Newtown Jets 40-26 at Remondis Stadium.
Round 25
The Knights went down to the Manly Sea Eagles at Brookvale Oval despite the try scoring efforts of flashy outside backs Kerrod Holland and Chanel Mata’utia who both scored doubles.
Finals Week 1
The NSW Cup Newcastle Knights defeated the Manly Sea Eagles 45-6 in a dominant display at Belmore Sports Ground in the first round of the finals. In what was a re-match after the side's previous week’s loss to Manly, the Knights fought for redemption to will now progress to the second week of the finals.
Finals Week 2
The NSW Cup Newcastle Knights beat the Penrith Panthers 44-12 at Jubilee Oval on to progress to a preliminary final. While both sides struggled for momentum in the first half, the Knights blew away the reigning NSW Cup premiers in the second half with six unanswered tries including a Jake Mamo hat trick.
Finals Week 3
The Newcastle Knights beat minor premiers the Mounties 30-26 at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday afternoon to progress to the NSW Cup Grand Final. In what was a bruising encounter the Knights did themselves proud, hanging on against a fast-finishing Mounties side that almost stole the result in the closing minutes.
GRAND FINAL: NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS v WYONG ROOS
The NSW Cup Knights take on the Wyong Roos at Pirtek Stadium on Sunday, September 27.
Gates open at 11.20am with the NSW Cup grand final kicking off at 4.15pm following the Sydney Shield and Ron Massey Cup.
Adult tickets are just $10, with kids under 12 free. CLICK HERE to purchase tickets now.
Sid Fogg's has planned a NSW Cup grand final bus to Pirtek Stadium which will cost $40 return. A minimum of 25 people are required for the trip to proceed. Call 49281088 for more details or to book your spot.
