The nib Newcastle Knights are blessed with options for 2021.
In the lead-up to the new season, newcastleknights.com.au will look over the depth of the squad and break down the positional options at the disposal of the coaching staff.
Today we take a look at the backline possibilities.
With a pair of British guns now in the squad along with a raft of established first graders, Adam O'Brien will be more than happy with his options for 2021.
Note: These depth charts are the opinion of newcastleknights.com.au and have no input from the coaching staff.
Edrick Lee
What a signing he has turned out to be.
Since signing with the Knights, Edrick Lee has become a Queensland Origin player, scoring a try in Queensland's shock 20-14 win in the 2020 Decider.
Lee has crossed for 12 tries in his 25 Knights appearances, making him one of the first players picked on the team sheet.
Barring injury, Lee will almost certainly start on the left wing for the Knights.
Hymel Hunt
What a pleasant surprise Hymel Hunt's been for the Knights over the last two seasons.
Hunt joined from South Sydney at the start of 2019 and has missed just one game, the Round 18 loss to the Roosters this year when the winger was rested by Adam O'Brien.
He’s a strong outside back with exciting speed and could hold his place on the right wing come Round One.
Bradman Best
A powerhouse, tear-away and all-round beast, Bradman Best has been a revelation on the left edge this year.
While injury interrupted his breakout 2020 season, Best still managed to chalk up eight tries and four try assists in his 11 games.
Barring injury, Best will have a stranglehold on the left centre position come the start of the season.
Enari Tuala
Tuala joined the Knights last pre-season from the Cowboys, and made an instant impact at the Club.
He finished the year as the Club's top try-scorer, crossing the stripe 11 times in a season where he missed just one game.
A natural centre who's equally at home on the wing, Tuala will be looking to impress early and once-again cement his place at right centre this year.
Gehamat Shibasaki
The 22-year-old enjoyed a solid first season in red and blue after arriving from Brisbane last year.
A defensive centre, Shibasaki is a former Queensland under 20s and Junior Kangaroos representative.
He made 11 appearances for the Knights last season, taking his total first grade games to 24.
He can play centre or wing.
Starford To'a
Having played just eight games in the NRL, Starford To’a has already announced himself as a special talent in the top flight.
With an intimidating presence and speed to burn, the 20-year-old livewire is a threat to any opposition he faces across any grade, best showed with the scorching 60 metre try he scored on debut against Penrith.
To'a has played all of his games in the NRL as a winger, however he came through the lower grades as fullback/centre.
He is currently training the house down in a bid to force his way into the Round 1 team.
Dominic Young
The first of the British teenagers to sign over the course of the year, Young arrived at Knights HQ in December after a two-week stint in hotel quarantine.
A towering centre with electric pace, the 18-year-old from Huddersfield will be looking to break into the Knights squad and make his NRL debut.
Bailey Hodgson
The nephew of Canberra hooker Josh, Bailey Hodgson arrived in Newcastle recently with huge wraps on him from former Club Castleford.
After all, he did debut in the Super League just ten days after his 18th birthday.
At home at fullback and in the centres, Hodgson will bring a mix of strike, balance and game awareness skills to the Knights squad.
Jacob Kiraz
A development player who already has a Test Cap with Lebanon to his name, Kiraz is a talented centre who has plenty of room for potential.
He arrived from the Cowboys this pre-season and will be pushing for a spot in the outside backs.
