With excitement for the 2020 season building, it's easy to forget about some of the nib Newcastle Knights from yesteryear.
That's why, newcastleknights.com.au have done some digging and tracked the movements of a bunch of Knights Old Boys, in order to check in on where their careers have taken them after they called time on their careers in red and blue.
Mark Sargent
The first Knight to pull on the green and gold, Sargent’s career post-football has been as dramatic as it was on the field.
The former Knights captain served on the NRL judiciary before becoming team manager for the Club in 2001.
Since leaving that position in 2005, Sargent has completed his PhD in public policy, and still lectures at the University of Newcastle.
Sargent has also gone on to currently hold the positions of Director of the Business Growth Centre and Principal of Aigis Group Business Research Consultancy.
Paul Harragon
You may know him from the nib ads, but ‘Chief’ has been up to more than just selling health insurance policies.
Harragon was famously made the face of Subway and spent an extended time as both a Channel Nine commentator and cast member on The Footy Show, as well as serving as Chairman of the Newcastle Knights until 2014.
More recently, Harragon featured on Channel Ten’s I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! in which he placed second. Harragon is also currently an ambassador for Redhead Wellness Sanctuary.
Tony Butterfield
A tireless warrior on the field, Butterfield has gone from strength to strength since hanging up the boots in 2000.
After completing a Business Degree at the University of Newcastle in 2004, Butterfield was instrumental in the creation of the Rugby League Players Association (RLPA), before holding various roles with both the NRL and the Knights, including a stint as Deputy Chair of the Club in 2009.
The man known as ‘Butts’ currently holds the role of National Business Manager at Mine Super and was recently awarded life membership with the RLPA. His son, Isaac, is a well-known comedian with over 223,000 fans on Facebook.
Andrew Johns
As a rugby league fan, it’s been near-impossible to miss Andrew Johns since his 2007 retirement.
Johns moved straight into a media role with Channel Nine as a commentator and analyst, which he continues to hold to this day.
Johns has also held various coaching roles at the Eels, Bulldogs, Sea Eagles and Roosters, as well as stints with the Wallabies and Melbourne Rebels Super Rugby franchise.
The man known as ‘Joey’ now juggles roles as an Assistant Coach for the NSW Origin side, Halves Coach at the Eels and as a commentator for Channel Nine.
Matthew Johns
The other half of the famous Johns brothers has also enjoyed a prosperous and successful career post-rugby league.
Johns was a regular panellist on The Footy Show, with his character of Reg Reagan becoming a cult hero amongst rugby league fans. He was also a commentator at Channel Nine until 2009 and enjoyed an eight-year stint as host of Triple M’s The Grill Team from 2011-2018.
Nowadays, Johns is the face of Fox League, hosting both The Late Show with Matty Johns and Sunday Night with Matty Johns.
