The best ever nib Newcastle Knights XIII, as voted by YOU

Author: Newcastle Knights
Timestamp: Fri 17 Apr 2020, 11:02 AM

We've been building up to this for a few weeks, and now it's finally here.

We've seen your lists and predictions across social media, so we decided to finally settle the debate once and for all.

All thanks to nib, we can now reveal the best Newcastle Knights team of all time, as voted by you, the fans.

If you want to check out all the individual polls and articles, you can view them via the links below.

Note: No current Knights players were considered.

Fullback

Robbie O'Davis

Knights Appearances: 223

Years: 1992-04

One of the most electrifying fullbacks to play in the red and blue, Robbie ‘O’Save-us’, as some fans coined him, had a stellar career.

Not only is he one of the few men who played in both Premiership winning teams in 1997 and 2001, but he also was awarded the Clive Churchill Medal in the former, played 12 games for Queensland and eight for his country.

His ability to create something out of nothing and all-round tenacity, plus his 78 tries (including a double in the '97 GF), made him a fan favourite over the years, and it's no wonder he took this position out with 68% of the vote.

View the poll here.

Wingers

Adam MacDougall

Knights Appearances: 158

Years: 1997-03, 2007-11

Another man who featured in both Grand Final victories, ‘Mad-Dog’ MacDougall was a force out-wide, whether that was on the wing or in the centres.

Scoring 87 tries in his two stints ime in red and blue, sitting him in third on the all-time list, he also did the Club proud whilst playing representative footy playing 11 games for both New South Wales and Australia.

He took out first place by just a couple of votes from his partner on the opposite flank.

Akuila Uate

Knights Appearances: 161

Years: 2008-16

The all-time try-scorer for the Knights, Uate was an unknown Fijian-born winger, who became a superstar in his time at the Club.

With a unique blend of skill, speed and pure strength, Akuila the Thriller 110 tries helped him become a three-time Dally M Winger of the Year (2010-12), RLPA Player of the Year (2011) and a representative of New South Wales, Australia and Fiji.

With 27% of the vote, Uate fell just short of taking out first place.

View the poll here.

Centres

Matt Gidley

Knights Appearances: 221

Years: 1996-06

This one was a landslide, with 76% of the vote going to the cunning right centre.

The eldest Gidley brother, Matt is one of the few men to have played in both premiership-winning seasons and accordingly, has become a much-loved Old Boy from the past.

The crafty centre loved a flick pass to his winger, so much so that the 'Gidley flick' is still used as a term for the manoeuvre. Gidley assisted far more than his own 68 tries and not only played 220 games for the Club, but 17 for Australia and 11 for New South Wales.

Mark Hughes

Knights Appearances: 161

Years: 1997-05

This one was tough, with Hughes tied with Dane Gagai on 7% of the vote.

However, with 40 more appearances and two premierships to his name, it's hard to go past the legacy of the Kurri Kurri junior.

Mark Hughes was a warrior for the Knights, whether he was playing on the wing, or in the centres where spent the majority of his career.

Hughes scored 66 tries and represented New South Wales on three occasions in 2001, where his versatility saw him play at fullback, before injuries hampered in career late-on.

View the poll here.

Five-Eighth

Matthew Johns

Knights Appearances: 176

Years: 1992-00

He’s one of the most beloved players in Knights history and although he doesn’t have the Immortality tag like his younger brother, Matthew Johns’ contribution has been instrumental to the Club’s success.

Johns’ footy intelligence and toughness in the halves made him a star and was pivotal in securing the side’s first premiership in 1997 while also earned him eight appearances for Australia and four for New South Wales.

He was the clear winner in this poll, taking out 64% of the vote.

View the poll here.

Halfback

Andrew Johns

Knights Appearances: 249

Years: 1993-07

Shall we start with the obvious?

The Eighth Immortal and arguably the greatest of all time, Andrew ‘Joey’ Johns did it all in his time at the Knights winning three Dally M Player of the Year awards (1998, 99, 2002), two Golden Boots (1999, 2001) and two Premierships along with the Clive Churchill Medal in 2001.

His skill had no equal in the game and even though unlucky injuries meant the back-end of his career hit a few speed bumps, he provided many Knights fans memories of a lifetime.

Johns, somewhat expectedly, took 90% of the vote. Honourable mentions must go out to Leo Dynevor (5%) and Scott Dureau (2%).

View the poll here.

Prop Forwards

Paul Harragon

Knights Appearances: 169

Years: 1988-99

The one and only ‘Chief’.

Paul Harragon joined his local Knights upon their establishment as a young 20-year-old and created a legacy as an enforcer and courageous leader of the Club.

He won the 1996 Dally M Prop of the Year award, before holding up the ARL Premiership trophy proudly above his head in 1997 – the same thing he did with the State of Origin shield.

Harragon took an incredible 81% of the vote, 73% ahead of his partner up front.

Tony Butterfield

Knights Appearances: 229

Years: 1988-00

Newcastle Knight No.2 – Tony Butterfield was one of the few men who was there at the start back in 1988 and was also there for our first premiership win in 1997.

The big front rower sits in fourth on the all-time list for appearances for the Club and even spent 46 games as captain towards the back-end of his career around the same time as he represented New South Wales for the first time.

While his 8% of the vote was small in comparison to the Chief, he still received twice as many votes as the next closest competitor.

View the poll here.

Hooker

Danny Buderus

Knights Appearances: 257

Years: 1997-08, 2012-13

What didn’t Bedsy do in his fantastic Knights career?

He won a Premiership, a Dally M Player of the Year award, three Dally M Hooker of the Year awards, played for Australia 24 times and New South Wales 21 times, and was captain of the Club on 67 occasions.

Buderus is not only considered one of the best the Knights have ever seen, but one of the best hookers the competition has come across. It's no wonder he picked up 92% of the vote.

View the poll here.

Second Rowers

Ben Kennedy

Knights Appearances: 86

Years: 2000-04

We’ll start with arguably one of the best recruits the Club have made in Ben Kennedy who thrived as both the team’s damaging enforcer, and a ball-running back rower who often found the try-line.

He was one of the best on ground in the 2001 Grand Final win and almost played 10 games for New South Wales, and other nine for Australia whilst he was at the Knights.

Picking up 48% of the vote, Kennedy was the comfortable winner ahead of the next name on this list. Andrew Johns recently claimed Kennedy was the key player that allowed the 2001 team to rise above the 1997 premiers in terms of quality.

Steve Simpson

Knights Appearances: 216

Years: 1999-10

Steve Simpson sits at No.7 on the all-time Knights appearances chart and with good reason considering his outstanding level of consistency he showed in red and blue.

A strong and sturdy defender with a great ability to hit gaps in the opposition’s line, Simpson won it all – a Premiership in 2001, three State of Origin winning series from his 13 games and seven games for Australia.

He was comfortably ahead of the rest of the pack in the second rowers poll.

View the poll here.

Lock

Bill Peden

Knights Appearances: 190

Years: 1994-02

A Club legend who gave so much every time he walked out onto the field, Bill Peden was renowned for his excellent defensive work that often went unnoticed.

The hooker-turned-lock played in both winning Grand Finals, including scoring a double in 2001, making him one of the more revered players in Knights history and featured consistently year in, year out over the course of his nine-year career.

Peden picked up 62% of the vote, sitting comfortably in first place.

View the poll here.

Honourable Mentions/Interchange

Kurt Gidley

Knights Appearances: 252

Years: 2001-15

As one of the greatest ever Knights, it's perhaps cruel Gidley didn't secure a spot in the starting 13.

He is the most captained Knight in history (123 games) and is now widely regarded as one of the best utilities the game has seen.

In addition to his 250-plus games for Newcastle, he captained New South Wales, and represented Australia on 12 occasions.

Gidley also sits in equal-fourth on the all-time tryscoring list for the Club, and came second to Robbie O'Davis in the fullback poll.

Marc Glanville

Knights Appearances: 188

Years: 1988-97

Marc Glanville was a member of the inaugural Knights back in 1988 and became a stalwart of the Club all the way up to the 1997 Premiership victory to end his Knights career on a high.

He didn't win the lock position, but still picked up an impressive 27% of the vote.

Adam Muir

Knights Appearances: 99

Years: 1992-97

A Lakes United junior, Adam Muir was a mobile ball-runner who played an inspiring role in the 1997 Grand Final victory, as well as representing his state and country.

He managed to pick up 6% of the vote amidst a crowded field of second rowers, coming in at third place.

Mark Sargent

Knights Appearances: 126

Years: 1989-95

Mark Sargent was the first Australian representative of the Club and the only Knight to have won the Rothmans Medal, best and fairest award, back in 1989.

The hardy prop captained the side on 26 occasions and represented Australia five times, while also playing for New South Wales. He came third to Butterfield and Harragon in the front row, however still performed well in a tight contest.