2021's home games you can't miss

The countdown is officially on.

With 106 days until our season gets underway, appropriately at our beloved home ground of McDonald Jones Stadium.

All of us here at newcastleknights.com.au have our fingers and toes crossed that we will once again be allowed to fill our beautiful stadium on Turton Road, after COVID-19 prevented us from doing so this year.

While we obviously consider all of our home games as being essential viewing, we've picked out the five home games that will be absolutely unmissable in 2021.

View the full 2021 Draw here!

Round 1 v Bulldogs - Friday, March 12, 6pm

As opening round clashes go, this one will be absolutely massive.

The nib Newcastle Knights will host the resurgent Bulldogs, who will likely field a much different side to the one which took the field (or should we say lake) at McDonald Jones Stadium in 2020.

We're talking the likes of Kyle Flanagan, Nick Cotric and Jack Hetherington, with Trent Barrett in charge of the side for the first time.

Meanwhile, Adam O'Brien will be looking to unleash Tyson Frizell for his first game at his new home, alongside a team raring to make amends for exiting the finals so early last year.

With a family-friendly 6pm kick off, and (hopefully) gates wide open to the public, this game will be absolutely unmissable.

Round 8 v Roosters - Saturday, May 1, 7:35pm

We all know what happened the last time the Roosters came up the M1.

In case you can't remember, it was a 38-12 demolition derby in front of 30,000 people at McDonald Jones. Mitchell Pearce kissed the badge. No big deal.

Headlining the eighth round of 2021, the Knights will once again host their rivals from the NSW capital, marking the Chooks' first trip to Newcastle since that fateful night in 2019.

The Roosters will be looking to make amends, while the Knights will be attempting to re-create the incredible atmosphere of the 2019 game.

It's also the first time Adam O'Brien has hosted one of his former Clubs at the Knights' fortress.

This is not one to be missed.

Round 12 v Sea Eagles - Sunday, 30 May, 4:05pm

Any clash against Manly comes with a weight of significance, particularly at McDonald Jones.

Add in the weight of Indigenous Round and a Sunday afternoon kick-off, and this one is suddenly looking huge.

The Mal Reilly Trophy will also be back on the line, after the Knights wrestled it back via a hard fought 14-12 win at Brookvale Oval last year.

With no return game down south this time around, it will all be on the line in this must-see game.

Round 20 v Raiders - Saturday, 31 July, 5:30pm

The Raiders haven't played in Newcastle since 2017, but after a four year break, the Green Machine is back.

They've been flying high during the last few seasons, and will be firing for the run into the finals.

However, if you remember the Campbelltown clash last year, it was a Knights riot led by an electric Kalyn Ponga and Bradman Best.

A family-friendly Saturday evening kick off should also draw a big crowd, and will almost definitely result in one of the games of the year.

Round 24 v Titans - Thursday, 26 August, 7:50pm

Old Boys Day, or Old Boys Night as it will be in 2021.

For the second time in three years, it will be the Titans making the trip to Newcastle for our biggest home game of the year.

Depending on where both teams are sitting on the ladder, there will be plenty on the line with the season well and truly at the pointy end.

The Knights haven't lost on Old Boys Day since 2018, and with names like Fifita, Fa'asuamaleaui, Brimson, Ponga, Pearce and Frizell on the park, this will be a massive, unmissable match.