The nib Newcastle Knights have a number of players approaching important career milestones in 2021.
If you're struggling to keep track, newcastleknights.com.au has compiled a list of every player approaching a milestone this season, as well as when they're expected to hit it.
Daniel Saifiti
Needs one game to reach 100 career games
At just 24 years of age, Saifiti already has five caps for New South Wales and has established himself among the best props in the game.
It's for this reason that it's hard to believe he's yet to break the 100 game barrier.
However, barring injury, he will do just that against the Bulldogs in round one, appropriately at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Mitchell Pearce
Needs three games to reach 300 career games
This is the big one.
A shortened season thanks to COVID-19 robbed our skipper of a one-way trip into the NRL's prestigious 300 Club.
Pearce needs just three games to pass the barrier in 2021, in what will be his 15th season in the NRL.
Still only 31, Pearce has plenty of time left to add to his already-mammoth total.
David Klemmer
Needs eight games to reach 50 Knights games
It feels like yesterday David Klemmer was walking through the gates of Knights HQ for the first time after signing from the Bulldogs.
Now, he is a Novacastrian through and through.
It's a testament to Klemmer's consistency that he's played almost every game in his two seasons in red and blue, with his 50th Knights game just around the corner in 2021.
Hymel Hunt
Needs nine games to reach 100 career games
Needs six games to reach 50 Knights games
In a similar vein to Klemmer, the fact Hunt has missed just one game in two seasons (where he was rested by Adam O'Brien) shows what a consistent and reliable player he is.
A mainstay of the right edge throughout 2020, Hunt will cross two major career milestones in the first half of 2021, bringing up his 50th Knights appearance and 100th NRL game.
A well deserved accolade for a terrific, if not underrated player.
Mitch Barnett
Needs 10 games to reach 100 career games
Needs 12 games to reach 100 Knights games
The 2017 and 2019 Danny Buderus Medal winner has had to work hard to achieve his milestones.
Barnett solidified himself as one of the Knights best and most feared forwards in 2020, and is on track to cross the well-deserved 100 game barrier should he stay injury free in 2021.
Lachlan Fitzgibbon
Needs 21 games to reach 100 career games
Cut from a similar mould to Barnett, the South Newcastle junior will notch is 100th career game in the second half of 2021, should he stay injury-free.
A loyal clubman, Fitzgibbon has become a fan favourite in his five seasons in red and blue, and it's only appropriate he will bring up the milestone with his local Club.
Connor Watson
Needs 21 games to reach 100 career games
Needs nine games to reach 50 Knights game
Growing up as a Knights fan, it’s only fitting that Connor Watson will likely notch his 50th game as a Newcastle Knight this season.
Despite an injury-riddled 2020, Watson has been one of the Knights most popular and consistent players and should reach the 50-game mark mid-season.
Late in the year, there is a chance he could also notch is 100th career game should he stay injury free.
Enari Tuala
Needs 12 games for 50 career games
2020's top Knights try scorer and one of the most underrated players in the competition, Tuala should reach his first major career milestone mid-season if he stays fit.
Signed from the Cowboys in last year's pre-season, Tuala is set to go to another level in 2021, with his 11 tries proving crucial to the Knights campaign last year.
Kurt Mann
Needs 23 games to reach 150 career games
Needs 11 games to reach 50 Knights games
The runner-up in this year's Danny Buderus Medal count, Mann cemented himself as a first grade mainstay, owning the No.6 jumper throughout 2020.
Should he stay fit and consistent in 2021, Mann will reach his 50th Knights game mid-year, while a full season in the top grade will have him notch his 150th NRL appearance.
Tyson Frizell
Needs 23 games to reach 200 career games
Our marquee off-season signing, Frizell will look to make an immediate impact when he pulls on the red and blue jersey for the first time.
Already with 165 games with St George Illawarra and 12 with Cronulla to his name, Frizell could potentially hit the 200 game barrier at the end of the year.
Edrick Lee
Needs 25 games to reach 50 Knights games
Now a Queensland Origin rep, Lee will look to solidify his place as the Knights number one winger in 2021.
Should he get through the whole season without injury, and the Knights play finals football, Lee could play his 50th game in Knights colours following two injury-interrupted seasons.
Jacob Saifiti
Needs 25 games to reach 100 career games
After a breakout 2020 season, the other half of the fearsome twin towers will be looking to surge into the new year.
He's come back stronger than ever, and will cross the 100 game barrier should he play a full year and a bit of finals footy.
