The 2021 Awards Evening has officially etched new names into the nib Newcastle Knights history books.
Jacob Saifiti claimed the top gong, taking home the Danny Buderus Medal as the Club's Player of the Year.
The evening also included a formal recognition of the Club's departing players, with Josh King, Connor Watson and Gehamat Shibasaki confirmed to be exiting the playing the Club, while retired five-eighth Blake Green was also acknowledged.
The event was held virtually for the first time ever, with an intimate ceremony taking place inside the Sunshine Coast Hub on Tuesday evening which was live streamed to the general public.
Read on for the full list of award winners:
NRL AWARD WINNERS:
McDonald Jones Homes Rookie of the Year – Brodie Jones
Once a Knight Old Boys Gladiator of the Year – Jayden Brailey
nib Community Player of the Year – Josh King
Excalibur Club Players' Player of the Year – Connor Watson
Club Person of the Year – Mathew Morris & Jane Farrell
Knight in Shining Armour - Mitchell Pearce
Player of the Year (Danny Buderus Medal) – Jacob Saifiti
NSW CUP AWARD WINNERS:
Excalibur Club Players' Player - Mat Croker & Luke Huth
Red Energy Player of the Year - Zac Hosking
LIFE MEMBER INDUCTEES
Steve Simpson - 217 Knights Games
Jarrod Mullen - 211 Knights Games
LIFETIME CONTRIBUTION AWARD
Dr Neil Halpin
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
NRL Debut Players - Dominic Young, Brayden Musgrove, Simi Sasagi, Mat Croker & Jirah Momoisea
NRL Milestones - David Klemmer - 50 Knights games, Kurt Mann - 50 Knights games, Jake Clifford - 50 NRL games, Hymel Hunt - 50 Knights games & 100 NRL games, Connor Watson - 50 Knights games & 100 NRL games, Daniel Saifiti - 100 Knights & NRL games, Mitch Barnett - 100 NRL & Knights games, Sauaso Sue - 150 NRL games, Mitchell Pearce - 300 NRL games
Depating Players - Blake Green (retired), Gehamat Shibasaki (Japanese Rugby), Connor Watson (Sydney Roosters), Josh King (Melbourne Storm)
