The Newcastle Knights once again snuck their way into the finals at the end of the 2024 NRL season with a fast finish.
This year it took a win on the final day of the season and a heavy reliance on the attacking ability to Kalyn Ponga to see them over the line.
A roster clean out is now underway in the Hunter though as director Peter Parr and coach Anthony O'Brien start working to clean out a bloated salary cap which has left little room to wiggle.
Daniel Saifiti has already left for the Dolphins though, and others, led by out of sorts half Jackson Hastings, have been told they are free to go. That, and a reliance on youth, will see the Knights likely have plenty of weight to throw around in the 2026 recruitment market.
We will run the rule over all 17 clubs on Zero Tackle as the 2026 recruitment period gets underway to determine who their top targets are. Today, the Knightsโฆ
Current 2026 Newcastle Knights squad
Bradman Best, Thomas Cant, Jack Cogger, Phoenix Crossland, Dane Gagai, Tyson Gamble, Cody Hopwood, Dylan Lucas, Francis Manuleleua, Greg Marzhew, Jermaine McEwen, Kalyn Ponga, Jacob Saifiti, James Schiller, Fletcher Sharpe, Taj Annan
Off-contract at end of 2025
Jayden Brailey, Mat Croker, Adam Elliott, Jackson Hastings, Jack Hetherington, Brodie Jones, Riley Jones, Kai Pearce-Paul, Will Pryce, Sebastian Su'a, Leo Thompson
Current best 17 for 2026
1. Kalyn Ponga
2. Greg Marzhew
3. Bradman Best
4. Dane Gagai
5. Fletcher Sharpe
6. Tyson Gamble
7. Jack Cogger
8. Jacob Saifiti
9. Phoenix Crossland
10. Cody Hopwood
11. Dylan Lucas
12. Thomas Cant
13. Francis Manuleleua
Interchange
14. No player signed
15. No player signed
16. Jermaine McEwen
17. No player signed
The Knights have well publicised salary cap issues at the present time, but this recruitment period leading into the 2026 NRL season might be the first time they are able to get on top of that.
Young players Cody Hopwood, Francis Manuleleula and Jermaine McEwen all join the Top 30, but more importantly, big-money players Jayden Brailey, Adam Elliott and most importantly Jackson Hastings - believed to be on $800,000 per year despite finishing 2024 in reserve grade - are all off contract.
That, as well as the early move of Daniel Saifiti to the Dolphins for the 2025 campaign, gives the Knights the chance to finally get their own house in order, even with Kalyn Ponga's million-plus dollar salary at the top of their ongoing list.
And it's a good thing the Knights have money available.
Right now, they have no dummy half (although it has been speculated that Matt Arthur will be joining the club), a forward pack that features two of those aforementioned rookies, and a halves combination that inspires very little confidence. With none of their โbig names' likely to be re-signed, this is going to be a recruitment period of mass transformation in the Hunterโฆ If they have the pulling power to sign the right players.
1. Option 1: Brandon Smith (Sydney Roosters)
Because the Knights reportedly have Matt Arthur set to join the club, there is very little point in going and signing another young dummy half - otherwise, you would have called for the pursuit of Blake Mozer from the Brisbane Broncos.
Instead, what they really want, is an experienced dummy half who is equally capable of playing in other positions so that when Arthur is ready to own the number nine, there is no major roadblock.
Smith is that sort of player.
He has, in his own rights, become a rock solid hooker at the Roosters, taking his game in the role to a new level during 2024, but there is also little doubt he hasn't lost what made him a first-grader to begin with.
That being a tenacious defensive attitude in the middle third, a desire to run the ball, and a winning attitude.
It's exactly what the Knights need.
