Know your Knights !!

[rhugh89]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO FORMER KNIGHTS PLAYER MICHAEL YOUNG WHO TURNED 31 YESTERDAY !!!

Michael Young

- Born 1984 in Camden, NSW
- Played 20 games for the Knights 2004-2008


HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO FORMER KNIGHTS PLAYER RUSSELL RICHARDSON WHO TURNS 38 TODAY !!!

Russell Richardson

- Born 1977 in Dubbo, NSW
- Centre
- Played 7 games for the Knights in 2004 - his final season
- Also played for Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks & South Sydney Rabbitohs totalling 121 first grade games
- Retired in 2004 aged 27
- Represented Australia 3 times (Twice in the Super League years and once in 1999)
- Since the year 2000 years 3 & 4 in Western NSW have competed annually for the Russell Richardson Cup
- This, combined with the David Peachey Shield has attracted sometimes more than 250 teams
- Last known whereabouts was as owner of the King Street Hotel and Argyle House (formerly Fanny's) in Newcastle and Chairman of the Newcastle Hamilton Liquor accord

 

[rhugh89]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO FORMER KNIGHTS PLAYER LEO DYNEVOR WHO TURNS 41 TODAY !!!

Leo Dynevor

- Born 1974
- Played 19 games for the Knights in 1997
- Also played for Western Suburbs


HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO FORMER KNIGHTS PLAYER SEAN RUDDER WHO TURNS 36 TODAY !!!

Sean Rudder

- Born 1979 in Singleton, NSW
- Played mostly at Five-Eighth
- Played 131 games for the Knights 1998-2003
- Part of our premiership winning team in 2001
- Also played 1 game for the Roosters in 2008
- Also played for the Castleford Tigers and Catalans Dragons in the ESL
- Retired in 2008


HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO FORMER KNIGHTS PLAYER MATTHEW KENNEDY WHO TURNS 34 TODAY !!!

Matthew Kennedy

- Born 1981 in Nambour, QLD
- Played 45 games for the Knights 2003-2005
- Played Prop


HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO CURRENT KNIGHTS HOOKER ADAM CLYDSDALE WHO TURNS 22 TODAY !!!

Adam Clydsdale

- Born 13 February 1993 in Scone, NSW
- Hooker
- Scone Junior
- 2009 Harold Matthews Player of the year
- 2011 SG Ball Player of the year & Players Player
- 2012 NYC Player of the year & Players Player
- Debuted in first grade Round 9, 2013 against the Canberra Raiders
- Has played 23 games for the Knights (so far) 2013-2014

 

[rhugh89]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO FORMER KNIGHTS PLAYER JAMIE FITZGERALD WHO TURNS 36 TODAY !!!

Jamie Fitzgerald

- Born 1979 in Mudgee, NSW
- Played 5 games for the Knights in 2004
- Also played for North Sydney Bears, St George Illawarra Dragons & South Sydney Rabbitohs
- Switched to Rugby Union and played successfully for Mudgee


HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO CURRENT KNIGHTS PROP PAT VAIVAI WHO TURNS 23 TODAY !!!

Paterika Vaivai

- Born 1992 in Salamumu, Samoa
- Prop
- Has played 1 game so far for the Knights
- Under 20's coaching award winner in 2012
- NZ Residents Under 16's Player
- NZ Residents Under 18's Player
- Current Knights Player (2015)


HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO CURRENT KNIGHTS COACH RICK STONE WHO TURNS 48 TODAY !!!

Rick Stone - Coach

- Born 1967
- Played 3 games for Souths in 1989
- Played 13 seasons with the Burleigh Bears in the QLD Cup
- Was our interim coach from 2009-2011 when Brian Smith resigned
- Head Coach of the Fijian national team 2011-2014
- Signed on to be Knights head coach again 2015-2016

 

[rhugh89]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO FORMER KNIGHTS PLAYER ANDREW TANGATA TOA WHO TURNS 41 TODAY !!!

Andrew Tangata-Toa

- Born 1974
- Played 10 games for the Knights 1993-1996


HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO FORMER KNIGHTS PLAYER MILTON THAIDAY WHO TURNS 35 TODAY !!!

Milton Thaiday

- Born 1980 in Townsville, QLD
- Played Fullback / Wing
- Played 29 games for the Knights 2005-2007
- Cousin of Broncos, QLD and Australian forward Sam Thaiday


HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO CURRENT KNIGHTS FORWARD CHRIS HOUSTON WHO TURNS 30 TODAY !!!

Chris Houston

- "House" "Howzo"
- Born 1985 in NSW
- Played 138 games for the Knights from 2008-2014
- Played 16 games for St George Illawarra
- Represented Country once in 2011
- Voluntarily terminated his contract with the Knights in 2010 after being served notice to attend court on charges of supplying illicit drugs of which he was later cleared
- Re-signed with the Knights in 2011
- Highest tackle count of the NRL in 2012 with 992
- Current Knights player (2014)

 

[rhugh89]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO FORMER KNIGHTS PLAYER GAVIN HANRAHAN WHO TURNS 50 TODAY !!!


Gavin Hanrahan

- Born 1965
- Played Centre
- Played 9 games for the Knights in 1988
- Also played for Balmain Tigers 1984-1987
- Currently working for a Newcastle law firm (2014)

 

[rhugh89]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO FORMER KNIGHTS PLAYER GEORGE NDAIRA WHO TURNS 30 TODAY !!!

George Ndaira

- Born 1985 in Sydney, NSW
- Primarily played Hooker
- Goal Kicker
- Played 8 games for the Knights from 2009-2010
- Also played for St George Illawarra Dragons & South Sydney
- Represented Lebanon in 9 games from 2007 - 2009 scoring 2 tries and 13 goals
- Captain/coach of the Kurri Kurri Bulldogs in the Newcastle Rugby League Competition in 2013
- Currently Knights NSW Cup Assistant Coach (2015)

 

[rhugh89]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO FORMER KNIGHTS PLAYER ADAM CUTHBERTSON WHO TURNS 30 TODAY !!!

Adam Cuthbertson

- "Cuthbo"
- Born 1985 in Avalon, NSW
- Prop / Second Row
- Junior Club: Avalon Bulldogs
- Made his NRL debut in 2006 for Manly Sea Eagles
- Played 53 games for the Knights 2012-2014
- Also played for Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and St George Illawarra Dragons
- Represented City twice between 2011 & 2013
- Will join the Leeds Rhinos on a 4 year deal starting in 2015

 

[rhugh89]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO FORMER KNIGHTS PLAYER DARREN ALBERT WHO TURNS 39 TODAY !!!

Darren Albert

- Born 1976 in Auburn, NSW
- Played on the Wing
- Scored the winning try in the 1997 Grand Final
- Played 89 games for the Knights from 1996-2001
- Also played 23 games for the Cronulla Sharks in 2006
- Represented Country for 2 games in 1997 & 2001
- Represented NSW for 1 game in 1999
- Played 118 games for St Helens in Super League UK from 2002-2005
- Won a premiership with St Helens in 2002

 

[rhugh89]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO FORMER KNIGHTS PLAYER TODD BATES WHO TURNS 32 TODAY !!!

Todd Bates

- Born 1983
- Played Lock
- Played 4 games in the NRL, All for Newcastle in 2003

 

[rhugh89]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO FORMER KNIGHTS PLAYER SHANE VINCENT WHO TURNS 42 TODAY !!!

Shane Vincent

- Born 1973
- Played 3 games for Newcastle in 1994
- Also played for Penrith Panthers, South Sydney Rabbitohs & North Queensland Cowboys

 

[rhugh89]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO FORMER KNIGHTS PLAYER NEIL PICCINELLI WHO TURNS 48 TODAY !!!

Neil Piccinelli

- Born 1967
- Second Rower
- Made his NRL debut in 1989
- Played 26 games for the Knights in 1998
- Played 145 games for the Illawarra Steelers
- Named in the Steelers 25th Anniversary Team & Was Steelers player of the year in 1993
- Also played for the Hunter Mariners
- Announced his retirement in 1999 due to family commitments after a 6 figure offer from Souths

 

[rhugh89]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO FORMER KNIGHTS PLAYER STEVE LINNANE WHO TURNS 50 TODAY !!!

Steve Linnane

- Born 1965 in Sydney, NSW
- Dally M Rookie of the year 1985
- Former Captain/Coach of Kurri Kurri
- Played 18 games for the Knights in 1991
- Also played for the St George Dragons 1985-1990

 

[rhugh89]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO FORMER KNIGHTS PLAYER ASHLEY GORDON WHO TURNS 46 TODAY !!!

Ashley Gordon

- "Flash"
- Born 1969
- Played on the Wing
- Scored 38 tries in 71 games for the Knights
- Played 1 season with the Panthers before returning to the Knights in 1995
- Dally M Winger of the Year 1990
- Represented Country twice 1991-1995
- Second Cousin of former Sharks player Isaac Gordon

 

[rhugh89]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO FORMER KNIGHTS PLAYER BLAKE MUELLER WHO TURNS 33 TODAY !!!

Blake Mueller

- Born 1982 in Newcastle, NSW
- Second Row/Lock
- Brother of fellow Knights player Brock Mueller
- Played 15 games with the Knights 2003-2005
- Set a record for number of tackles in a game in reserve grade

 

[rhugh89]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO FORMER KNIGHTS PLAYER MIKE MCLEAN WHO TURNS 52 TODAY !!!

Mike McLean

- Born 1963
- Represented QLD 5 times 1991-1992
- Played 17 games for the Knights in 1991
- Also played for the Roosters and Gold Coast Seagulls


HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO FORMER KNIGHTS PLAYER KIRK REYNOLDSON WHO TURNS 36 TODAY !!!

Kirk Reynoldson

- "Ned Kelly"
- Born 1979 in Brisbane, QLD
- Captained the Knights for 1 game in 2007
- Played 41 games for the Knights from 2005-2007
- Also played for the Melbourne Storm and St George Illawarra Dragons


HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO FORMER KNIGHTS PLAYER DANIEL ABRAHAM WHO TURNS 34 TODAY !!!

Daniel Abraham

- Born 1981 in Belmont, NSW
- Second Row/Lock
- Valentine junior
- Played 100 games for the Knights 2000-2007
- Part of our premiership winning team in 2001
- Also played 6 games for the North Queensland Cowboys
- Played his final game in the NRL against Newcastle in 2008
- Represented Country twice 2003-2004

 

[MattyM]

Didn't Daniel come back to play NSW Cup in 2012 or was that for coaching/Real NRL?

 

[rhugh89]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO CLUB LEGEND BEN KENNEDY WHO TURNS 41 TODAY !!!

Ben Kennedy

- "BK"
- Born 1974 in Casino, NSW
- Played Second Row / Lock
- Played 86 games for the Knights 2000-2004
- Part of our Premiership Winning team in 2001
- Captained the Knights in 9 games 2001-2004
- Also played for Manly and the Raiders
- Represented Country once in 2003
- Represented NSW 13 times 1999-2005
- Represented Australia 16 times 2000-2006
- Dally M Lock of the Year 2005 and 2006
- Dally M Captain of the Year 2006


HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO FORMER KNIGHTS COACH BRIAN SMITH WHO TURNS 61 TODAY !!!

Brian Smith - Coach

- Born 1954
- Played 31 games in first grade
- Coached over 500 games from 1984 - 2012
- Coached at the Knights from 2007 until Mid 2009 when he received an early release after signing with the Roosters for 2010
- Has been to 4 Grand Finals as a coach and never won a Premiership
- On 3 of those occasions he lost to ex Knights coach Wayne Bennett

 

[Hunter93]

3 times haha poor Smithy!

 

[rhugh89]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO FORMER KNIGHTS PLAYER DAVID SMITH WHO TURNS 47 TODAY !!!

David Smith

- Born 1968
- Played 13 games for the Knights 1993-1994
- Played a further 74 games for the Roosters 1987-1991

 

[rhugh89]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO FORMER KNIGHTS PLAYER MICHAEL ENNIS WHO TURNS 31 TODAY !!!

Michael Ennis

- Born 1984 in Coffs Harbour, NSW
- Dally M Hooker of the Year 2009
- Represented Country 3 times 2009-2013
- Represented NSW 7 times 2009-2011
- Played 20 games for the Knights 2004-2005
- Has also played for the Broncos, Dragons and Bulldogs
- Former Bulldogs Captain
- Signed a 3 year deal with Cronulla beginning 2015


HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO FORMER KNIGHTS PLAYER NEVILLE COSTIGAN WHO TURNS 30 TODAY !!!

Neville Costigan

- Born 1985 in Rabaul, PNG
- Forum punching bag
- Utility Forward
- Represented QLD 6 times 2007-2010
- Represenetd PNG 6 times 2008-2013
- Played 57 games for the Knights 2011-2013
- Has also played for the Broncos, Raiders and Dragons
- Left the Knights at the end of 2013 to play for Hull KR in the ESL
- Currently playing for the Townsville Blackhawks in the Intrust Super Cup