On this day, the Knights honour their greats, Sisa Waqa sizzles and Blake Green hopes it's lucky No.7.
1984
Italian and Australian international Terry Campese was born. As well as playing five matches (including one Test) for Italy, Campese wore the green and gold in 2008. The gifted five-eighth also played one match for NSW and 139 for the Raiders.
1986
Manly cult-hero David Williams was born. The 'Wolfman' played 103 matches for the Sea Eagles, scoring 66 tries and winning an impressive 69 per cent of the matches he played in. In a stunning debut season in 2008, Williams scored 14 tries in 20 matches, including one of Manly's eight tries in their historic 40-0 grand final win over Melbourne. He capped it off by playing two Tests for the Kangaroos at the World Cup. He also played two State of Origin matches for NSW the following year.
2007
The Newcastle Knights name the club's greatest ever team with a host of Test stars earning selection. The team: Robbie O'Davis; Timana Tahu, Matt Gidley, Mark Hughes, Adam MacDougall; Matthew Johns, Andrew Johns (c); Marc Glanville, Steve Simpson, Ben Kennedy, Mark Sargent, Danny Buderus, Paul Harragon. Reserves: Michael Hagan, Kurt Gidley, Tony Butterfield, Adam Muir. Coach: Malcolm Reilly
2008
Newcastle’s Brian Smith becomes only the third coach in premiership history to reach the milestone of 500 games as the Knights down Parramatta 32-12 at EnergyAustralia Stadium.
2012
Sisa Waqa needs just 43 seconds to open the scoring as the Storm end a five-match losing streak with a 46-6 win over Penrith at AAMI Park. Waqa, Cooper Cronk and Justin O'Neill each bag doubles in the crushing win.
2020
The Warriors grant halfback Blake Green an immediate release to allow him to join the Newcastle Knights for the remainder of the season. The Knights become Green’s seventh NRL club, making him only the third player, after Darrien Doherty and Tyran Smith, to play for as many NRL outfits.
This article contains information from the official records of NRL historian David Middleton.
