LAS VEGAS — For the National Rugby League, inviting the Newcastle Knights as one of the 4 groups enjoying in the league’s two marquee season openers Saturday at Allegiant Stadium as half of its push to globalize the recreation is akin to the NFL presenting the Browns, Jets or Raiders to the world on its largest stage.
As a fan of Australian rugby league, you wouldn’t be out of line if you were experiencing pangs that the Knights don’t belong.
The same approach an NFL fan would surprise why the league would roll out perennial losers such as the Browns, Jets or Raiders while attempting to showcase its recreation to the world stage.
Marcus D’acre of the Knights is tackled during a Newcastle Knights NRL coaching session at Kelogg Soccer Complex on February 25, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Getty Images
Make no mistake: The Knights, who play the North Queensland Cowboys in the first of the two NRL openers, starting at 9:15 p.m. Eastern, have a richer historical past than the latest struggles would counsel.
They loved glory days as winners when the greatest player in their historical past, Andrew Johns, was main them. But that was from 1993-2007, during which the Knights won their only two premiership titles. Since then, there’s been little glory in which to bask.
Last 12 months was a low level as the club managed just six wins against 18 losses and were tagged with the doubtful distinction as the winners of the “Wooden Spoon,’’ which goes to the last-place team in the league.
The Knights’ unfavorable level differential of 300 was 101 more than the next-worst team in the league. They ended the season on a nine-game dropping streak, punctuated by a 66-10 loss in their 2025 finale.
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In apparent response to that ineptitude, Newcastle utterly revamped its team, starting with hiring a new head coach, Justin Holbrook, who once performed for the Knights.
The largest — and most polarizing — transfer, though, was the buy of star Dylan Brown, who was signed to a 10-year, $13 million contract.
Brown, who will play halfback for the Knights, is thought of an elite expertise because of his explosive capacity to run with the ball, his capacity to create house and his defensive prowess.
He’s a robust, full player who the team desires to complement its star, Kalyn Ponga, creating house for him as one of the prime playmakers.
Newcastle coach Justin Holbrook seems to be on during a Newcastle Knights NRL coaching session at Kelogg Soccer Complex on February 25, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Getty Images
With all that cash and expertise, though, comes immense strain from the Newcastle devoted. Some see Brown as a savior and others believe the funding in one player was too much.
Interestingly, Johns was quoted earlier this 12 months in Australia stating his case for Newcastle present process more of an overhaul, starting with its junior improvement, instead of inserting Band Aids on the wound.
“I don’t know what the DNA of the Knights is anymore,” Johns said in an interview. “What type of team are we? What type of club are we? We have always constructed from within, seemed at our native juniors coming through and put so much work into them. Find our DNA and coach these youngsters.’’
Andrew’s brother, Matty, also a former player for the Knights and at the moment one of the lead NRL analysts for Fox Sports, in contrast the Knights to an NFL team that had success years in the past and then turned doormats before discovering latest prominence.
Dylan Brown of the Knights runs the ball during a Newcastle Knights NRL coaching session at Kelogg Soccer Complex on February 25, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Getty Images
“We would be the Detroit Lions,’’ he informed The Post. “The club should do a lot higher with junior expertise, but they hold dropping them. They go to other golf equipment. So, we’re fixing that, protecting our greatest youngsters.’’
Matty Johns in contrast the cultural make-up of Newcastle to another NFL metropolis.
“If Newcastle had a twin brother, it’d be the Pittsburgh Steelers,’’ Johns said. “Newcastle is a coal-mining, metal city with actually robust individuals, actually earthy, knock-about individuals.’’
Like Jets followers, who are among the most loyal in the NFL despite the team’s perennial lack of success, Newcastle supporters all the approach over from Australia have littered Las Vegas this week, making their presence felt as the loudest group at the Thursday night time Fan Fest downtown, where some 16,000 NRL followers packed the streets.
They all will go into Saturday’s opener with a related hopeful anticipation with the addition of Brown the approach Jets followers couldn’t wait to see what their team seemed like for Aaron Rodgers’ debut in 2023.
For their sake, hopefully Brown’s debut goes a lot higher than Rodgers’ ill-fated night time. Hopefully, his Achilles are sturdy.
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