2016 Newcastle Knights season

The 2016 Newcastle Knights season was the 29th in the club's history. Coached by Nathan Brown and co-captained by Trent Hodkinson, Tariq Sims and Jeremy Smith, they competed in the NRL's 2016 Telstra Premiership, finishing the regular season in 16th place (out of 16). In the pre-season the Knights competed in the 2016 Auckland Nines tournament, reaching the quarter-finals. Mid-way through the 2016 season the team had only one member selected to play in the 2016 State of Origin series. Notably, all four Mata'utia brothers, Chanel, Pat, Peter and Sione featured in the NRL team for the Knights throughout the year.

Milestones

 * Round 1: David Bhana made his NRL debut for the club.
 * Round 1: Jaelen Feeney made his NRL debut for the club.
 * Round 1: Trent Hodkinson made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, captained his 1st game for the club and kicked his 1st goal for the club.
 * Round 1: Pat Mata'utia made his NRL debut for the club and scored his 1st career try.
 * Round 1: Pauli Pauli made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the Parramatta Eels.
 * Round 1: Daniel Saifiti made his NRL debut for the club and scored his 1st career try.
 * Round 1: Jacob Saifiti made his NRL debut for the club.
 * Round 1: Jeremy Smith captained his 1st game for the club.
 * Round 3: Cory Denniss made his NRL debut for the club and scored his 1st career try.
 * Round 3: Sam Mataora scored his 1st try for the club.
 * Round 3: Jarrod Mullen played his 200th game for the club, which was also his 200th career game.
 * Round 3: Mickey Paea made his debut for the club, after previously playing for Hull FC.
 * Round 5: Jacob Saifiti scored his 1st career try.
 * Round 6: The Knights won their 200th game at Hunter Stadium.
 * Round 6: Will Pearsall made his NRL debut for the club.
 * Round 6: Tariq Sims captained his 1st game for the club.
 * Round 7: Josh King made his NRL debut for the club.
 * Round 7: Jack Stockwell played his 50th career game.
 * Round 8: Sam Mataora played his 50th career game.
 * Round 8: Jeremy Smith played his 200th career game.
 * Round 9: Brock Lamb made his NRL debut for the club.
 * Round 10: Jack Cogger made his NRL debut for the club.
 * Round 11: Dane Gagai played his 100th career game.
 * Round 11: Trent Hodkinson scored his 1st try for the club.
 * Round 12: Pauli Pauli scored his 1st try for the club.
 * Round 13: Lachlan Fitzgibbon scored his 1st career try.
 * Round 14: Mitchell Barnett made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the Canberra Raiders.
 * Round 14: Brendan Elliot made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the Sydney Roosters, and scored his 1st try for the club.
 * Round 16: Mitchell Barnett scored his 1st career try.
 * Round 16: Trent Hodkinson scored his 500th career point.
 * Round 17: Trent Hodkinson kicked his 1st field goal for the club.
 * Round 21: David Bhana scored his 1st career try.
 * Round 21: Dane Gagai played his 100th game for the club.
 * Round 22: The Knights lost their 14th game in a row, breaking their 2005 season record of 13 losses in a row.
 * Round 24: Peter Mata'utia played his 50th career game.
 * Round 25: Dylan Phythian made his NRL debut for the club and scored his 1st career try.
 * Round 25: Jeremy Smith kicked his 1st goal for the club.

Jerseys and sponsors
In 2016, the Knights' jerseys were made by ISC and their major sponsor was Newpave Asphalt.

Auckland Nines
Squad: 1. Jake Mamo 2. Nathan Ross 3. Jaelen Feeney 4. Akuila Uate 6. Brock Lamb 7. Will Pearsall 8. Pauli Pauli 9. Tyler Randell (c) 10. Daniel Saifiti 11. Korbin Sims 12. Robbie Rochow (c) 13. Jacob Saifiti 14. Sione Mata'utia 15. Joseph Tapine 16. Tariq Sims (c) 17. Chanel Mata'utia 18. Danny Levi 19. Pat Mata'utia

Regular season
Source:
 * FG – Field Goal
 * GP – Golden Point extra time

Statistics
35 players used.

Source:

Representative honours
The following players appeared in a representative match in 2016.

Australian Schoolboys
 * Brodie Jones
 * Pasami Saulo

Fiji
 * Michael Potter (coach)
 * Daniel Saifiti
 * Korbin Sims
 * Akuila Uate

Indigenous All Stars
 * Dane Gagai

Junior Kiwis
 * Ken Tofilau

Malta
 * Ben Stone
 * Sam Stone

New South Wales Country
 * Tariq Sims

New South Wales Residents
 * Matt Lantry (assistant coach)

New South Wales under-16s
 * Tom Baker
 * Phoenix Crossland
 * Brock Gardner
 * Jock Madden

New South Wales under-18s
 * Brodie Jones
 * Pasami Saulo
 * Tom Starling

New South Wales under-20s
 * Jack Cogger
 * Cory Denniss

New Zealand
 * Danny Levi (19th man)

Tonga
 * Mickey Paea (18th man)

World All Stars
 * Trent Hodkinson (squad member)
 * Jeremy Smith

Teams and squads
Emerging Blues Camp
 * Tariq Sims

New South Wales Under-20s Origin Pathways Camp
 * Jack Cogger

Queensland Academy of Sport Emerging Origin Squad
 * Korbin Sims

Player of the Year

 * National Rugby League (NRL) Player of the Year: Dane Gagai
 * Intrust Super Premiership NSW Player of the Year: Luke Yates
 * National Youth Competition (NYC) Player of the Year: Nick Meaney

Players' Player

 * National Rugby League (NRL) Players' Player: Sione Mata'utia
 * Intrust Super Premiership NSW Players' Player: Ken Tofilau
 * National Youth Competition (NYC) Players' Player: Nick Meaney

Coach's Award

 * National Rugby League (NRL) Coach's Award: Nathan Ross
 * Intrust Super Premiership NSW Coach's Award: Uiti Baker
 * National Youth Competition (NYC) Coach's Award: Joe Morris

Brian Carlson Club-Andrew Johns Medal

 * Pasami Saulo