In the 33-year history of the Newcastle Knights, 312 players have represented the club at the highest level.
BARRY TOOHEY has covered every one of those 33 seasons from the foundation years of the club under inaugural coach Allan McMahon to the present day and witnessed the highs of their two premiership successes and the lows of four wooden spoons and everything in between.
So who have been the Knights greatest players during that period? Leaving aside the current squad, with several of the players having only being at the club for a season or two, Barry has come up with his Top 50 in order. Over the course of this week, we will countdown to the Knights' greatest player with the full list to be revealed on Saturday.
Here is the list so far: 50. Steve Fulmer 49. Matt Hilder 48. Anthony Quinn 47. Junior Sa'u 46. Sean Rudder 45. Daniel Abraham 44. Clint Newton 43. Adam Woolnough 42. Zeb Taia 41. Darius Boyd 40. David Boyd 39. Glenn Miller 38. Willie Mason 37. Jamie Ainscough 36. Kade Snowden 35. Ashley Gordon 34. Matt Parsons 33. Paul Marquet 32. Tony Kemp 31. Dane Gagai.
Today, we continue the countdown to number one with another 10 from No. 30.
30. Brad Godden
Debuted in 1991 and 12 months later, was in Australia's World Cup squad after playing a starring role for the Knights in their charge to the semifinals. He scored a memorable try in the Knights' 21-2 minor semifinal win over Western Suburbs before they were beaten 3-2 by the Dragons in a qualifying final. Played 89 games for the club over six seasons.
29. Chris Houston
Made his NRL debut at the Dragons before playing 160 games at the Knights over an eight year period, captaining the side in the absence of Kurt Gidley and Steve Simpson in his first year in 2008. Sat out the 2010 season due to police charges that were eventually dropped and played a further 113 games. Was 18th man for the NSW Blues in 2009.
28. Beau Scott
Scott was signed by coach Wayne Bennett in 2013 from the Dragons to stiffen up the forward pack and provide leadership and few would argue he did just that. He played in the Four Nations tournament for the Kangaroos in 2014 and captained the NRL All Stars the following season but was released on compassionate grounds by the club after just 54 NRL games in Newcastle.
27. James McManus
Not a brilliant winger by any means but one of the most reliable who rarely ever put a foot wrong. Born in Scotland, he was signed by the Knights from Darwin and in nine seasons from 2007, he played 166 games. He was joint NRL leading try-scorer in 2013 and before repeated concussions ended his career, he played three Origin games for the Blues.
26. Owen Craigie
A freakish talent, Craigie was arguably the most naturally gifted player to ever pull on a Knights jumper. He debuted for the club in 1995 against the Brisbane Broncos as a 17-year-old while still at school. A three-time Australian Schoolboy, he played in the 1997 grand final win over Manly but never reached the heights his talent demanded he should.
25. Josh Perry
Another local Valentine junior, Perry debuted for the club in 2000 and played 142 games for the Knights over eight seasons before he was part of the Brian Smith player cull at the end of 2007. He won his first NRL premiership with Newcastle in 2001 alongside Matt Parsons in the frontrow against the Eels and then won his second with Manly in 2008. Played for the Kangaroos on four occasions.
24. Jeremy Smith
Another Kiwi international and premiership winner at Melbourne Storm who was enticed to the club from Cronulla in 2013 by Wayne Bennett. Smith teamed up with Beau Scott in the backrow to give the Knights some much needed muscle and he was an integral part of the team's charge to the preliminary final that year. Went on to captain the club under Nathan Brown.
23. Sam Stewart
The Kiwi international will go down in history as the Knights inaugural captain under coach Allan McMahon and one of the most passionate players to ever pull on the red and blue. An outstanding leader and figurehead, Stewart played 81 top grade games for the club across six seasons during a fantastic career that included 16 Tests for New Zealand. First player to be awarded life membership.
22. Robbie McCormack
Affectionately known as 'Moth', McCormack was signed for the club's debut season in 1988 as a five-eighth and even played in the centres before making the switch to hooker in 1991 and becoming one of the club's greatest dummy halves. Passionate and tough, he captained the Knights at one stage and played 154 top grade games. He also played two Origin games for the Blues.
21. Darren Albert
The Scone flier will forever be remembered in Knights' folklore after scoring one of the most famous tries in the game's history in the dying seconds of the 1997 grand final to secure the Knights their first premiership win. Albert's lightning speed on the wing complimented the great attacking skills of centre Matt Gidley inside him.
