RETIRING Knights captain Clint Newton described Newcastle’s 20-10 victory over Wyong in the NSW Cup grand final at Parramatta stadium on Sunday as one of the proudest moments of his life.
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The 34-year-old South Newcastle junior won an NRL premiership with Melbourne eight years ago (although the Storm were later stripped of that title) but Newton rated the Knights’ gutsy triumph over their Central Coast rivals equally satisfying.
Winning their fourth straight sudden-death final after finishing seventh at the end of the regular season, the Knights secured their first second-tier title in 20 years, and first senior premiership in any grade since their 2001 NRL crown.
It was a remarkable season finale for the Knights, considering they finished their NRL campaign as wooden-spooners just four weeks ago, and gives fans and incoming NRL coach Nathan Brown hope of climbing the ladder next year.
Newcastle will play Queensland Cup premiers Ipswich Jets in the State Championship grand final at 3.40pm this Sunday in the curtain-raiser to the NRL decider between the Broncos and Cowboys at ANZ Stadium, giving Newton one more game in Knights colours before he hangs up his boots.
