Knights Forward Facing Driving Charges
Newcastle Knights forward Jermaine McEwen has been charged by police with low-range drink-driving and driving with a suspended licence. The 21-year-old, who recently inked a deal to remain with the Knights until the conclusion of the 2028 season, is scheduled to appear before Newcastle Local Court on June 25.
McEwen, a former junior representative for the Panthers and the NSW under-19s team, relocated from western Sydney with his family and has established himself as a key player in a high-flying Knights squad. The second-rower has been selected in the Newcastle team for their upcoming match against the Storm in Melbourne.
The Knights issued a statement confirming that McEwen had reported the incident to the club at the time it occurred. The club subsequently informed the NRL integrity unit. “A thorough process continues to be undertaken by all parties required,” the club stated. “Until due process is completed, the Newcastle Knights will not make any further comment.”
Since his NRL debut last year, McEwen has played 28 top-grade games. His recent contract extension, a two-season deal, was announced last month. Coach Justin Holbrook expressed his satisfaction with McEwen’s progress, noting, “Jermaine continues to exceed our expectations this year. He has only just turned 21. His improvement this season, and the way he has played through the opening 10 rounds, has made him a very important part of our team. We are looking forward to watching Jermaine’s further improvement over the next couple of years and beyond.”
In a previous interview, McEwen revealed that his family made the decision to leave western Sydney after their home was targeted with bricks thrown through the windows on Christmas Day several years ago. The family had also been involved in a brawl following a junior league game at Penrith Stadium prior to this incident. The Knights are currently positioned fourth on the ladder heading into round 14 and are aiming for their fifth consecutive win against the Storm.
Moses’ Origin II Availability Uncertain Amidst Injury Concerns
Parramatta playmaker Mitchell Moses is being rated as “touch and go” for the upcoming State of Origin II clash, following his surprise omission from the Eels’ western Sydney derby against Canterbury. Moses sustained a left hamstring injury during NSW Origin camp last Monday. While Blues medical staff initially anticipated a full recovery in time for the Canterbury match after scans cleared him of serious damage, the club doctor has elected to rest him.
Eels coach Jason Ryles confirmed that there had been no fresh setbacks, but the decision was made to allow Moses more recovery time. This situation presents a dilemma for NSW coach Laurie Daley, who must now consider naming Moses in his squad knowing he will have gone a month without playing a competitive game by Origin II on June 17. Moses’ last appearance for the Eels was at Magic Round. A positive note is that he completed a full week of training in Origin camp before the injury occurred, with Canberra’s Ethan Strange stepping in at five-eighth. The expectation will be for Moses to be fit and ready for the Blues’ initial training session.
“I think he’ll be touch and go for Origin II, but it is another week and a half until the game; it’s probably a little bit worse than he first thought,” Ryles commented. “I wouldn’t have a problem [if he plays for NSW]. You’d rather have your players playing in Origin.”
The Blues are set to announce their team following the Eels and Dogs clash. Canterbury captain Stephen Crichton is also facing an injury cloud. Crichton has been receiving painkilling injections before and at half-time to manage an AC joint issue, but he remains hopeful of featuring against Queensland in Melbourne.
Manly’s Tolu Koula has been named in the centres for their match against South Sydney. The Sea Eagles successfully sought an exemption from the mandatory 11-day concussion stand-down period. Koula, 23, sustained a head knock during Origin I following a shoulder charge from Kalyn Ponga, an incident that led to Ponga’s sin-binning and was a significant turning point in the match. Koula has been symptom-free since the incident, and the club is optimistic that cognitive testing and clearance from an independent NRL-appointed expert will allow him to play. He was initially slated to miss last week’s game against Cronulla, but a strong performance before Origin II would likely secure his spot for the Blues.
In other team news, Ezra Mam has been dropped from the Broncos side, with Tom Duffy partnering Adam Reynolds in the halves for their upcoming clash against the Gold Coast.
Ponga Shines for Knights Despite Origin Setback
Kalyn Ponga has spoken about the significant mental fortitude required to bounce back from his State of Origin send-off before leading the Newcastle Knights to a hard-fought 28-22 victory over the Parramatta Eels. Ponga received a fine for a grade-two shoulder charge on Tolu Koula in Origin I, but he displayed no lingering mental effects with a characteristically energetic performance at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Dylan Lucas, who recently returned from NSW Origin camp, was a standout for Newcastle, scoring a brace and proving a constant threat on the left edge. Fellow NSW Blue Jacob Saifiti also delivered a menacing performance. The Knights, with a record of 8-4, have now secured four consecutive wins, accumulating 150 points in the process, and are sitting fourth on the ladder midway through the season.
“It was more mentally [demanding],” Ponga said when discussing the challenge of backing up just three days after a high-profile incident. “Physically, I actually felt pretty good out there, which is a credit to our staff, the way they handled the last 48 hours. It’s all mental, like the build-up of Origin, obviously the way Origin unfolded, and then to sort of park it and mentally prepare for another game. I think now that I’m older, I’m probably better at doing it. But yeah, it’s all mental. I was excited to get back around the boys, around my teammates. Probably selfishly, I wanted to play with my mates. I didn’t want to sit on the sidelines. I wanted to be out there.”
Both teams exchanged two tries in the first half, with the Knights holding a narrow 12-10 lead at the break. The second half started poorly for the Eels when Newcastle’s bench hooker Harrison Graham exploited defensive lapses, running 50 metres from dummy-half to score under the posts. This was followed by a period of intense pressure where both teams struggled with handling errors, committing seven in just 10 minutes.
As the handling errors subsided, Lucas registered his second try for the Knights. Jordan Samrani responded for the Eels, before Fletcher Hunt extended Newcastle’s lead. However, Isaiah Iongi set up a tense finish with a try six minutes from full-time.
Parramatta coach Jason Ryles expressed disappointment with his young team’s missed opportunities. The Eels were without several experienced first-graders, including Mitch Moses and skipper Junior Paulo. “It’s disappointing in the end,” Ryles stated. “[I] thought we tried really hard, the effort was there, we fought really hard, but unfortunately execution let us down. I reckon we left probably four tries out there that were genuine tries, so another week of lessons, and just little moments in games that are so important that are fundamental, which hurts, but it’s part of the journey, and we’ve just got to keep fighting hard and working hard to make sure we don’t let that happen. It is a very young side, but we’ve been really focused on what we can control, and that’s our best prep each week. They’re trying their hearts out, and they’re getting some lessons with the big boys, so it’s all part of it, but … we had a minibus bring our injured blokes up today, that’s kind of where we’re at. So to produce the effort and the fight that the boys did out there today, I’m really proud of them.”
Former Blues Star Joins PNG Chiefs
Roosters player Connor Watson has become the third high-profile signing for the Papua New Guinea Chiefs. Watson is currently contracted with the Roosters for the upcoming season but has been granted permission to explore other opportunities. The former NSW Blues representative is set to join the Chiefs on a two-year deal commencing in 2028, with indications that he may seek a “gap year” at another NRL club next season.
Sources suggest that St George Illawarra is the most likely destination for this one-year stint, although other clubs have also expressed interest. Chiefs chief executive Lorna McPherson recently hosted Watson and his partner on a tour of Port Moresby, providing them with insights into the lifestyle. The couple were reportedly impressed by their experience, leading to their commitment to the franchise.
Watson joins Wests Tigers co-captain Jarome Luai and record-breaking South Sydney winger Alex Johnston as notable recruits for the Chiefs. This signifies a strong start for the franchise, which is anticipated to become a significant player in the transfer market when a number of prominent players become free agents on November 1. Many Penrith Panthers stars, including Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo, Liam Martin, Brian To’o, Moses Leota, Mitch Kenny, and Isaiah Papali’i, could potentially be among them if they do not recommit to Penrith prior to this date.
Watson’s versatility includes playing hooker and lock, as well as covering multiple positions from the bench. The Chiefs also acknowledge his leadership qualities, identifying him as a valuable asset. The Dragons have reportedly held discussions with Watson, and he is likely to join Scott Drinkwater, Keaon Koloamatangi, Luke Metcalf, and Phillip Sami as a recruit for the 2027 season.
The Chiefs have also made a significant off-field appointment, securing former NRL and Super League player Rhyse Martin as their football operations manager. Martin, who represented the Bulldogs, English clubs Leeds and Hull KR, and PNG in 18 Tests during his playing career, also captained the Kumuls. “Rhyse has had an incredible career as a player, but he still has so much to offer the sport,” stated Chiefs general manager of football Michael Chammas. “He has the trust of our coach Willie Peters from their time together at Hull KR and they will continue to work closely. Anyone who has ever met Rhyse will talk about the quality of person he is and how passionate he is about Papua New Guinea. The combination of those two things makes him such an important off-field signing.”
Key Takeaways:
- Newcastle Knights forward Jermaine McEwen faces charges related to driving offences.
- Mitchell Moses’ availability for Origin II is uncertain due to injury concerns.
- Kalyn Ponga delivered a strong performance for the Knights following his Origin incident.
- Connor Watson has signed with the PNG Chiefs, signalling a significant move for the new franchise.
