2005 Newcastle Knights season
Encyclopedia
The 2005 Newcastle Knights
season was the 18th in the club's history. They competed in the NRL's 2005 Telstra Premiership and finished the regular season with the wooden spoon
for the first time ever.
The Knights recorded their worst ever start to a season (13 straight losses) and were consigned to last place for the entire year. They did however win 8 of their last 11 games thanks to the return of superstar Andrew Johns
, but it wasn't enough for them to avoid the wooden spoon. They also recorded their then equal worst ever defeat - a 50-0 thrashing by the Parramatta Eels in round 14 (this was reversed in round 20). During this match, an EnergyAustralia Stadium
attendant ran onto the field, trying to tackle Parramatta's Daniel Wagon
before he scored in the 78th minute.
Notable wins in 2005 included wins against Penrith
in round 16 (a 28-24 win after trailing 14-0 at halftime), the Knights' first win for 2005, in round 18 against eventual runners-up North Queensland
, and then a six-match winning run which included the scalps of eventual minor premiers Parramatta
(who then failed to make the Grand Final), defending premiers the Bulldogs (who then failed to make the finals altogether) and the Warriors (whose greatest player Stacey Jones
was playing his final home match). It culminated in a 44-14 thrashing of Cronulla (the Knights led 34-0 at halftime before easing off in the second half), the club's biggest win for the season. A loss to the St. George Illawarra Dragons in the final round confirmed Newcastle's wooden spoon, but it was actually the Rabbitohs
' win over the Sharks which confirmed Newcastle's last placing for the season in the first place.
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
season was the 18th in the club's history. They competed in the NRL's 2005 Telstra Premiership and finished the regular season with the wooden spoon
Wooden spoon (award)
A wooden spoon is a mock or real award, usually given to an individual or team which has come last in a competition, but sometimes also to runners-up. Examples range from the academic to sporting and more frivolous events...
for the first time ever.
The Knights recorded their worst ever start to a season (13 straight losses) and were consigned to last place for the entire year. They did however win 8 of their last 11 games thanks to the return of superstar Andrew Johns
Andrew Johns
Andrew Gary "Joey" Johns is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s who is considered by many to be the greatest player of all time. He was heralded as the world's best halfback for a number of years...
, but it wasn't enough for them to avoid the wooden spoon. They also recorded their then equal worst ever defeat - a 50-0 thrashing by the Parramatta Eels in round 14 (this was reversed in round 20). During this match, an EnergyAustralia Stadium
EnergyAustralia Stadium
Newcastle International Sports Centre is a multi-purpose sports stadium located in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. It is the home ground of the Newcastle Knights and the Newcastle United Jets teams. It is owned by the New South Wales government and administered by the Hunter Region...
attendant ran onto the field, trying to tackle Parramatta's Daniel Wagon
Daniel Wagon
Daniel Wagon is an Australian professional rugby league player and coach, who currently coaches Limoux Grizzlies in the Elite One Championship and plays for the Aston DSC Bulls in the AMNRL...
before he scored in the 78th minute.
Notable wins in 2005 included wins against Penrith
Penrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
in round 16 (a 28-24 win after trailing 14-0 at halftime), the Knights' first win for 2005, in round 18 against eventual runners-up North Queensland
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
, and then a six-match winning run which included the scalps of eventual minor premiers Parramatta
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
(who then failed to make the Grand Final), defending premiers the Bulldogs (who then failed to make the finals altogether) and the Warriors (whose greatest player Stacey Jones
Stacey Jones
Stacey William Jones, ONZM is a professional rugby league footballer, who has been named amongst the greatest New Zealand has ever produced. He currently plays for the Point Chevalier Pirates in the Auckland Rugby League's Phelan Shield...
was playing his final home match). It culminated in a 44-14 thrashing of Cronulla (the Knights led 34-0 at halftime before easing off in the second half), the club's biggest win for the season. A loss to the St. George Illawarra Dragons in the final round confirmed Newcastle's wooden spoon, but it was actually the Rabbitohs
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
' win over the Sharks which confirmed Newcastle's last placing for the season in the first place.