https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2026-marata-niukore-signs-with-the-newcastle-knights-jacob-preston-pushes-for-state-of-origin-debut/news-story/7c69212e125e2b15aaa408dd2f828cb7?fbclid=IwY2xjawRJRCtleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFZOHFFTXR1T3ZwTzNZVldHc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHnHSBQJEREelqLPYcGAZ6DTqTgUS0QeV91oLNcca_gHzMBhp0s7Yn3vJhhhO_aem_XbP5PbgoP6MSLQMioiQXww

Summary:

  • The Newcastle Knights have secured a major signing, landing forward Marata Niukore on a three-year deal starting in 2027.
  • Niukore leaves the New Zealand Warriors seeking a fresh opportunity amid rising competition and is seen as a versatile, high-quality addition to Newcastle’s pack.
  • The move is viewed as a significant boost for the Knights, who are building momentum and strengthening their roster for the future.

 

 

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                • Niukore was very close to BA and his family (BA's wife looked after the kids so Marata could train, his wife was bedridden at the time).....why am I saying this, I can only guess but I think he sees himself being loyal to BA because of those commitments, otherwise I think he would have approached us through that loyalty.

                  Obviously still a lot of bad blood over BA's sacking.

                  • Though he didn't leave due to BA going, left way before that. But fair claim who knows.

  • Penrith never buy 31 or 32 year olds.  Not in the past 7 years where they've had success.  

    • They have a few now but those are players that they developed.

      • Thats totally different.  When.they add new players thats what counts.  We add 33 year olds.  And over the hill Kelly 

        • Liam martin and murray tualagi linked to the roosters. While everyone else is building stronger rosters our r&r are twiddling their thumbs

        • I was agreeing Chief haha. Was saying the only 30 year olds they usually have they developed.

  • Niukore is like a metaphor for potential issues in the preseason for the Eels. He always had some mongrel and hit hard. Often too high and got into suspension problems. Lost his starting spot at Warriors, back to bench, and in the Storm game it was brutally obvious the Warriors had worked on first contact as they were legally bashing the Storm. 

    Is it possible the Eels over-corrected in the off-season, aiming to meet the NRL edicts about lowering contact zones, and have ended up with ineffective tackling? No I am not saying go high to be effective. Neither Warriors nor Dogs went high in smashing Storm or Panthers on the weekend. But surely it's not a coincidence that the entire Eels forward pack is failing to win collisions (as BA users to say)? All the talk about fitness and spirit might overlook over-coaching as another potential cause?

  • A lot of questions have been asked after yesterday!!

    But this is the biggest question we have been asked

    HAS MITCHELL MOSES LOST THE PLAYING GROUP?

    I heard quite a bit in the off season about some players not happy with his approach.

    I had also been told that it was a key reason in why we can’t attract players to our club…

    One other thing I have been told about is how players were not happy with some of the players brought into the team and how Mitch has taken to them.

    Now I don’t like to post stuff like this and I have avoided it for a while. But after yesterday’s game a lot of fans have noticed players not seeming to respect him on the field ignoring when he wanted the ball and not reacting to his blow ups.

    I will also stat that I have not spoken to any of the playing group about this. But if fans are noticing there may be something to it.

    To me Mitch doesn’t look happy at the moment..

    Is it due to his injuries?

    Is it because of this?

    Or is Mitch just realising that as he gets older his chances of winning comp at the Eels are looking less and less likely..

    There could be a lot of things going on. We spoke about it on Tuesdays podcast and all it go was the podcast an my personal profile blocked by Moses… not that I give a fuck about that

    I love what Mitch has done for the club and he is a great player at his best. But I think it’s obvious to all something is affecting Mitch this year

    Taken from FB rumour 

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