Knights' good form wins over new fans
BY BRETT KEEBLE
MUSWELLBROOK Shire Council Deputy Mayor Jeff Drayton said the Newcastle Knights had gained many new supporters in the Upper Hunter after going above and beyond their professional duty on a promotional visit to the town last weekend.
Knights players visited Tamworth, Scone, Denman and Aberdeen last Thursday and Friday as part of the NRL's annual Community Carnival then attended a junior rugby league fund-raising dinner at Muswellbrook Golf Club on Friday night.
Coach Rick Stone conducted a training session at Olympic Park on Saturday morning then players stayed behind to sign autographs and meet fans at a registration day for all junior clubs in Group 21.
Drayton said the poor behaviour of some rugby league players had been well-documented in recent years but in this case the Knights deserved credit and praise for their "exemplary conduct and behaviour".
He estimated $10,000 was raised in the team's Muswellbrook visit.
"I know a lot of people who attended the dinner have sent personal emails to the Knights complimenting the players and staff on their exemplary conduct and behaviour," Cr Drayton told The Herald yesterday.
In a letter sent to The Herald this week, he said players went to great lengths to promote their club and code.
"Cooper Vuna introduced himself to each member of his table, shaking hands with each, then managing to go and bring over the favourite player of each guest at the table to introduce them," Cr Drayton wrote.
"Isaac De Gois, on hearing at his table of a cancer sufferer who is a James McManus fan, went and got James's photo for him then proceeded to write a short note and then walked the whole room getting every other player's signature.
"Jarrod Mullen and Dan Tolar, on hearing about a young Knights fan whose father was doing it a bit tough and struggles a bit, grabbed a signed ball, which was a lucky door prize, and presented it to the boy because they believed it was better value in his care.
"These are just some examples of the behaviour of these young men during the night."
Drayton said Stone and Knights operations manager Warren Smiles had arranged for players to play touch footy with young fans after training on Saturday.
"I haven't seen a community response like this in our town for quite a while," he said.
[PI9016] The Knights will take their case against the Newcastle Jets to the Supreme Court on March 9, four days before they kick off their season against the Bulldogs.
The club, who allege the Jets owe about $330,000 in game-day hire of EnergyAustralia Stadium, have lodged with the Supreme Court a winding-up application against the A-League club.
Herald
