From Danny Buderus and Paul Harragon through to current stars Adam Clydsdale and Kurt Gidley, the Knights have always blooded exciting new talent from the Hunter region's vast array of juniors.
Talk to those inside the Club and it’s a production line that continues to roll out.
Just ask Knights’ recruitment officer Peter Mulholland, a bloke who has worked with some of the best juniors in the NRL as a coach and recruiter throughout an illustrious 19-year career.
Mulholland says the Club's current crop is right up there with the best he has ever seen, including the star-studded Penrith sides from the early 2000s.
“The future is exciting for the club,” Mulholland tells Behind the Armour.
“It’s all on the back of good structures that Wayne has put in place and programs like the High Performance Unit (HPU).
“The juniors we have at the moment are right up there with the best I’ve seen.
“The Canterbury crop that they’ve got at the moment is a great group of kids.
“Penrith was also wonderful in the early 2000s. They included Luke Lewis, Luke Rooney, Steve Turner and Frank Pritchard.
“But this Newcastle group is potentially as good as them.
“So it’s a crest of a wave and we’ve just got to make sure we continue to work hard with them because some kids will fall off and some will get better.
"It’s about how you work with them and the time and effort that you put in that’s important."
While a number of juniors have made their top grade debuts in recent seasons, Mulholland says their promotions have been more reward for form than good planning.
"I suppose it is unconsciously a plan to blood these juniors in the NRL," he admits.
"Like when Adam Clydsdale went and trained full-time with the NRL the year before last and he was in last year.
"You try and identify your three or four best kids that you think are potentials to play NRL in that next season.
“It’s also about making sure they are prepared and ready for it.
“They’ve also got to carry that form back to the 20s and both Joe Tapine and Jake Mamo have showcased that.
“So it’s basically selection on form.”
Following on from the rise of 20s players Mamo and Tapine to the NRL this season, we decided to take a look at the next group of juniors in line to don the famous red and blue in first grade.
With the help of Mulholland and others from around the Club, we've compiled a list of the gun rookies to watch out for in the coming years.
Lachlan Fitzgibbon:
On the back of an impressive effort in the NYC last season, Fitzgibbon has taken his game to another level in 2014.
The local South Newcastle junior started last year in the summer squad, but he remained focused and pushed his way into the 20s team midway through the season.
Mulholland says Fitzgibbon has the ability and potential to become a top grade regular in the red and blue down the track.
"Lachlan is certainly one to keep an eye on," he says.
"He is tall, athletic, great build for a young back-rower.
"The kid still has plenty of learning ahead of him, but he has the work ethic to get there."
