Newton the first to quit Knights
MELBOURNE officials are considering making a formal approach to representative forward Clint Newton after he left the Knights yesterday in a dramatic move predicted to be the start of an exodus from the club.
Newton, who played his 100th first-grade match for Newcastle in Sunday's record 71-6 loss to Brisbane, said his heart was no longer with the club and hinted at a falling-out with new coach Brian Smith after being granted a release from the rest of his contract.
Despite having played for the Prime Minister's XIII in 2005 and being selected for Country Origin the past two seasons, Newton was unhappy to have been dropped from the Knights leadership group and felt he did not fit into Smith's long-term plans.
The departure of the 25-year-old son of golfing great Jack Newton coincided with the retirement yesterday of veteran prop Luke Davico, who has not played first grade this season, and several other players are also set to leave.
Among them are starting front-rowers Josh Perry and Adam Woolnough, who are both off contract and yet to receive an offer to stay, and centre George Carmont.
The Knights signed Luke MacDougall from St George Illawarra yesterday and have been linked with two more Dragons, prop Jason Ryles and centre Wes Naiqama.
Jack Newton, who is also his son Clint's manager said: "A new coach is going to put his stamp on the joint, there's no doubt about that. One would have expected that from someone like Brian, which is fair enough.
"[But] when you've got local boys and blokes who are passionate about the jumper and the culture of the club, when you start to bring players in from all over the place, is our culture under threat? That's a question I pose but I don't know the answer to that."
Newton revealed that after recently receiving a London Harlequins offer, Smith told him that he was considered a "floater" at the Knights and should strongly consider accepting it.
The Newcastle-born second-rower said he felt he could no longer play for the club after hearing that.
"It's extremely difficult for me to come to this decision but I feel it's in the best interests of myself to do this now," Newton said. "It's too hard a game to play at the best of times, let alone when you're struggling with other influences that make it even harder. Having to leave mid-season, leave all my best mates, and my family and this town behind me, that's the hardest thing for me. But right now I'm not happy, and I play this game because I love it.
"I'm just sorry that I can't help them for the rest of the year. I just can't do it any more, and that's why this decision has come to a head today."
Asked last night about a falling-out with Newton, Smith said: "[There's] no fall-out from my end, mate."
But Newton, who has a British passport, said he was considering offers from clubs in Australia and England, which are believed to include Wigan and St Helens.
Manly chief executive Grant Mayer said no one from his club had spoken officially to Newton or his father, but a Melbourne official confirmed the Storm's interest - provided he was prepared to play for little money this season.
