2017 Auckland 9s - New Faces - Newcastle Knights

Retirements, a dramatically changed list and early season injuries saw Newcastle debut more players in 2016 than any club since the NRL started in 1998.

The 2017 Nines will give more young Knights players a chance to play alongside senior pros, like newly arrived squad captain Jamie Buhrer, former Eel Ken Sio coming home from the UK, and Nathan Ross, who proved last year that dedication to your sport will be rewarded - even if it doesn't come as soon as you want or expect.

Luke Yates is in the third year of his Rugby League career and will go to his first Auckland Nines tournament. He played 20 matches in reserve grade for the Knights in 2016 and was awarded Player of the Year, scoring three tries.

Nick Meaney is another Knights player of the year heading to Auckland, as the U/20s winner. In 2016 Nick played at the scrum and on the wing, but mostly at fullback.  No doubt his versatility was an important consideration in his selection for this year's festival of attacking Rugby League.  In his 23 matches Nick scored 4 tries and ran 2600 metres with the ball in hand.  Auckland will be the first chance of many for Nick to impress Coach Brown.

Sam Stone is another U/20's player heading to Auckland for the first time.  In his first year playing Holden Cup he played 21 matches, 14 for the full 80 minutes. The son of ex-coach Rick Stone scored 7 tries, but his greatest impact was as a defender, making over 600 tackles.  Already 100kg at just over 19 years of age, Sam has graduated from the U/20s  - despite being eligible for another year.