NRL Late Mail: Round 20 - McEwen to start
See all the late mail, official team news and updates for Round 20 of the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership competition.
www.nrl.comHere’s the latest on Marata Niukore and the Knights.
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Summary of news: Marata Niukore has agreed to join the Newcastle Knights on a multi-year deal, with reports indicating a three-year contract through to the end of 2029. The move is described as strengthening Newcastle’s forward pack for the 2027 onwards period, after Niukore completes his current season with the Warriors. The signing was publicly confirmed by multiple outlets in mid-April 2026.
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Context and impact: Niukore is valued for his versatility—able to play in the middle, on the edge, or cover center as needed—and brings significant NRL experience (160+ games, international caps). This acquisition signals the Knights’ intention to build depth and impact in the forwards under coach Justin Holbrook, continuing their positive early-season form.
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Key dates to track:
- Niukore’s move is set to take effect from the 2027 season, with formal announcements confirming a three-year deal through 2029.
- The 2026 season remains Niukore’s current commitment with the Warriors before transferring.
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Additional notes:
- Several outlets emphasized his athleticism and edge-defence capability, highlighting him as a high-impact addition to the Knights’ forward stocks.
If you’d like, I can pull a quick one-paragraph news brief from the cited sources or summarize fan and analyst reactions. I can also provide a simple timeline graphic or a short table comparing Niukore’s typical roles to Newcastle’s current forward options.