They are the closest of mates who live in a house together, holiday together and have shared in some great wins and shattering defeats as teammates at the Knights over the past couple of seasons.
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They also have strong cultural beliefs and are happy to put themselves out there to highlight their heritage and spread the word.
Which will only make the likely confrontation between Kalyn Ponga and Connor Watson in next month's Indigenous-Maori All Stars clash on the Gold Coast even more special than normal for both players and Knights fans.
Ponga is a certain selection for the Maori side while we are hearing Watson will make his first appearance for the Indigenous All Stars team off the bench with the two sides to be announced after the finalisation of a fan poll on Tuesday.
Knowing Watson, the game will one of his and his family's proudest moments in footy. No NRL player has done more in recent times than the Knights utility star for Indigenous people in raising awareness of the culture and supporting the prevention of youth suicide.
Get set for plenty of banter between the pair in the lead up to the game on Saturday, February 22.
Their selection will impact big time on the Knights chances of winning the NRL Nines in Perth on February 14 and 15 as both won't play in the tournament. They will also miss the club's opening trial in Maitland against St George Illawarra on February 22.
Mann for Nines
It won't please some Knights fans but barring injury between now and then, Kurt Mann will be the five-eighth outside Mitchell Pearce when the season kicks off in March.
He will also be the first player named in the Knights' Nines lineup for an NRL promotion early next week and could be in line to captain the side if Pearce doesn't play in the tournament.
Mann is highly regarded for his toughness and as a leader by coach Adam O'Brien, who says he shouldn't be solely judged on his form last season in the position.
With Kalyn Ponga out of Nines contention, don't be surprised if young Tex Hoy features prominently in selection discussions. Coach Adam O'Brien is a fan and believes he is more than capable of deputising at fullback for Ponga in the NRL this season.
Jirah reward
Hot on the heels of being promoted into the club's top 30 roster following the release of hooker Danny Levi to Manly, there is more good news on the way for young Knights forward Jirah Momoisea.
We've been told the 21-year-old will next week sign an upgraded and extended contract that will keep him at the club until the end of 2022.
Fitzy cleared
Knights backrower Lachlan Fitzgibbon appears unlikely to make the trip to Perth for the Nines as a precaution after rolling his ankle at training early last week which has seen him getting around in a moon boot.
X-rays apparently revealed only minor damage and he should be back on the training paddock sometime next week.
Mickey returns
Three years after his NRL career ended in Newcastle at the Knights, journeyman forward Mickey Paea is back in town and set to play under another ex-Knight, coach Todd Lowrie at the Wests Rosellas in the Real NRL.
Paea's two seasons at the Knights in 2016 and 2017 under Nathan Brown were hardly memorable with a draw and 19 losses to come out of his 20 NRL appearances for the club. But while the results weren't great, he and his family clearly loved the Newcastle lifestyle.
After featuring in 51 games for Hull FC in the English Super League over the past two seasons, the 33-year-old has returned to Australia and will once again make Newcastle home. Paea will fill the void at the Rosellas left by the retirement of Mark Taufua.
But in a bitter blow for the defending champions, the Rosellas look set to be without five-eighth Ryan Walsh, the brother of halves partner Luke, for the season with reports emerging he suffered a torn knee ACL at training during the week.
All star cast
If you are a Knights or boxing fan, this is a sporting function you won't want to miss. And it's for a great cause.
The Port Stephens' Men of League will have Knights coach Adam O'Brien and boxing legend Johnny Lewis as their special guests at a charity lunch at the Soldiers Point Bowling Club on Friday, February 7.
Former Knights assistant coach and life member Allan Bell, regarded as one of the game's great player educators who has mentored the likes of the Johns brothers and more recently Mitchell Pearce, has played a major role in organising the function and also bringing together a whose who of former Knights to attend.
As many as 30 former players, among them some of the greats of the club, will be there along with a number of ex-club officials.
ABC veteran Craig Hamilton will MC and interview O'Brien while club legend Tony Butterfield, who used to manage Lewis, will pose the questions to Australia's greatest boxing trainer.
Colleague Robert Dillon, author of Hard Yards, The Story of the Newcastle Knights, will be on hand to introduce the Old Boys while Butterfield's comedic son Isaac, who has well over one million YouTube subscribers, will also be there to provide more laughs.
Tickets are $25 a head which includes lunch and a drinks voucher and are still available but it will be a sellout so get in fast by ringing the bowling club on 49827173. For more info, call Men of League secretary Peter Arnold on 0404872018.
Role model
Promising Knights and Central Newcastle teenager Kurt Donoghoe doesn't have to look too far for inspiration after being chosen in the Australian Under 20's touch team.
Kalyn Ponga, who was on hand at Wests New Lambton to present the Doyalson Dragons junior and his Australian teammates with their jerseys on Thursday night, played for the Australian Under 18's touch side back in 2015 before exploding onto the NRL scene.
Goannas' big day
Cessnock will host a NSW Challenge Cup double-header on February 8 with the Goannas taking on North Tamworth and Wests meeting Coonabarabran.