Knights Consider Signing Warriors Forward

The Newcastle Knights have reportedly set their sights on Marata Niukore, a forward from the New Zealand Warriors known for his versatility and extensive experience.

At 29 years of age, Niukore has accumulated 157 NRL appearances, including 13 in finals, and has donned the jerseys of both New Zealand and the Cook Islands on the international stage. He was integral to Parramatta's grand final run in 2022.

Last season, he made 25 appearances for the Warriors.

However, Niukore had been recovering from a calf injury, which excluded him from the Warriors' pre-season preparations and their first-round match.

During the Warriors' impressive 40-6 victory over Canberra, he was absent but led the NSW Cup team to a commanding 44-12 win.

Niukore is under contract with the Warriors until the conclusion of the 2026 season, and with the Knights potentially parting ways with players like Tyson Frizell and Brodie Jones at the season's end, he could provide a valuable addition to their forward roster.

Knights head coach Justin Holbrook recently spoke about the rumors surrounding Niukore.

"It's always tough on recruitment, it's always speculation, and there's always interest," Holbrook stated.

"But I don't want to comment on that."