Kalyn Ponga kicked things off by donating a jersey from his Dally M Medal-winning season, but there's one item above all others he'd like to contribute to Newcastle Museum's rugby league exhibition. Login or signup to continue reading The Knights skipper, along with NRLW captain Hannah Southwell, club chief executive Philip Gardner, Newcastle lord mayor Nuatali Nelmes and other officials, gathered at the council venue on Friday to mark the launch of a project set to showcase the sport's history in the region. The museum is seeking objects from players, officials and supporters for an exhibition set to open in 2027, coinciding with the Knights' 40th anniversary and 120 years since Newcastle entered a team in the inaugural state premiership.
The museum already has a number of items in its sports collection, and while the Knights and Newcastle Rugby League will dust off plenty themselves, the parties have put a call out for community donations. It could be old playing jerseys, memorabilia, historical photos, fan-created paraphernalia or just about anything in between. Ponga gave away a signed jersey from 2023, when he won the Dally M as the NRL's best player, but it's a premiership trophy he'd really like to be able to offer up in coming years.
"I would like to, definitely," Ponga said on Friday. "It's definitely what we're chasing, and we're definitely still in the race. "That is the goal, and it's the reason why we're here.
" Southwell has helped the NRLW side bank two premiership trophies the past two years, but the Kotara Bears junior labelled younger sister and Knights halfback Jesse a "a bit of collector" who would not doubt have something to contribute. Knights legend Danny Buderus vowed to dig "right down underneath the house" to find some items from from the glory years, when Newcastle won NRL titles in 1997 and 2001. "There's going to be so much come through here," Buderus said.
"The fabric of our team is made up of our town, and vice versa," he said. "To have it all on display, it's going to be very proud for a lot of people who have put on the jersey, and a lot of people that have pulled on any local jersey as well." It's envisioned part of the exhibition will remain permanent, while other donated items will be loaned to the museum.
"The collection will help to expand our ability to tell the story of the Knights, ensuring future generations will be able to learn about the club's impact for years to come," City of Newcastle museum director Julie Baird said. "Rugby league grew out of the working-class roots of our city and the sport is bound to our identity and history. "This will be a major self-curated exhibition.
It will require significant research, development, community engagement and object sourcing via loans and donations, and will also help to launch celebrations for Newcastle Museum's 40th anniversary in 2028." Gardner said some of the biggest cities around the world were often best known by their sports teams, and the Knights were much similar for Newcastle. "All the great cities in the world, they're not only showcased by their beauty, nature and people, but by their sporting teams that reflect the culture of those cities," he said.
Lord mayor Nuatali Nelmes added that the Knights and rugby league more broadly had "knitted the fabric of our community together" for decades. "This is a celebration of our city and that relationship," she said. Anyone wishing to donate items to the collection can visit the Newcastle Museum website for more details.
Max McKinney is a sports reporter with the Newcastle Herald. He previously worked in news, covering mainly local government and transport. Max mostly reports on the Newcastle Knights, but also covers a mix of local sport.
Max McKinney is a sports reporter with the Newcastle Herald. He previously worked in news, covering mainly local government and transport. Max mostly reports on the Newcastle Knights, but also covers a mix of local sport.
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