Official Knights take two big forward steps (Sign Adam Elliot and Jack Hetherington)

[Captain Ibis]

The nib Newcastle Knights have added strength and toughness to their pack for next season and beyond, with confirmation of the signings of back rowers Adam Elliott and Jack Hetherington to three-year deals.

27-year-old Elliott brings 113 games of first grade experience to the Knights, having debuted with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs back in 2016.

The former NSW Country and Indigenous All Stars representative played his junior football for the Tathra Sea Eagles and is a graduate of famed Rugby League nursery St. Gregory’s College, Campbelltown.

In 2020, he was nominated for the prestigious Ken Stephen Medal in recognition of his work to raise funds and awareness for the Autism Community Network.

The signing of Hetherington represents a homecoming for the 26-year-old, who played his junior football with the Valentine Devils before relocating to the south-western NSW town of Young as a teenager.

The son of former Canberra Raiders forward Brett Hetherington, and the nephew of Australian and NSW representative Brett Mullins, Hetherington has featured in 43 first grade games for Penrith, the New Zealand Warriors and the Bulldogs since making his debut for the Panthers in 2018.

The hardworking powerhouse forward suffered a season ending shoulder injury in round three of 2022, forcing him to spend the remainder of the year in the rehabilitation group.

Newcastle Knights GM of Football Danny Buderus said these two signatures will bolster the depth of our playing roster.

“Both players will be a welcome addition to our club next season," Buderus said.

“They bring versality, leg speed and strong physical presence to our pack, which are key attributes and skillsets for the modern game.

“I really like their attitude to hard work, they both compete to win every moment which win more matches, that’s a great fit for the Newcastle Knights."

Hetherington and Elliot will relocate to Newcastle at the end of the season once their current club commitments have been fulfilled.

The Newcastle Knights look forward to introducing them to the Knights faithful supporters, in particular our loyal members at McDonald Jones Stadium.

 

[Captain Ibis]

Pretty disappointing to see Jack go but hopefully we've got an experienced replacement coming in.

I think we would have lost him regardless, but Gus and co really need to get cracking on the coaching situation before we lose other's.

 

[spiritofaslan]

Klemmer, Hetho, Elliott. Are Knights really wanting to buy more Bulldogs offcuts because there's a few more they can take.

I'd have like to have kept Hetho, but reality is with Kikau coming he's surplus.

Maybe the clubs hunting Payne Haas?

 

[Old Woof Woof]

Haas is overated too in my opinion. Did not over impress in state of origin

 

[Captain Ibis]

Freddy's gameplan also didn't help though, trying to swing it before winning the right was a terrible idea.

Well Hetherington's brain snaps certainly won't be missed.. I get the sense we weren't keen to get in a bidding war to keep him.

 

[Bad Billy]

An idiot and a penalty magnet.
Good luck to them.

 

[BomberBurton]

Feel Hetho could of been moulded into something far better with the right coach.

 

[Captain Ibis]

Hetherington definitely has it in him to be something good. Even Elliott has been fairly consistent this season... It gives me hope that with the right coach more of our players will improve.

 

[Old Woof Woof]

Hope Newcastle have better restaurants and toilets to suit the idiot lol now he is flushed with funds