Knights coach Wayne Bennett has named a full-strength squad for this weekend’s NRL trial match against the Panthers at the Regional Sports Stadium in Port Macquarie.
The Knights have nominated an impressive 27-man squad for the trial that includes new buys Darius Boyd, Kade Snowden, Adam Cutherbertson and Alex McKinnon along with former stalwarts Danny Buderus and Timana Tahu plus Knights regulars Kurt Gidley, Jarrod Mullen and Akuila Uate.
The trial will be the first chance for many of the Knights players to showcase their talents in front of new boss Bennett.
The match is also being billed as a clash of the super-coaches with Bennett and deputy Rick Stone coming up against Panthers mastermind Phil Gould and new coach Ivan Cleary, who guided the Warriors to last year’s Grand Final.
Meanwhile, the newly formed Advisory Board has announced the formation of a Knights Hall of Fame to celebrate the Club's 25th year in the NRL.
All the previous Knights players and coaching staff will be listed online and Knights fans will decide the top 25 names.
The top 25 will be announced to coincide with the Knights opening game of the Club's 25th year against the St George Illawarra Dragons on March 1.
A Knights selection panel with then reduce the list to a top 10 to be announced on Friday Match 16 at the Knights game against the Brisbane Broncos.
The Knights will hold a Hall of Fame and 25 year anniversary dinner on April 4 where the founding four members will be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
The four inductees will then be presented to the crowd at the Knights Round 6 clash with the Parramatta Eels, the Club's first opponent 25 years ago.
Knights CEO Matthew Gidley said the Hall of Fame would be a great boost for the club as it seeks to win a third premiership in its 25th year.
"This is the greatest honour a former coach or player at our Club can receive," Gidley said.
"The panel will weigh up all aspects of a player or coaches career from number of games right though to their contribution as a clubman."
"I'm sure this will provide plenty of debate with crowd favourites being weighed up against long term and loyal contributors.”