Knights hold off KPP talks as Raiders, Tigers emerge as potential suitors

The Newcastle Knights will wait until Kai Pearce-Paul has played a few more games this season before ramping up talks about his future, despite reported interest in the Englishman from Canberra and Wests Tigers. Login or signup to continue reading Pearce-Paul, in the final year of a two-season contract with Newcastle , is believed to be in the Raiders and Tigers' sights, but the Knights have a desire to keep the back-rower. An England international, Pearce-Paul had a solid maiden NRL campaign last year , playing 22 games, but in his own words said he felt he could find an extra gear in 2025.

But he has only made two appearances this year. After copping a suspension for a shoulder-charge in round two, he missed Newcastle's most recent game against the Titans a fortnight ago and remains sidelined for Sunday's clash with Canterbury in Sydney. The Knights and Pearce-Paul's management are understood to have agreed to wait until he played about half-a-dozen games this year before progressing talks.



"We want to see him get on the field and play some footy," Knights recruitment manager Peter O'Sullivan told the Newcastle Herald . "It's just a matter of seeing where he's at and where we're at. "There's no appetite for him to move on or anything like that.

" Signed by previous recruitment officials, Pearce-Paul is on a big-money deal and is understood to be among one of Newcastle's highest earners this season. The Knights have been content to let the 2023 Super League winner test his value on the open market, given he has been free to talk to other clubs since November 1. Pearce-Paul has also switched from the left to the right edge this season, the 24-year-old's preferred side of the field to play on.

With a couple of Englishman on their roster, and a history of getting the best out of them, Canberra could hold appeal for Pearce-Paul. The Raiders recently signed Knights hooker Jayden Brailey , adding to what seems like their ever-growing list of former Knights players. The Tigers are a team on the rise after attracting the likes of Jarome Luai and Terrell May, and would offer Pearce-Paul the chance to live in Sydney.

But the south-east London product has settled in Newcastle, regularly expressing his love for the city's lifestyle. Speaking in the pre-season , Pearce-Paul held no real concerns about entering the 2025 season without a new deal locked in, but suggested his future was likely in the NRL, rather than returning home to England. "I love this place.

It's one of the best places in the world," Pearce-Paul said in January. "I've got a lot of love for Newcastle and the fans, and everything about it." The edge-forward, who played 61 games for Wigan, is one of several Newcastle players who are off contract and remain without a club for next season, including the likes of Adam Elliott , Jack Hetherington, Jackson Hastings and Mat Croker .

Newcastle have one spot remaining in their top-30 roster for 2025, after releasing fellow Englishman Will Pryce this past week . Pryce returned to his home country, joining Hull FC on a multi-year deal. Newcastle take on Canterbury at Accor Stadium at 6.

15pm on Sunday. 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. Daily Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update.

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