
Cessnock Goannas junior Fletcher Sharpe is determined to keep knocking on the NRL door by extending his time with the Newcastle Knights until 2028.
Head coach Adam O’Brien handed Sharpe his NRL debut in June last year, not long after his 20th birthday. He went on to score his maiden try in first grade despite the 36-28 loss to Melbourne Storm at AAMI Park.
Sharpe continued to impress at both fullback and wing tallying 11 tries in 12 NRL games in 2024.
He also played in his first NRL Finals series playing against North Queensland in Townsville in Week One's Elimination final.
Sharpe was a consistent points provider for the Knights in The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup scoring six tries in seven games at No.1.
The new deal reconfirms his commitment to the Knights after coming through the NSWRL pathways system.
Sharpe scored a try in the 2022 Jersey Flegg (Under 21) Grand Final loss to Penrith Panthers (19-18) and was again at fullback in the 2023 UNE SG Ball (Under 19) Grand Final, going down to Parramatta Eels 28-22.
His superlative performances in NRL and NSW Cup last year caught Australian coach Mal Meninga’s eye and he was fullback for the Prime Minister’s XIII against PNG in October.
At the Knights’ end of season presentation night, Sharpe won Rookie of the Year.
nib Newcastle Knights Head of Recruitment Peter O’Sullivan said Sharpe has managed every challenge in his young career and the Knights are excited to extend his contract with the club.
“I have admired Fletcher from afar for a long time,” O’Sullivan said.
“Watching him go about his work at the back end of last year and again in this off season, has further opened my eyes, he is a talented and hard-working player.”