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Newcastle Knights won the 2001 NRL Grand Final against Parramatta Eels. We look at the 17 players and what they are doing now, from Matt Gidley to Timana Tahu.
Newcastle Knights fans have waited 25 years to see their team in another grand final, but the 2001 NRL Grand Final victory over Parramatta Eels remains a vivid memory. That match, played on September 30, 2001, at Stadium Australia in Homebush, Sydney, saw Newcastle claim a 30-24 win, thanks to an Andrew Johns masterclass and a host of unsung heroes. As the current Knights prepare for another decider, we look back at the 17 men who stunned the Eels and find out what some of them are up to now.
Robbie O'Davis Battles CTE Symptoms
Robbie O'Davis, the diminutive fullback, is a Newcastle great who played his entire 13-year career for the Knights. He was one of the club's best attacking weapons in 2001 and a crucial cog in the premiership success. Since retirement, O'Davis has battled with symptoms of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). In a 2023 interview, he said he does not remember anything about his two grand final victories, adding that even watching the grand finals now, he cannot remember doing them.
Timana Tahu's Code-Switching Career
Timana Tahu forged a terrific career as an outside back in the NRL, playing 196 games for the Knights, Eels and Panthers, as well as 12 appearances for the Blues and five for Australia. In 2008, he switched to rugby union, playing for the NSW Waratahs and representing the Wallabies four times. After two years in the 15-man code, he returned to the NRL. Tahu scored the match-sealing try in the 2001 decider, though the Eels' stunning late flurry made things interesting.
Tahu recalled the celebrations to CODE Sports, saying that Newcastle got a public day off, with over 100,000 people lining the streets. He described it as an ongoing party, with parades also held in towns like Cessnock, Kurri and Maitland. He said it was amazing to experience that in 2001 and that he hopes the current boys can experience it again this year. Using his platform, Tahu denounced racism in rugby league on the Hi Society podcast last year, saying he feels sorry for athletes who stand up against racism and still cop it today.
Matt Gidley's Journey from CEO to McDonald's Owner
Matt Gidley, the oldest of the Gidley brothers, made his debut in 1996 at age 18 and became a one-club man, writing his name into Newcastle folklore. He enjoyed a breakout season in 1998 before making his Australian debut in the Tri-Nations the following year. He and Timana Tahu formed a lethal combination, playing key roles in the 2001 premiership. Gidley played another five years at the Knights before leaving for the Super League, later returning as CEO from 2011 to 2017.
When Gidley finished that role, he sought something totally different. After about nine months of doing nothing and talking to people, he landed on owning McDonald's franchises. On the Backstage with Cooper & Matty Johns podcast earlier this year, Gidley explained that he knew a few licensees in Newcastle who had sponsored the club over the years. He expressed interest and underwent nine months of interviews followed by 12 months of unpaid in-store training. He was first sent to the McDonald's in Wallsend, where he grew up, and recalled a funny exchange with a Knights fan who assumed he was down on his luck, asking how bad things were going. Gidley advised keeping an eye on the bigger picture.
Other Unsung Heroes of the 2001 Knights
Ben Kennedy and Danny Buderus were among the other key players who hoisted the NRL Premiership Trophy at Stadium Australia after the defeat of the Parramatta Eels. The 2001 grand final was a defining moment for the club, with Andrew Johns leading the way. The match drew a crowd and was a highlight of the season. The Newcastle Knights have not won a premiership since, making the 2001 victory even more special for fans.
As the Knights prepare for another grand final, the legacy of the 2001 team lives on. Players like O'Davis, Tahu and Gidley have all moved on to different paths, but their contributions to that historic win are remembered. The 25-year wait has been long, but the passion of the Newcastle supporter base remains strong, with vivid memories of that most recent triumph.
Newcastle Knights NRL Grand Final 2001 NRL Grand Final Parramatta Eels Robbie O'davis Timana Tahu Matt Gidley
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