Tom Cant has celebrated a contract extension with the Newcastle Knights by earning a call-up to the top squad for this weekend’s clash with the Gold Coast Titans.

The Maitland Pickers junior re-signed with his hometown NRL club for another two seasons.

It comes as the 22-year-old was named on the interchange bench, alongside Will Pryce, Mat Croker and Jack Hetherington, for the side’s all-important showdown with Gold Coast on the Voice for Mining Family Day at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday 1 September.

After making his first grade debut as a teenager with the Pickers in Newcastle Rugby League (NEWRL), Cant graduated through the Knights’ pathways system.

His hard work paid off when he appeared for the club against the Dolphins in round three in 2023.

The versatile back-rower provides great utility for the squad, playing in both the forwards and backs, along with being an accomplished goalkicker since his early days at the East Maitland Griffins.

Newcastle director of football Peter Parr was thrilled Cant re-committed to the Knights.

“Tom is having a tremendous year in NSW Cup,” he said.

“We believe he is primed to take that form into the NRL.

“He is a passionate Novocastrian, who loves representing his family and the community he cares so deeply about.

“So, we are delighted to see him remain at the club.”

A massive crowd is expected at McDonald Jones, with the NRL outfit donning the hi-vis jerseys.

Voice for Mining Family Day

Sunday 1 September

McDonald Jones Stadium

Noon: NRLW – Newcastle Knights v Wests Tigers

• Newcastle Knights: 1 Tamika Upton, 2 Tenika Willison, 3 Shanice Parker, 4 Abigail Roache, 5 Lilly-Ann White, 6 Georgia Roche, 7 Evie Jones, 8 Rima Butler, 9 Olivia Higgins, 10 Simone Karpani, 11 Laishon Albert-Jones, 12 Yasmin Clydsdale, 13 Hannah Southwell; interchange: 14 Nita Maynard, 15 Kayla Romaniuk, 16 Tayla Predebon, 17 Grace Kukutai; reserves: 18 Sheridan Gallagher, 19 Jules Kirkpatrick, 20 Viena Tinao, 21 Isabella Waterman, 22 Jesse Southwell
• Wests Tigers: 1 Botille Vette-Welsh, 2 Rebecca Pollard, 3 Leianne Tufuga, 4 Shaianne McGlone, 5 Tiana-Lee Thorne, 6 Pauline Piliae-Rasabale, 7 Losana Lutu, 8 Sarah Togatuki, 9 Salma Nour, 10 Christian Pio, 11 Brooke Talataina, 12 Montana Clifford, 13 Najvada George; interchange: 14 Sophie Curtain, 15 Natasha Penitani, 16 Tara Reinke, 17 Ebony Prior; reserves: 18 Tess Staines, 19 Jessica Kennedy, 20 Claudia Nielsen, 21 Iemaima Etuale, 22 Evie McGrath

2pm: NRL – Newcastle Knights v Gold Coast Titans

• Newcastle Knights: 1 Kalyn Ponga, 2 Fletcher Sharpe, 3 Dane Gagai, 4 Bradman Best, 5 Greg Marzhew, 6 Jack Cogger, 7 Phoenix Crossland, 8 Daniel Saifiti, 9 Jayden Brailey, 10 Leo Thompson, 11 Dylan Lucas, 12 Brodie Jones, 13 Adam Elliott; interchange: 14 Will Pryce, 15 Mat Croker, 16 Jack Hetherington, 17 Thomas Cant; reserves: 18 Kyle McCarthy, 19 Sebastian Su’a, 20 Jackson Hastings, 21 David Armstrong, 22 Thomas Jenkins
• Gold Coast Titans: 1 Keano Kini, 2 Alofiana Khan-Pereira, 3 Brian Kelly, 4 Phillip Sami, 5 Jojo Fifita, 6 Jayden Campbell, 7 Kieran Foran, 8 Moeaki Fotuaika, 9 Sam Verrills, 10 Jaimin Jolliffe, 11 David Fifita, 12 Beau Fermor, 13 Chris Randall; interchange: 14 Josiah Pahulu, 15 Isaac Liu, 16 Erin Clark, 17 Klese Haas; reserves: 18 Tanah Boyd, 19 Keenan Palasia, 20 Joe Stimson, 21 Arama Hau, 22 Jaylan De Groot

For more sports stories:

• NRL: High-vis round motivating Knights to slay Titans
• NRL: Saifiti only willing to leave Knights on his terms
• Mining and Knights ‘Heart of the Hunter’

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