It took several meetings and deep consideration from the Newcastle board of directors, but the Knights have resurrected the career of Shaun Kenny-Dowall a week after he pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Kenny-Dowall has signed with the Knights for the remainder of this season and the next two years, and has vowed to "repay the club for the faith they have shown in me".
The 29-year-old was placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond but escaped conviction at Dowling Centre Court last week after he pleaded guilty to having 0.29 grams of cocaine at a Sydney night club on May 5.
Kenny-Dowall was in Newcastle on Tuesday, where he met with Knights coach Nathan Brown and club officials to finalise the deal after undergoing a medical. He will train with his new teammates for the first time on Wednesday but is carrying a hamstring injury, and his first appearance for the Knights is most likely to be against his former club, the Roosters, at Allianz Stadium on July 21.
The Knights board had reservations about bringing a player charged with drug possession into a young playing group and Fairfax Media understands that another strike would result in immediate action.
"While Shaun has been through a difficult period recently, following our discussions we are confident he will make a positive contribution to the club and community," chief executive Matt Gidley said in a statement.
In a further boost, the Knights are close to finalising deals with boom Broncos youngsters, centre Tautau Moga and prop Herman Ese'ese.
Kenny-Dowall, who has not played since being stood down by the Roosters on May 8, will be joined next year by fellow Bondi boy Aidan Guerra, and the club is also in talks with promising utility back Connor Watson.
A veteran of 234 games for the Roosters and 20 caps for New Zealand, Kenny-Dowall will add experience and strike power to the Knights backline. "Shaun is an international and premiership winning player and I have no doubt he will impress both on and off the field," Gidley said
Kenny-Dowall said he was looking forward to a "fresh start" in Newcastle.
"I am putting my recent challenges behind me and look forward to starting this new chapter at the Knights," Kenny-Dowall said. "Newcastle is a proud rugby league community and I want to repay the club for the faith they have shown in me." Meanwhile, Jamie Buhrer will make a long-awaited return from injury for the clash against Wests Tigers on Sunday.
