Heighington joins Knights’ revamp

NEWCASTLE have snapped up two-time premiership winner Chris Heighington after the veteran NRL forward was let go by Cronulla.

He will extend his NRL career into a 16th season and add experience to the Knights’ forward pack.

“There are some great young kids coming through the system and hopefully I can help out just as much off the field to see them grow as players,” Heighington said.

He will join Warriors veteran Jacob Lillyman, Melbourne’s Slade Griffin, Brisbane duo Herman Ese’ese and Tautau Moga, Sydney Roosters pair Aidan Guerra and Connor Watson and North Queensland youngster Kalyn Ponga as 2018 recruits for last season’s wooden spoon side.

The Sharks offloaded Heighington, who expressed a desire earlier in the year to continue his career, having resigned fellow veterans Paul Gallen and Luke Lewis for next year. Heighington has won NRL titles with the Wests Tigers in 2005 and Sharks last year.

He played his 300th game in Round 5 and made 22 appearances with the Sharks in 2017, mainly off the bench.