The Knights declared Tom Jenkins would be a ‘long-term NRL player’. They were half right

The Newcastle Knights’ official press release in October 2023 declared Tom Jenkins was someone they believed would be a “long-term NRL player”.

The Knights were half right: Jenkins has gone on to become a mainstay in the NRL – at a rival club.

Penrith and Jenkins will run out at Accor Stadium on Sunday afternoon against the club he signed with just three years ago.

The 25-year-old Jenkins will even be on the same side of the field as Knights centre Dane Gagai, the veteran who taught him plenty of lessons during his short stay in the Hunter.

Jenkins remembers making his club debut for the Knights in round two of the 2024 season. Former coach Adam O’Brien casually yelled out the good news while Jenkins was in the bathroom.

Jack Cogger, who has also since returned to Penrith, handed him his Knights jersey. They played against North Queensland, the club that had offered Jenkins a two-year deal.

So how is it a winger who has scored tries for fun at Penrith, and is just 160 minutes away from his first premiership ring, scraped together just five games at Newcastle?

“I had all intentions of being a long-term first-grader, and being a long-term first-grader for Newcastle,” Jenkins said.

“I was roomies with ‘Cogs’ [Cogger]. He gave me my club debut jersey, which was a nice memory. All the boys were great up there, and they enjoyed a laugh.

“The biggest one for me was ‘Gags’ [Gagai]. He’s such a talented player and I have so much respect for him. He kept telling me to stick to what I’m good at, and to keep backing myself.

“I just wasn’t the right fit for them, and they weren’t the right fit for me. That became pretty obvious.

“I wasn’t getting what I needed as a player from the coach, and he [O’Brien] wasn’t getting the performances from me as a player.

“I needed a change. If I wasn’t going to be playing good footy, I might as well have been back here doing what I enjoy.”

Jenkins grew up in Boorowa, about 90 minutes north of Canberra, and started his NRL career at the Panthers. He made his debut in the NRL in the final round of 2022, in Townsville, and his fondest memory is Eddie Blacker chasing down Scott Drinkwater (“make sure you put that in because Eddie will love it.“)

When the chance to play more regular football in Newcastle did not eventuate, he was prepared to play Ron Massey Cup with St Marys, while making sure Penrith coach Ivan Cleary knew he was back in the neighbourhood.

The more football Jenkins has played, the more he has grown in confidence, which has led to him being more vocal – almost annoying, according to some – around the group.

“He speaks really well in front of the cameras, but he’s the foghorn and extravert inside our four walls,” co-captain Isaah Yeo said.

“He’s been outstanding for us, he’s brought a real confidence, and you can see that in the way he plays. He’s hard to tackle, super confident in the air, and while everyone sees the tries he scores (30 in 25 games), defensively, in our system, he’s been exceptional. I’m so happy with the way he’s played.”

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