TOOHEY'S NEWS: Boxing champion Tim Tszyu's younger brother Nikita Tszyu to transform Newcastle to "Tszyucastle" once again with title fight aspirations

Only this time, it won't be world title aspirant Tim Tszyu who is the headline act at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre.

Instead, we can reveal Tszyu's younger brother Nikita, who celebrated his professional boxing debut with a dominant second round knockout win over Aaron Stahl in Brisbane earlier this month, will take centre stage in Newcastle with his second professional fight to be staged in the city.

Toohey's News: Listen to Barry Toohey's new podcast in your Podcast app

The youngest son of the great Kostya Tszyu, who goes by the nickname 'The Butcher', will be the main event at another No Limit Boxing promotion currently pencilled in for May 4.

"It's pretty exciting because Nikita is just going to get better and better," the Tszyu brothers' manager Glen Jennings told us. "That was his first fight in five years and we're bringing him to Newcastle in early May which is really exciting.

"First it was Kostya, then Tim and now it's going to be Nikita's turn and just like his brother and father, I'm certain he is going to be a big hit in Newcastle. Nikita's got his dad's cement in both hands."

One of Australia's best female boxers 'Shotgun' Shannon O'Connell, is also expected to fight on the card. Jennings is now also looking after 39-year-old O'Connell, aiming to take her to another world title belt.

Boxing news: Zerafa sensationally calls off fight with Tszyu

But first things first. Jennings, who lives locally at Black Hill, left last weekend with Tim Tszyu for the US in the countdown to Tszyu's world title eliminator against American Terrell Gausha in Minnesota on March 27.

It's still early days but recruit Adam Clune is already shaping up as one of the bargain buys of the season in the NRL.

After a strong debut for the club against the Roosters in round 1, Clune [who features on this week's Toohey's News podcast], will be up against the halfback the Knights heavily targeted in the off-season to replace Mitchell Pearce when Newcastle hosts Luke Brooks' Wests Tigers tomorrow.

Given Clune is earning a sixth of Brooks' hefty pay packet, we reckon the Knights are well in front.

The Knights have started preliminary talks to re-sign young stars Simi Sasagi and Jirah Momoisea to extended deals. And you can add Phoenix Crossland to the list of off-contracted players the club is keen to keep. All three are free agents at the end of this season. Momoisea and Crossland are both currently in the NRL squad while Sasagi returns from a foot injury at lock in NSW Cup on Monday in Wyong.

Newcastle officials have been tight-lipped about reports the club is chasing young English stars Will Pryce and Kai Pearce-Paul following recruitment boss Clint Zammit's scouting trip to London a few weeks ago.

But the suggestion is the Knights are as good a chance as any rival NRL club to land their signatures if the pair decide to come to Australia.

One potential hurdle is both are under contract to their English clubs for next year and will need to be released.

The Knights could know within the next three or four weeks if they will have Anthony Milford available for the remainder of the season.

The former Broncos playmaker will be back in a Brisbane court early next month to fight an assault charge and is hoping to be cleared to resume his NRL career.

Expect to see injured forwards Brodie Jones and Jesse Sue in action for the Knights for the first time this season next week.

A quad strain has kept Jones sidelined but there were suggestions he could have played this weekend. Instead, the club opted to hold him back an extra week.

Sue had two separate shoulder surgeries during the off-season and is on track to have his first run for the year in NSW Cup next week.

It's been 16 months in the making and there were those who wondered if it would ever happen. But finally, big Edrick Lee is back.

The luckless Knights winger, who has overcome huge injury adversity and doubts he would ever play again due to a broken foot that sidelined him for the entire 2021 season, is set for a low-key return to the field in the club's NSW Cup clash against the Western Suburbs Magpies in Wyong on Monday.

One of the club's most popular players, a huge cheer went up during the week when his playing return was announced at Knights training.

Cessnock Goannas have signed ex-Samoan international and former NRL hooker Pita Godinet and the elder brother of Knights halfback Adam Clune for this season. Godinet 34, played 29 NRL games for the Warriors, Manly and Wests Tigers and represented Samoa on 15 occasions.

Sam Clune, who has played NSW Cup and Queensland Cup and won premierships with Thirroul in Wollongong and Shellharbour in Group 7, is expected to play in the halves or at lock in new captain coach Harry Siejka's side. Siejka has also picked up former Knights and Raiders prop Sam Mataora to bolster his forward pack.

IN THE NEWS:

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: