Commonwealth Games
League
Rugby
Football
Cricket
Golf
Sport Nation
Racing
Motorsport
Netball
Combat Sports
Basketball
Other Sports
Knights, Roosters to honour late NRL halfback Dureau
Jasper Bruce, AAP • July 24th, 2026 7:54 am
Scott Dureau | Photo: AAP
Newcastle and the Sydney Roosters will come together to honour late Knights halfback Scott Dureau ahead of their round-21 NRL game.
Dureau passed away last Saturday, some 13 years after first being diagnosed with cancer.
In 2018, he was given 18 months to live, but survived almost eight more years and would have turned 40 next Wednesday.
On Friday night, the Knights and Roosters will wear black armbands in honour of Dureau and observe a minute's silence before kick-off.
Newcastle captain Kalyn Ponga has been ruled out of the game with quad tightness, forcing Fletcher Sharpe to fullback and Sandon Smith into the halves against his former club.
Scott Dureau (left) celebrates a 2008 Newcastle win over Manly with Cory Paterson | Photo: AAP
Tricolours coach Trent Robinson had a close friendship with Dureau, dating back to his first year coaching in the NRL as an assistant at the Knights.
When Robinson became head coach of Super League side Catalans for 2011, Dureau was his first signing.
"I believed in him and he believed in me as a coach. We had a really close bond," Robinson said.
"It's been 13 years for Libby and family, and for the girls, they've grown up with a dad that's been fighting."
When Dureau needed to return to Australia for treatment in 2014, Robinson stepped in to ensure he would have somewhere to ply his trade when fit.
Dureau did not play NRL that year, but featured for the Roosters' NSW Cup affiliate Newtown.
"He trained really well with (first-grade halves) Jimmy Maloney and Mitchell Pearce and really assisted them," Robinson remembered.
Robinson remained close with Dureau and visited him, alongside former Catalans teammate Steve Menzies, in his final weeks.
Warriors vs Bulldogs preview | Running It Straight
"It's his smile and his always positive approach that I've always got to see. Even in the last couple of weeks, seeing that's been pretty special," Robinson said.
"'Beaver' (Menzies) and I got to go up and spend some really quality time and record some stuff that we wanted for his family and just spend some time with him.
"Life's not fair sometimes."
Newcastle's playing squad and staff came together during the week to watch highlights from Dureau's 42 games with the club between 2007 and 2010.
Dureau returned to the Knights following his retirement in 2015 and worked on Nathan Brown's coaching staff.
Current Newcastle coach Justin Holbrook described his passing as "horrible" news.
"It's good to be able to honour his life and have a tribute here Friday night," he said.
"He was a real inspiration for everyone out there."
