Newcastle's week from hell has reached another low ebb with the club agreeing to release wantaway forward Korbin Sims.
Sims, who was contracted for the 2017 NRL season, has been heavily linked to Brisbane.
The 25-year-old had established himself as a key forward at the Knights after playing 76 games since his debut in 2013 but the reigning wooden spoon holders agreed to mutually terminate his contract.
"The club carefully considered the request and following further discussions with Korbin and his management have decided to grant his release," Knights chief executive Matt Gidley said.
His release comes as another blow to the Knights, who are staring down the barrel of becoming the first club since the Gold Coast between 1991 and 1993 to claim three straight wooden spoons.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
The club was rocked on Tuesday by news playmaker Jarrod Mullen had tested positive to an anabolic steroid.
He has been provisionally suspended, is facing a maximum four-year ban and has until January 31 to request a B-sample.
Interchange forward Pauli Pauli suffered a dislocated hip when he was involved in a multi-car smash on the M1 on Thursday morning.
After winning just one game in 2016, the Knights are paying $1.60 with some bookmakers to once again claim the least victories.
And despite conceding the most points of any team in a decade last season, Sims isn't the only talented player to leave the club.
His brother, Tariq, walked out mid-season last year to join St George Illawarra,
Talented youngster Joseph Tapine also found the exit door earlier in the year, heading to Canberra before starring for the Raiders as they reached the third week of the finals.
Robbie Rochow has also departed for South Sydney, while co-captain Jeremy Smith and former NSW Origin prop Kade Snowden have also since retired.
In return, the Knights' headline signings have been Manly pair Jamie Buhrer and Josh Starling, and interchange North Queensland hooker Rory Kostjasyn.
However they hope it will leave room for further recruitment, although it potentially may have to wait until 2018 with the market all but settled for this season.
"The club is in a very strong position to enter the player market and improve our squad for 2017 and beyond," Gidley concluded.
The first of those players could be Cowboys, Queensland and Australia prop Matt Scott, who was linked with the club in media reports on Thursday.
He would join talented North Queensland teammate Kalyn Ponga, who has also signed with the Knights but won't arrive for another season.
