Fletcher Sharpe Injury Update: PCL Recovery and Contract Future

Few NRL rookies have burst onto the scene quite like Fletcher Sharpe. In just 12 games during 2024, the Newcastle Knights five-eighth scored 11 tries and earned the club’s Rookie of the Year award — a debut that made fans sit up and take notice. But the 2025 and 2026 seasons have thrown serious challenges his way, from a lacerated kidney and ruptured spleen to a recent PCL injury. Here’s what’s known about his recovery, contract, and what comes next for the 22-year-old playmaker.

Age: 22 years (born 3 May 2004) ·
Position: Five-eighth ·
Club: Newcastle Knights ·
Contract until: End of 2028 season ·
NRL debut: 2024 season ·
Tries in rookie season: 11 in 12 games

Here are the key facts about Fletcher Sharpe in a quick-reference format.

What happened to Fletcher Sharpe?

Sharpe’s 2025 season ended early after a brutal Round 16 match against the Dolphins in Perth. He was taken to hospital following a head injury assessment and abdominal discomfort, where scans revealed a lacerated kidney and ruptured spleen, according to Sporting News Australia. AAP News reported he was expected to miss the remainder of the 2025 season.

After months of recovery, NRL.com reported on 5 November 2025 that Sharpe had returned to training and expected to be fit for the Knights’ 2026 season opener in Las Vegas — though still on restricted duties and yet to resume contact training.

But the Las Vegas trip brought a fresh setback. During the Knights’ Round 1 win against the Raiders, Sharpe hobbled off in the 25th minute after a non-contact injury. NRL.com reported on 1 March 2026 that he would undergo scans, with coach Justin Holbrook saying he did not suspect ACL damage. On 3 March, the Knights confirmed via an official rehab report that Sharpe had suffered a PCL injury and would commence rehabilitation, targeting a Round 3 return.

The implication: Sharpe’s 2024 debut suggested a rising star who could carry the Knights’ attack. The 2025 and 2026 injuries introduce real uncertainty about how much football he’ll play in his prime contract years.

Where is Fletcher Sharpe from?

Early life and background

• Fletcher Sharpe is Australian and played junior rugby league in New South Wales.
• He progressed through the Newcastle Knights development system, signing his first NRL contract with the club.
• Before breaking into the NRL, he represented Australia PM XIII.

What this means: Sharpe is a homegrown Knights product, which explains the club’s willingness to lock him in through 2028. Unlike marquee signings brought in from rival systems, Sharpe represents the kind of local talent retention that Newcastle fans reward.

How much does Fletcher Sharpe get paid?

Fletcher Sharpe contract details

• Sharpe signed with the Newcastle Knights through the end of 2028 (Sporting News Australia).
• His previous contract was due to expire at the end of 2026; the extension was announced in January 2025 (Sporting News Australia).
• Exact salary is not publicly disclosed, but he is part of Newcastle’s Top 30 squad (NSWRL).

The catch: Sharpe signed his extension off the momentum of 11 tries in 12 games. Since then, he has played only part of one match before suffering a PCL injury. For Newcastle, the contract is an investment in a player whose durability is now in question.

What position does Fletcher Sharpe play?

Playing style and role

• Sharpe plays as a five-eighth (No. 6) for the Newcastle Knights.
• He is known for speed, agility, and try-scoring ability — rare for a position often defined by playmaking and kicking.
• During his rookie year, NRL.com described him as a “rare footballer” for his ability to combine five-eighth responsibilities with a finisher’s instinct.

The pattern: Modern five-eighths who score at Sharpe’s rate (0.92 tries per game in his rookie year) usually shift to fullback or the centres. The Knights keeping him at No. 6 signals they value his running game more than his distributing — or believe he can develop both.

What was Fletcher Sharpe known for before the NRL?

Rugby league career prior to 2024

• Represented Australia PM XIII, a representative side selected from players in the NRL and lower grades.
• He was promoted into Newcastle’s Top 30 squad in March 2024 (NSWRL).
• Some online references connect a “Fletcher Sharpe” to the East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame — but this appears to refer to a different person with the same name, not the Knights five-eighth.

What this means: Sharpe’s path to the NRL was quick but not without milestones — Australia PM XIII caps are a genuine selector’s signal. The confusion with a surfer named Fletcher Sharpe is mostly a curiosity, though it creates noise for anyone researching his background.

“Back soon – the club can confirm Fletcher Sharpe suffered a PCL injury… he will commence rehabilitation and is targeting a Round 3 return.”

Newcastle Knights (official club statement)

“Burst onto the NRL scene with a stunning rookie campaign, scoring an impressive 11 tries in just 12 games.”

Sporting News Australia (reporting on his 2024 season)

For Newcastle Knights management, the decision is clear: Sharpe’s talent is proven, but his availability is not. The club has invested a four-year extension and a Top 30 roster spot. Either Sharpe returns to his 2024 form and becomes the long-term five-eighth they signed, or the injuries stack up and the contract becomes a cap liability. For Sharpe himself, 2026 is the year that defines whether his career trajectory matches the hype — or whether the rookie season was the peak, not the start.

Related reading: Sharpe pain: Fletcher opens up on horror injury as Vegas looms · Fletcher Sharpe contract extension Newcastle Knights

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