Meet the Bruise Crew: Knights duo settle on nickname

George Clarke (AAP) Published October 2, 2026 at 12.30pm (AWST)

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Newcastle's Francis Manuleleua (left) and Jermaine McEwen are ready to take on the Roosters pack. (Image: Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)

The emergence of the raw-boned back-row duo of Jermaine McEwen and Francis Manuleleua has been critical to Newcastle's run to the NRL grand final.

But as commentators look for a nickname that best sums up the Knights' gruesome twosome, the pair are clear that they don't want to be known as a cheap imitation of what's gone before.

"We don't want to be called the Bash Brothers, because that's already taken, we've got to figure something out," said McEwen.

'The Bash Brothers' was a moniker given to Penrith duo Moses Leota and James Fisher-Harris during the Panthers' run to four-straight premierships.

Penrith edge forwards Joe Galuvao and Tony Puletua were christened 'the Hair Bears' in 2003, while Canberra's devastating centre-wing combination of Joey Leilua and Jordan Rapana was dubbed 'Leipana' a decade ago.

So when a list of potential nicknames is put to McEwen and Manuleleua ahead of Sunday's clash against the Sydney Roosters, the duo settle on one name for their hard-hitting partnership.

"The Bruise Crew, I like that one," Manuleleua said.

It's a fitting tag for the pair, who have come from relative obscurity to feature in this year's decider all while trampling or folding anybody who stands in their way.

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The 21-year-old McEwen, was running around in the Koori Knockout on grand final weekend last year.

McEwen, who only has 39 first grade games to his name, showed he won't be intimidated when he barked at Leota in the Knights' energy-sapping win over Penrith.

"You probably don't want to hang around us too much because we just muck around too much," Manuleleua said.

"But when it comes to training and game day, we flick that switch and we're just ready to bang."

Manuleleua is just 14 games into his NRL career and not so long ago the 22-year-old was mowing the grass outside Penrith's centre of excellence.

In last week's preliminary final win over the Panthers he scored the opening try and pulled off a terrific try-saver to stop Brian To'o.

McEwen hopes he and Manuleleua, who room together, will line up alongside each other for Samoa at the World Cup.