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Newcastle player Kurt Mann has revealed his mother Jane passed away during the off-season following a battle with a rare liver cancer.
Newcastle utility Kurt Mann has revealed his mother Jane died in November after battling a rare form of liver cancer.
The 27-year-old spent three weeks with his mum in Queensland before she passed away, gaining an exemption to travel into the state following the end of the NRL season.
Jane was given just months to live earlier this year, but Mann was unable to see her or hug her due to the border restrictions and the NRL bubble.
He was given time off and an exemption from the NRL to spend a week with her in the border town of Tenterfield late in the season.
Mann said one of her great joys in life was watching him play rugby league and she wouldn't allow him to stop playing to spend more time with her, even as she got sicker towards the end of the year.
Following the passing of his mum, Mann returned to pre-season training with the rest of the squad as they prepare for 2021.
Meanwhile, forward Mitch Barnett said he is ready to atone for a mixed 2020 season in which the Knights made the finals but were bundled out in the first week.
Barnett said he wasn't happy with his own form, but also became entangled in an on-field controversy late in the season when Gold Coast player Tyrone Peachey accused him of using a racial slur during a game.
An NRL investigation was inconclusive following a mediation in which the facts were contested by each player.
While Barnett has strenuously denied the accusation, he said he is confident the incident will not tarnish his reputation.
"It was very disappointing to be accused of something that I didn't do, but I've had a lot of support which is very pleasing.
"If it does (hurt my reputation) I'll handle it.
"I've fronted it the best I can, I think I've handled myself well and that's all I can do."