John Hawkins

Eligible for Jersey, John Hawkins is a back-row forward who brings physical edge to the Newcastle Red Bulls. Born in November 1996, he plays the game in the contact areas, relishing the collisions that define modern flanker play. Hawkins is at his most effective around the breakdown, where he competes for turnover ball and looks to slow opposition possession, and he carries the defensive workload expected of a flanker in a busy forward unit. A willing ball-carrier, he adds go-forward when his side needs momentum and offers a tackler who relishes the front-line defensive duties. Hawkins' value is in the repeatable, hard-yard work that does not always make the highlight reel: clearing rucks, making tackles and supporting the carry. That reliability makes him a useful member of a rotation where back-row depth is at a premium. As he continues his club career, Hawkins remains a combative presence whose appetite for the physical side of the game gives the Red Bulls a durable option in the loose forwards.