NEWCASTLE Knights are to stage a fond farewell to their skipper and new Warrington Wolves signing Kurt Gidley tomorrow.

If any Warrington fans were in doubt over the respect and admiration held for the one-club man over 15 years, tomorrow's emotional send off and the events leading up to his last home game cannot be denied.

TWEET: Thanks Gids:

 


 

The 33-year-old half back or full back, who is expected to feature in both roles for Tony Smith next year, will be making his 250th Knights appearance on his swansong at the Hunter Stadium.

Teammates and coaches have been paying tribute, he has handed out the players' jerseys for tomorrow's clash with Canterbury Bulldogs, a fun zone has been created in his name and there will be a special after-match event too.

TWEET: Skipper Kurt Gidley presenting his Newcastle teammates with their shirts this week:

 


 

Gidley will join an elite band of players who have produced 250 appearances for one club in the NRL, joining illustrious company as Darren Lockyer, Nathan Hindmarsh and Anthony Minichello.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT GIDLEY THIS WEEK:

Danny Buderus - Interim coach and former teammate: "The old motto that everyone's heard a thousand times at this club is 'be the player that other players want to play with', and Kurt is definitely."

Jarrod Mullen - teammate: "He's wore his heart on his sleeve every game. He's always bled the red and blue, and you can never say Kurt has ever taken a backwards step from anything."

Chris Houston - teammate: "He trains hard, works hard and plays hard, that's what I'll always remember."

Warren Smiles - football manager: "A lesson for any young player is that if you're not quite big enough or quick enough but you just try really hard and give everything you've got, then success may come to you."

Clint Newton - teammate: "He's such a loyal friend, and I'll take loyalty and honesty over someone's football ability any day."

TWEET: A special family zone at Saturday's game in Gidley's honour:

 


 

Gidley has played in all but one of Newcastle's 21 games this year, crossing for five tries and kicking 12 goals from 14 attempts in the process.

Gidley feels confident his body will stand up to the rigours of rugby league for at least ‘the next couple of years’.

Question marks hung over his playing future after major injury concerns in the 2012 and 2013 seasons but he came through.

“I had a couple of really tough years with a shoulder injury and a major foot injury and I didn’t know at that stage of my career whether I’d be able to play on and whether I’d be the player I was before that,” said Gidley.

“But I only missed one game last year and was back in on day one for the start of the last pre-season and did the full pre-season.

“Playing all those games last year and getting through the whole pre-season fully fit and healthy – and mentally excited about the year – gave me a lot of confidence for the rest of this year and the next couple of years.”

He was the first of four new signings Wolves announced for 2016, followed by Hull winger Tom Lineham, Wigan back rower Jack Hughes and Parramatta scrum half Chris Sandow.

Of those new arrivals, Gidley is expected to bring the vast experience and steady head that Wolves have been missing at times during 2015.

And his versatility could be key too.

Gidley believes his value as a utility player has served him well in his career.

Most comfortable at full back and in the halves, he has appeared in every position except prop for his hometown club Newcastle Knights over the 15 years since making his debut.

“I think I’ve played by best footy at full back but I wouldn’t have played in a lot of the representative teams I’ve played in if I didn’t have that utility role up my sleeve," he said.

“I’ve played in a few rep teams and been able to come on and play hooker, or centre, or in the halves, so it’s been a real string to my bow that I’ve been able to fill that role in different teams.”

Gidley has played 12 times for Australia and a dozen for New South Wales in the State of Origin series, with his last representative appearance coming with the Kangaroos against New Zealand in the 2013 ANZAC Test.