Mitchell Pearce will lead the nib Newcastle Knights in 2019.

The 29-year-old halfback was appointed captain at the Club’s season launch at NEX on Wednesday night.

Coach Nathan Brown said, when it came to appointing his skipper, the choice was simple.

“Mitch’s on field leadership last year was there for everyone to see,” Brown said.

“The way the team responded to his leadership on the field was great and he’s continuing to grow as a leader.”

To support Pearce, the Club has appointed a leadership group.

The five-man peer voted group is headed up by Pearce and features; Aidan Guerra, Tim Glasby, Jamie Buhrer and Shaun Kenny-Dowall.

Knights CEO Philip Gardner believes the experience of the leadership group and youthful exuberance of the Club’s emerging leaders will be vital to ensuring sustained success.

“We’ve got a great current leadership group, who have a great depth of experience,” Mr Gardner said.

“They have been appointed by their teammates because they have respect and ability, both on and off the field.

“We also have a great group of emerging, young leaders, who are the future of the Club.

“We are working very closely with them to ensure the next 10 years of the Newcastle Knights is a tremendous success.”

The 2019 emerging leaders are; David Klemmer, James Gavet, Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Sione Mata’utia, Mitch Barnett and Slade Griffin.