In 1981, Kneen was suspended for fifteen weeks after being found guilty of a head-high tackle on a player and tackling a player not in possession of the ball. Kneen was sent from the field after tackling Western Suburbs Magpies hooker Alan Latham. In 1982, Kneen received a twelve-month suspension and he left Cronulla-Sutherland at the end of the season. The following year he captain-coached Bowral in the Country Rugby League. In 1984 he accepted a contract with the Illawarra Steelers but after ten games in reserve grade a bad hamstring injury ended his second professional stint and he retired from the game.