Dear Wayne Bennett, while the chances of this reaching you are about as minuscule as you improving your tolerance for all things press and paparazzi, I’d like to formally apologise on behalf of, well, me.
For too long, the conversation around the Newcastle Knights and their recent perils have invariably ended back at one conclusion: Blame Wayne.
Amongst all the vitriol and delusion, one central argument that is screamed louder than anything else revolves around the belief that Bennett tried to apply the rugby league equivalent of a get-rich-quick scheme to the Knights when they were in need of a more long term, holistic approach.
The supposedly critical evidence behind this unsubstantiated claim is the fact that Bennett lured a number of ageing veterans to the club in the hope of generating instant success with almost zero regard for the future.
This perspective is interesting for two reasons.
1) When people discuss the tonic needed to fix the current quagmire at Newcastle, you’ll inevitably hear about the need for the club to go after a couple of experienced hard heads who know how to win.
Considering the so called “dads army” brought to the club between 2012-2014 included names like Danny Buderus, Craig Gower, Jeremy Smith and Willie Mason, Bennett’s line of thinking was clearly five years ahead of its time.
2) People conveniently fail to mention that, along with the veterans mentioned previously, Bennett also recruited Darius Boyd, Dane Gagai, Joey Leilua, Beau Scott and Kade Snowden.
Now I know what you’re thinking, and no, I wasn’t hired by Wayne Bennett Inc. to pen a PR piece about the all-conquering king of coaching. Instead, the purpose of this article is to raise a point of discussion that has become a genuine rugby league taboo.
The Newcastle Knights are failing.
There it is, I said it.
In the past two years, the club has claimed consecutive wooden spoons and if you’re a betting man, you’d be almost comfortable putting your house on them making it a third in 2017.
In a results-based industry where million dollar salaries are becoming the norm, this simply isn’t good enough. Their fans deserve better.
The repeated failings on the scoreboard however, have been sugar coated by a widely-held belief that the Knights are building something special. Apparently they’re only one big name away from building a dynasty.
Building for the future is one thing, every club is doing it, but almost negligently disregarding the present is an entirely different kettle of fish. And while the optimism being spewed out by the marketing officials might be infectious to some, others are beginning to question the validity of Nathan Brown’s long-term project.
When Phil Gould first mentioned a five-year plan back when the Penrith Panthers were withering away in a similar state of financial and footballing bother, people from all corners of rugby league laughed ferociously. While their form has been something close to abysmal early this season, there’s absolutely no denying that Penrith are on an upward trajectory.
As well as that, last year they gave the competition one hell of a shake. Form is one thing, stability is another, and many still believe a premiership is just around the corner for the mountain men.
By the end of 2017 however, Nathan Brown would have had three full seasons in charge of the club so many proud Novocastrians hold dear. Three years, more than likely three spoons. 2018? It isn’t looking much better.
James Graham may arrive, four or five new faces may follow, but a premiership won’t be coming anytime soon.
Sure, the Knights have had serious financial quandaries to overcome. They’ve also had to deal with significant roster turnover since Bennett departed, however this can’t all be attributed to the master coach packing his bags and returning to Brisvegas.
There is clearly something systemic bubbling beneath the surface that needs urgent addressing.
What it is? My guess is as good as yours, but until Matt Gidley, Nathan Brown and the rest of the club hierarchy can find the necessary instruments to perform open heart surgery, Knights fans will continue to suffer.
Over to you, Joey.
Oingo Boingo
Guest
Put ya house on it , Ya mugs !
The Barry
Roar Guru
Brown's plan is good as long as 1) they can eventually get a couple of experienced signings, particularly in the front rower. As much as I hope it doesn't happen, Graham would be perfect for them. I could live with him going to the Knights though over say Manly, Roosters or Parra. and 2) their young players continue to improve. Are they? You can't take it as a laydown misere that they will keep improving in direct proportion to the number of NRL games. I was holding out big hopes for Sione this year after his move into the row at the end of last season. But he's still being used as a utility / full in. Injuries haven't helped that. Daniel Safiti isn't playing markedly better than last year. Brock Lambs form has dipped since Hodkinson was dropped. Which is a strange decision itself when the team is missing experienced players in Buehrer, Pauli and Barnett. Last year there was an almost random shuffling of players to find the right ones. Then this year we have Yates and Stone coming in as rookies as well. It still looks like most of these guys are a couple of seasons off being really effective first graders as opposed battling to holding their own. I really wish the Knights well but I think they still need a few things to fall in place for them to see marked improvement.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Wayne loves to sign players who should be looking at retirement. He signed Benji Marshall for the Broncs this year.
Taree Raider
Guest
The Knights should take a leaf out of the Dragons recruitment book, get the Raiders players. McCrone, Thompson, Vaughn, Dugan. To name a few. That's right Mitchell Barnett comes to mind. How about Zac Santo and Dave Taylor, they would be as helpful to their cause as Barnett has been.
Kerin
Guest
Get in early . In 2018 The KNIGHTS will finish no lower than 6 ?? You heard it first here
Kilgore Trout
Roar Rookie
I think Newcastle's problems are well understood .It is going to take some time no doubt , but I agree with an earlier comment of , ' another 2 or 3 really good signings 'and they are back in the game . Back in the game with a long term sustainable squad too ! Brown has done a great job so far . It would have taken last season to work out what he;s got and what he needs . They are much improved this season and there is plenty to like about the way they are playing . I don't understand wanting to chop him down . He took on a tough assignment and has been leading them well I think .
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Until the NRL sell the franchise nothing will happen. No player will want to go there while this hangs over their head. Why not?
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Danny Buderus, Craig Gower, Jeremy Smith and Willie Mason 37 Year old Mason? Who left at the end of 2015? when he was 35. Good young talent Im sure. Craig Gower? 6 Games, utter champion recruitment. Jeremy Smith who is now 37 and retired wasnt actually that bad, but extremely old so still fits the narrative. 39 Year old Bedsy, beloved Newcastle Boy Bedsy who retired in 2013. People conveniently fail to mention that, along with the veterans mentioned previously, Bennett also recruited Darius Boyd, Dane Gagai, Joey Leilua, Beau Scott and Kade Snowden. Who is still there? Dane Gagai, thats who, someone who is passionate about the club. Darius left with Wayne. Leilua was at loggerheads with the top dogs after he turned up to the preseason well overweight and unfit and was gone mid-2015. Scott left at the end of 2015 on compassionate grounds (his child receives care at the Westmead hospital). Snowden was signed on big Money but retired last year having played just one game in 2016. Wowee thats some great recruiting there, but extremely unsure of how this has helped them at all. You will notice that only Gagai is still there. See what people cant see is that in 2015 (before Brown was there mind you, unlike you state in your article) they finished bottom with an old roster full of has beens witha few rookies here and there and a couple of hard heads. Nathan Brown came to the club in 2016 and had a club with a completely stufffed salary cap spent on the like of Uate ($500k), Mullen ($550k plus) along with a host of players not wanting to be there or seeking greener pastures. He did what was best long term - informed the fans that this is going to really suck and will get worse before it gets better, and cut his losses on players who would have been poison to the team morale. Everyone who knows the NRL can see the Knights aren't winning on the field, but they are getting it sorted where it matters most - in the front office. Tinklers bankruptcy is slowly being wafted out the window, the club is coming together, the fans are as strong as ever and its looking like a more attractive proposition by the day for Wests. Now they just need probably about 2 big signings to get up off the bottom of the ladder and commence their slow gradual rise to the top. Nathan Brown has staked his career on this, and I don'tthink there would have been a single other coach willing to do what he has down.
Big Daddy
Guest
Jack you are absolutely correct. Until the NRL sell the franchise nothing will happen. No player will want to go there while this hangs over their head. I believe NRL are really pushing hard for wests Newcastle to take up ownership but that has obvious problems. And I really don't think Nathan brown is the answer to their prayers. Big clean out required on and off field.
Jeremy
Guest
This is Brown's 2nd year, not 3rd.
Chris n
Guest
Ok I'm a knights supporter so I'm clearly biased, but in my opinion the young kids while not winning have been playing well above expectations considering our first choice spine are all out for various reasons. Recruitment is key obviously but to me if you add for exampleGraham,foran and Ponga into the side and we win the game against warriors, Souths and cronulla. And probably go close in all our other games with the exception of the panthers and Titans game. And you would also think the young guys are going to improve over the season and into next. But again recruitment is key if we don't get anyone decent then we will be down the bottom somewhere again in 2018.