After 24 games the Newcastle Knights have finished their season.
Sadly, in front of 24,662 at Old Boys Day, they didn’t get the result they wanted as they fell 24-14 to the Dragons. I do remember saying they’ll either just make or just miss the eight.
By coming 11th it would be their lowest spot on the ladder that I’d have predicted at the start of the year.
Overall I am very proud of how well they did but I do think had there been better luck without injuries to key players, they would have finished higher (7th–9th). I know it’s wishful thinking but there’s no harm in that, no harm asking what if and they had done brilliantly.
Four of our key injuries were Kalyn Ponga, Connor Watson, Mitchell Pearce and Slade Griffin and right there you have the original spine of the 2018 season. Mitchell Pearce was the only one of them who played in our last match.
In the opening two rounds of the season, Ponga, Watson and Pearce had shown they were working on a brilliant combination with the Knights tasting success in both matches including their late Golden Point opening round win in front of 23,516 at home against Manly 19–18 and their win in the final minutes against Canberra 30–28.
Many were claiming they would be the next big three. Personally I’d call them the holy trinity. The big three title is taken and if we can reuse names, might as well throw Danny Levi in and call them The A-Team.
They were combining in excellent fashion but they only got to spend 176 minutes on the field together this season.
Down below is a list of statistics to compare this year to last year:
– Last year we scored 428 points and conceded 648 points = – 220.
– This year we scored 414 points and conceded 607 = – 193.
– This year we scored 73 tries and conceded 99 = – 26
– Last year we scored 72 tries and conceded 111 = – 39
2018 points – 414
2017 points – 428
– 14
(Last year we had better a goal kicking record)
2018 tries – 73
2017 tries – 72
+1
2018 F/A – 193
2017 F/A – 220
+27
2017 position – 16th
2018 position – 11th
From what myself and many of my fellow Knights supporters can see, we are coming back on the rise and in 2019, I can see us making the finals. The top four is an unlikely possibility – fifth to eighth is more realistic from my point of view.
What I admire about the Newcastle Knights supporters is after three years of pure hell, they showed up in massive numbers to cheer the boys on the field and show their passionate support along with the infamous “New-cas-tle” chants.
What I admire about the players is that I feel once more the team is giving back to the community. Even last year I saw some signs of it. The players don’t just play for the pay check and they don’t just play for the team, they play for the town.
A friend of mine and I both said it, you could schedule the Knights to play at 2am in Newcastle and the red and blue will still show up in massive numbers ready to cheer the boys home.
I cannot wait for the 2019 season for Newcastle and I’m absolutely excited. The players said they’re looking forward to seeing us in 2019 and gentlemen, we’re looking to seeing you too.
Roarers, I’ve had my say so now you have yours. How do you think Newcastle will go next year?
Lance
Guest
Only beat one team in the top 8 Brisbane
Paul
Roar Guru
Adrian, you've shown once again what a forgiving lot, true Newcastle fans are. I think you MUST make the finals next year, or say goodbye to Nathan Brown. He's been the coach for 3 years and is managing just over 20% win rate. Newcastle fans will point to injuries, etc, but the really good sides have built the depth to cover for injuries and have game plans that allow them to win the tough games. Look at how Penrith managed its season this year. The roster you had should have given you more than 9 wins. Look at the Tigers. Their roster is not a patch on your in terms of sheer talent, but they were really well coached, played for each other and won the close games. Once again you can point to injuries, but they had as many issues with key position players yet still finished 3 games up the ladder. Newcastle lost at least 9 games by more than 12 points and there's no way a side leaking that many points can make the finals. Brown and co have to come up with a workable defensive pattern, that keeps the Knights in games, rather than allowing blowouts. I truly hope the Knights CAN make the finals next year, but fear there are too many issues still to be addressed. You have the best fans in the competition and they deserve a lot more success than they've had in recent years. Best of luck in 2019.
chris n
Guest
I am a knights fan, with out the injuries this year we would have been a good chance of being in the 8 . The improvement in my opinion to be playing finals football next year. comes from obviously hopefully not having injuries to key players, the two key forwards dan safiti and herman essse are only youngish and are improving each year and were really strong at the back end of the season dan safiti ran for 229 m and herman esse esse 169m in the last game for the season. Jacob safiti was injured for the majority of the season and has just as much talent as Dan safiti. The addition of jessie ramien and edrick lee and hopefully the return of tatua moga give more firepower in the backs and tim glasby provides a bit of starch and some solid metres. The improvement to become a title contender depends on recruitment and the devolopment of the juniors . Newcastle has a really good junior system in place the jersey flegg side easily won the minor premiership this year and quite a number have already played reserve grade and two have played nrl saulo and tom starling . On the recruitment front nathan brown said we are in the market for and have the salary cap room for 3 more marquee signings all dependent on who is available. In my opinion we need two really good fowards and either a full back or five eight depending on were ponga plays. TPJ was in newcastle last week talking to knights officials. Addin fonua blake was another who has been mentioned. If ponga plays five eight i would chase a full back if he wants to stay at the back i would chase a five-eight and put connor watson in the 14.
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
Never mentioned Saints. I guess with the Dragons they were able to bank plenty of early wins which saved them. As for the Knights they aren't at that level yet. They need to be consistent each week and pretty much play at their best to hopefully get a win, unlike the Storm, Roosters, etc and that's a big leap from what they produced this season. No doubt they have improved but I don't see them playing finals before 2021
Nat
Roar Guru
Welcome Adrain, I thought 2 of your locals had good seasons in Mata'utia and Fitzgibbon and I'll be interested to see how Ramien and Moga are used. Moga could probably go to the wing in place of Sio as he is a decent defender and can score a try but not great at setting them up. Fitzgibbon and Ponga could very well be the next JT/Cooper if they both stay on the park. I respect your enthusiasm for your spine but let's see them put together some good wins before we raise them into some 'A Team' type status.
Albo
Roar Rookie
I'm with you souvalis ! I think the Knights are now only a reasonable run with injuries away from a finals berth. I reckon they are just a couple of tough forwards away from being a pretty good side and maybe Glasby will help. They have done really well stealing Ramien from the Sharks, and they should have a top spine barring injuries next year, and an improving pack with Fitzgibbon, Guerra, Esse Esse & Barnett leading the charge. I had them as fringe top 8 this year but injuries to their spine limited that. Next year they must be a good prospect of a top 8 spot.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Do you think St George showed consistency across the season ? Their last 2 months were abysmal ,78 points put on them by bottom feeders Parra and Dogs..Knights final 2 months showed them very competitive on the score board,other than the Cronulla game...and,weakness in the halves,gee Pearce is their main man,it’s the same at every single club,who’s got an A class half running around in reserve grade...tell Dean Pay he’s got a lemon coming across... Contrarily,an ounce of Dragon luck injury wise and they’ll be right in it next year..with Ramien,Glasby and if the planets align Pangai jr in...SKD and Sio shopped to Manly (well,they took Elgy )..this young side will be ready..
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
They showed improvement in 2018 but I feel they are at least 3 years away from finals footy, which requires consistency across the season. Pearce's injury highlighted a lack of depth at the club and when they are slightly off, they get hammered. The best sides can still find ways to win when they are off. Like I said they are improving, but aren't a finals side in 2019
kk
Roar Pro
Oops, wrong alley. All those Rooster rejects have me confused.
kk
Roar Pro
If Easts don't do it this year they should sack Politis.
Dutski
Roar Guru
Welcome Adrian and congrats on your first article. I’m curious- as a Knights fan where do you see the improvement coming from? Obviously you can hope for less injuries to key players, but apart from that? I think there’s a lack of depth in those key positions, especially since you are losing Jack Cogger to the Bulldogs. Watson is probably a fullback rather than five eighth but is Ponga ready for the front line defender effort required to play in the line week on week out? I agree they are a team on the rise but if they are to go from hoping to sneak into the 8 to being a genuine contender, where is that leap going to come from?
The Barry
Roar Guru
And the emoji issue... *rolls eyes
The Barry
Roar Guru
Good to see the Roar has fixed the spacing issue...????
The Barry
Roar Guru
I don’t want to rain on your parade but when you look at those for and against stats they haven’t changed much at all. One additional try over 24 rounds shows the attack has been roughly the same despite the big 3 / holy trinity / a-team. Defence has improved by 12 tries / 41 points across 24 games...so that’s about two points a game. Looks more like other teams have gotten worse and fallen behind than the Knights have drastically improved. Good on them though...I think they’re everyone’s second favourite team right now. Hopefully Ponga, Watson and Pearce can stay on the park because they are players you can build a club around. Fitzgibbon is a cracker as well. They still have some recruiting to do and need to plug the gaps left by some of the old blokes in the middle.
peeeko
Roar Guru
i wouldnt call them the holy trinity and Knights finished with the worst for and against of any club this year and the second worst defence. they should be better next year but i wouldnt be too excited