Since arriving in Newcastle at the end of the 2015 season, Nathan Brown has been a master of managing expectations.
While he was a bit more eloquent than this, questions of playing finals footy during his first two seasons in the Hunter were more or less met with the response: “Ha! Nup.”
And, given the state of the club’s roster upon his arrival, that was just as well.
While it was disheartening for fans to hear, Brown simply did not have the troops to get anywhere near the top eight during the 2016 and ’17 seasons.
So he maintained a realistic outlook, which also helped him to keep his job, despite being head coach of a club that had taken out three wooden spoons in a row – with two on his watch.
However, heading into 2018, more than a few fans were ready for Browny to start talking up his side’s chances.
There had been an impressive recruitment drive, picking up the likes of former Origin reps Aidan Guerra and Jacob Lillyman, premiership winners Chris Heighington and Slade Griffin, as well as young talents Tautau Moga, Connor Watson and Herman Ese’ese.
Chuck in the most exciting rookie in the game, Kalyn Ponga, and the unexpected acquisition of Mitchell Pearce and you’ve got the makings of a boom squad.
Kalyn Ponga of the Knights. (AAP Image/Brendon Thorne)
Add the fact the kids who were blooded before their time were starting to come into their own – think the Saifiti brothers, Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Mitchell Barnett and Danny Levi – and a run at the eight had to be a reasonable forecast from the coach.
But Brown continued to keep a lid on things.
“People are saying we should be making the finals next season and of course we’d love to, but it’s not about me saying to the guys, ‘We should win 12 games,’ or, ‘We should win 15,’ or whatever,” he wrote for Players’ Voice.
“It’s about coming together as a group as quickly as possible, building combinations and competing hard.
“Where that takes us, we’ll see, but the fact is we’re still coming from the bottom of the competition so it’s a long way to the top.”
Missing the top eight by 12 points suggests Brown was right to temper expectations, particularly given the team’s horror injury run.
Besides, the wooden spoon didn’t have red and blue ribbons tied to it at season’s end, so there were still celebrations come September, even if the Knights were watching the finals from the couch yet again.
But. But. But! Surely – surely – Brown has got enough confidence in his 2019 squad to start chucking out some top-eight predictions?
Because after the cash-splashing bonanza of last year, the club has once again pulled out the chequebook, landing some quality recruits.
Tim Glasby is a current Origin player and would have been a solid marquee name to toss around, were it not for the truly huge coup of the club landing Test prop David Klemmer.
Jesse Ramien had a breakout season at the Sharks last year and could well threaten for an Origin spot in the coming years.
James Gavet, Hymel Hunt and Edrick Lee are solid first graders, while Mason Lino and Zac Woolford are young, hungry and could prove great value pick ups.
Given the only real losses from last year were Lillyman and Heighington – and, with due respect, both were always squad players brought in to show a bit of leadership rather than genuine big-name signings – the Knights have once again improved markedly heading into 2019.
How’s this for a matchday 17?
1. Connor Watson
2. Shaun Kenny-Dowall
3. Jesse Ramien
4. Tautau Moga
5. Nathan Ross
6. Kalyn Ponga
7. Mitchell Pearce
8. David Klemmer
9. Danny Levi
10. Tim Glasby
11. Lachlan Fitzgibbon
12. Mitch Barnett
13. Aidan Guerra
14. Jamie Buhrer
15. Daniel Saifiti
16. Herman Ese’ese
17. Sione Mata’utia
That means no space for the likes of Lee (nothing personal Edrick, but the Rossdog bled for us in the lean years – Browny may have shopped him around, but he’s picked second, after Ponga, in my team), Hunt, Jacob Saifiti, Woolford, Lino and Josh King.
Plus, Griffin – who was one of the best-performed signings of last year before doing his knee – could make a return from injury around July, while the club reportedly remains confident of picking up Dragons utility Kurt Mann (and the Knights aren’t the Knights without guy named ‘Kurt’ in the team).
That’s a squad that should make the finals.
While injury will obviously have a say in how many games certain guys in the top 17 actually end up playing, well, that excuse got trotted out a fair bit in 2018.
Knights coach Nathan Brown. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
And the time for excuses is well and truly over in the Hunter – it’s time for the coach to start delivering.
This is his team. It took him years to get it, and there’s been plenty of pain in putting it together, but the pieces are finally all in place.
So while Brown should continue to manage expectations – a premiership in 2019 is probably unrealistic – he also needs to start talking like a winner.
Trent Robinson and Craig Bellamy don’t start the season saying, “I just hope we play hard and compete for one another.” They say, “We’ve got top-four aspirations.”
Finals footy has to be the acceptable outcome for the Newcastle Knights in 2019. And, after three years at Turton Rd, Nathan Brown should finally come out and say it.
Jay
Guest
Brown can sign as many players as he wants. The side will not go any better until he can get them defending well which I don't believe he is capable of. He's a very average coach.
Bunney
Roar Rookie
I agree about Cogger, but what I saw of Lamb was good. He just needed time to develop. Brown signed Connor Watson, promising him the #6 beside Lamb. Then Pearce unexpectedly came on the market, and replaced Lamb. While Pearce is undoubtedly better than Lamb right now, I'm not certain that Lamb didn't have a higher ceiling than Pearce in the long run. Levi was playing pretty good in the mid-end of 2017 season...and then Brown signed Slade Griffen and he's dropped off the radar. Tautau Moga was arguably a marginal improvement on Sione Mata'utai, but only marginally. I agree that quality imports were required - especially in the front row (Klemmer is Brown's 2nd best purchase behind Ponga)...but the imports have largely usurped the best up-and-coming juniors, still leaving significant holes in the squad.
Albo
Roar Rookie
The whole problem is that this batch of locals the Knights had put all their hopes in, have failed to develop into anything, apart from Fitzgibbon and probably Meaney ( who they've let go). Levi & the Safiti's may still make it with a bit more time ? But you can forget Lamb & Cogger and the Mata'utai's . Not good enough. Super League will be next here. Unfortunately, you just can't produce Johns brothers, Gidley brothers, Harrigans, Simpsons, O'Davis, etc in every generation coming through. The current lot have just not been up to scratch, and some quality imports have needed to be added. I like their current squad, and barring a bad run of injuries , I like their chances of a spot in the 8.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
There are 7 locals in that side listed above : Watson Ross Levi Fitz. Barnett Safiti and Sione...
Jacks
Roar Guru
Tend to agree about the squad makeup. They were supposed to be Newcastle's team now they are 90% imports. Browns done an average job so far. Give me enough time and all the cap and I'll buy my way outta trouble eventually
Jacks
Roar Guru
Not sure that's a great path for the league to follow. I'm sure the dogs don't feel that way. If it was the roosters or the Broncos who had done the same I don't supporters would be so aww shucks about it. And is Norman gonna solve anything for the dragon's?
Bunney
Roar Rookie
Joe - I'm not here to argue about your article's main premise, but I want to argue one thing: that Newcastle has a quality squad that should make the finals. I don't buy it. I think Brownie has blinked and bought whomever would agree to it, without a cohesive plan, and ended up with a higgledy-piggeldy squad. For two years, Brown played juniors saying he wanted a team the community could own and relate to. The shining lights were Lamb & Cogger, Levi, Lachie Fitzgibbon the Safiti's and Mata'utai's. Last year Meaney came along as another. Now the vast majority are gone. Instead of buying players that would supplement, Brown has bought replacements. Lamb, Cogger, Meaney are gone. Levi and the Mata'utai's are on the outer. The Roosters would be embarrassed about the lack of juniors in the squad. And instead of a team that's growing, Brown now has a patchwork quilt of a team. I predict another year finishing in the 9-12 bracket.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Dragons now have the money to buy Corey Norman...consider it a favour..
Albo
Roar Rookie
I think the Knights have a very good squad. Assuming a reasonable run with injuries, Brown will have no where to hide this season. Top 8 must be the minimum pass mark. They have enhanced their attacking options and toughness with the 2019 signings of Klemmer & Ramien to add to the attacking class of Ponga, Pearce, Guerra, Ese Ese & Fitzgibbon , and they have added some handy back up players in Lino, Lee , Gavet, Glasby, Mann , Woolford & Hunt. I like their chances of a spot in the 8 if they can make their home ground a fortress again.
Jacks
Roar Guru
I want to know can the knights do whatever they want? They have had Klemmer and now reportedly Kurt Mann move there with years left on their contract. Newcastle have to be approaching these guys. And the NRL say nothing cause Newcastle is what the loveable loser with 3 of the last 4 wooden spoons?
Randy
Roar Rookie
if Newwie stay in the top 8 for most of the season they should break 20k average crowd, you would hope.
Nat
Roar Guru
You look at that line up who went there and who they've been coached by. Considering Brown has no success at NRL level, if he had a little humility he would be picking the brains of these older guys about the best attributes Bennett, Green, Flannagan and Bellamy bought to their squads and integrate them into his regime.
Madmax
Guest
Knights have a reasonable roster, no worse or better than most teams so maybe Top 8 maybe not. There was a comment their 2019 back line was the 'envy of every other NRL team'. Really? Doubt it!
Hopefully
Guest
I might be a bit blunt.. but Newcastle will never win a Premiership with the current coach as head
Phil
Roar Rookie
Brown has backed himself to succeed and the club has covered itself with Brown's performance based, open ended contract. I'm not convinced Newcastle has the right man to lead the club. Maybe his talk up to now was fair enough in regards to their roster, but now he has the side he wants nothing less than eighth will do. I think his first blunder has occurred with shifting Ponga to 5/8. Ponga will play well at No6 but last season he showed enough potential to be the next big thing at fullback so what do they do, listen to TV people, one in particular who said Ponga had the makings of a 5/8, and shift him out of the position where he could light up Newcastle.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Well, most importantly the players think he can coach. Who would want to play under a coach with 3 wooden spoons going into 2018 ?..noone...exceptPonga,Pearce,Guerra,EsseEse’ese,Moga,Heighington,Griffin,Watson and Lillyman..then,this years mob of good quality signings..players are lining up to be coached by him.. Don’t know exactly what you want him to say to the press..he has been quoted saying that they’re ‘aiming high’. Preferably,I’d just like him to have his team concentrate on every set and up for every game,and the rest will take care of itself..
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
If a coach at this time of year is not saying " you blokes can win this comp" , he's in the wrong line of work. Shoot for mediocrity? Give me a break.
Don
Roar Rookie
The squad talent and depth is good. Now we'll see whether Nathan Brown has improved and is an NRL quality coach or the same dud he was as St George coach when he had a premiership ready side but couldn't coach them over the line.
Paul
Roar Guru
The basic premise of the article is right though. Brown has a roster which should make the finals and if they don't he can't hide behind "injury toll/we don't have the right roster", type excuses. I'll bet the Knight Board expects them to make the finals and I'll also wager Brown and the players do too. I don't think Brown's a very good NRL coach and this coyness before the season starts is a little childish given the team he's bought. It wouldn't surprise me to see the Knights give him the bullet, if they don't look like making the eight.
Dutski
Roar Guru
Fair enough. And Raimien is probably a starter - I sort of put him in with the others. Mind you, he needs more than one good season