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I'm losing faith in Nathan Brown

21st April, 2019
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Roar Guru
21st April, 2019
35
1773 Reads

That was a shocker. Errors across the paddock, three of which lead the Titans to score, down by 22 at halftime and a severe lack of aggression in the first 40. I couldn’t believe what I saw.

A team seemingly destine to crack the top eight this year will be either 14th or 15th by the end of the round. The team who showed sheer aggression even in losing matches from Rounds 1-4 has gone to sleep.

I am not playing the whole “blame the coach” game but damn that was heavy. This is Nathan Brown’s fourth year and for the first time, he has an elite team.

He’s got former, current and future rep players, a whole town cheering them on and Kalyn Ponga, who’s going to become the player of the ages.

What’s missing? What’s the excuses? There’s none. Simply put, they weren’t good enough and they made 12 errors, three of which gifted the Titans converted tries right away.

I’ve had faith in Nathan Brown since day dot. I knew what his objective was and I knew it wasn’t going to be easy.

Us Knights supporters went through everything, watching our team get hammered more often than not, enduring a 19-match losing streak, three spoons on the trot and absolute hell for the team.

Nathan Brown got us out of it, brought the team back to the community and rebuilt the club. Question is, can truly lead us to finals? I can’t answer that anymore.

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This the first time I’m questioning my faith in him as a coach. Part of me thinks he can do it and part of me thinks all he was meant to do was rebuild the Knights, perhaps in an incredibly messed up type of fate.

There’s no more excuses – longtime supporters want to believe we have a coach who will get us in the eight, yet after our thrilling Round 1 win, we have lost five on the trot.

I’m grateful for all he did for us and I’ve even told him so. I met him last year, shook his hand and thanked him. I want to believe he’s the right guy but the results are showing perhaps all he was meant to do is rebuild and that’s it.

I love being a Knights supporter. I have been a fan my whole life, I have several of their jerseys, I’m a member, I catch a train from Penrith to Newcastle so I can watch them play, and I got the Knights logo tattooed on my right shoulder.

One hour of pain is well worth it. Why? I love my football team.

We have the team who can do it but do we have the coach who can get them there? Do we have the coach who can get them into the eight? Do we have the coach who can shut up all the damn doubters like myself?

I’ve said all I felt was necessary and needless to say you will as well. Is Nathan Brown the right coach for the Newcastle Knights towards getting them into the finals?

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