Five weeks ago, Newcastle Knights had a horrid 1-5 run in which many supporters, including yours truly, were asking a lot of questions, particularly about Nathan Brown.
I will admit I had my doubts on Brown and I admit I was wrong. I’m not ashamed that I was wrong, I am more ashamed I lost my faith in the guy. No point repeating what he did for us.
After losing five in a row and just as bad as our 2017 season (in 2016, we were 1-4-1), we truly turned it all around. Newcastle after being horribly thrashed against the Titans faced Parramatta fresh off their own their own thrashing of the Tigers. I went to the game having a feeling that game was going to be one which will make us Newcastle supporters proud and I wasn’t wrong.
We came away with a 28-14 win. The next week against the Warriors across the Tasman Sea we got the win 36-18, followed up with another win against the Bulldogs 22-10, slayed the Dragons 45-12 then followed up with a convincing thrashing of the reigning premiers 38-12.
Fun fact, in those five games Kalyn Ponga scored 88 points and Newcastle conceded 66.
Newcastle are now after 11 rounds at a 6-5 record (with five wins on the trot), which is the exact opposite of last year’s 5-6 tally. We got the bye coming up (our toughest battle to date) then we have South Sydney in Sydney then Melbourne in Melbourne. Those two encounters will be even more difficult tests. Not just on the football field, but also mentally.
A lot of people wonder what has made the difference. I have a few ideas which come to mind. I believe the fans showing their passion will have a big part into it but Mitchell Pearce has been leading the charge and not just because he’s the skipper. He’s been the heart and soul of the club since Nathan Ross was forced into retirement.
Nathan Ross was said moniker during the Knights’ rebuilding days and Mitchell Pearce is for the run to the finals. In five weeks, the Knights have gone from the bottom of the ladder to the top four (thank you Cowboys) and the second-best defensive team.
Mitchell Pearce has been in the best form of his career. Not one can remember him playing this well. A lot of people have been wondering how is this possible, and I do have a theory.
At the Sydney Roosters, everyone saw Mitchell Pearce as “Wayne Pearce’s son” and overhyped him. He was thrown into State of Origin aged 19 and couldn’t cope with the pressure. Sounds familiar?
(Photo by Tony Feder/Getty Images)
Jarrod Mullen was hyped as the next Andrew Johns and eventually the pressure got to him. That went really well, didn’t it? Back to Pearce; ever since he became a Knight, he was able to cope with the pressure of the rebuild because we see him as Mitchell Pearce, not “Wayne Pearce’s son”.
Newcastle have gone from the team to beat to the team many don’t want to face. We’re not the in-form team of the competition yet and our next games will be tests. The players, coaching staff and supporters all did their bit in the rebuild and now we’re eagerly awaiting our next finals run.
Roarers, do you think the Knights are the in-form team of the competition?
Useless 25mm spanner
Guest
Mitchell Pearce will be Wayne Pearce’s son wherever he is , I don’t think it’s got anything to do with his good form. Perhaps he’s just more relaxed within himself, and the responsibility of being captain has brought out the best in him. In my opinion he’s always attracted a lot more flack than he deserved, and was quite often the whipping boy for the Blues failings. Regardless, I’m glad ( for whatever reason) it’s worked out for him in Newcastle.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
I was wondering how long it would be before you fired up Adrian, good to see. Very happy for the Knights, most people's 'second team' it seems. Not sold on Brown, Knights form for the past two seasons has relied heavily on Pearce. He is the main reason for their results. Brown needs to get more from his players - eg. Ramien went there with a gun rep and has done nothing. Brown has also had more than enough time to create a solid and high expectation environment (like Bellamy) and I haven't seen that yet. I, see the next 6 weeks as the Knight's test of where they are and where they want to go. It's not just Rabbits, Storm and Broncos but then they have two 'lesser' games in Warriors and Dogs where they need to be ruthless. Can't take the foot off if they have been beating better teams. Then the return grudge match with chooks - which will be laced with attitude.
Paul
Roar Guru
I'm not sure being "the in-form team of the competition", is a tag a Newcastle fan would want for their Club, Adam. I seem to recall exactly that tag applied to both the Raiders and Roosters, in recent weeks. The great thing for the Knights are they are playing better and that's obviously producing wins. Your next three games against the Rabbitohs, Storm and Broncos will give a clearer picture about how you're going, especially with two of these away from home.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Yeah,but the defence is really what’s been winning it for them...Levi...lifted 6 levels, a big out...
PGNEWC
Guest
In those five losses Newcastle tried to play em out wide and use the back line with a limited sliding defence -- this was what Brown was doing last year and the year before and goes back to the late Johns era. Someone maybe Brown or one of his assistants (I suspect the latter) has decided to take a different approach by taking them on in the middle and around the ruck led by Klemmer and defensively returning to the hard driving central defence of the early 90s where oppositions feared coming up the F3 where they knew they were gonna get belted. That has stood us in good stead so far this year. The problem is we rely on Pearce and Pongia too much. Already we have seen Easts try to attack those 2 physically the JWH late tackle a case in Point-- Brown needs to get more out of the other players to take pressure of the big 2 -- thats where we will see if he is a good coach.
Scott farrawell
Guest
That’s the difference between you as a reporter and me as a Newcastle knights fan since day one when I was 9, you pretty much said that brownie needs a new job and he’s crap , never under estimate our mighty club, we’ve been a lot over the years and I never stopped backing them once , ask any of my mates , but it’s good to see them in the top 4 , and we’ve got the supporters in the country..GO THE KNIGHTS..that’s my team
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Brown led the Knights to a couple of spoons and now the Knights are on fire and could finish in the top 4. Where would the Knights have finished a couple of years back under Bellamy? Near the bottom is the answer. Recruit and retain well and you run the risk of being a contender if a few other factors line up. The coach's influence is a factor but not the biggest one. Bennett made the finals with the Knights but he also recruited some fairly big names. The weaker rosters are drifting towards the bottom of the ladder and it's hard for the coaches to do much about it.
Burwale
Guest
Great to see the knights get some success and some love. Not sure if Brownie can coach but he can recruit- Pearce, Ponga and Klemmer have all got on the bus and delivered. Hope the stay healthy and if so the knights should do well