The Newcastle Knights went to AAMI Park against the Melbourne Storm last night on the back of an outstanding six-game winning streak, including their last two victories against the Sydney Roosters and the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Sure, the Roosters had no Cooper Cronk and the Rabbitohs had no Cody Walker or Adam Reynolds but they still had their full-strength forward packs. Also, the Knights defeated South Sydney without David Klemmer and Kalyn Ponga.
For pretty much any team, playing the Storm in Melbourne is tough task. AAMI Park has become the modern-age fortress. The Knights were in the game until Edrick Lee got sin-binned and prior to that they were making errors constantly.
Newcastle eventually slumped to a 34-4 defeat. Now that horror show is said and done, we can focus on the valuable lessons the Knights can take from that experience.
1. This will not change anything
Sometimes, a loss will bring out much more in a team than a win.
Take Melbourne. They have only lost twice this year and that didn’t change a thing.
For Newcastle, this result is disappointing but they will learn a lot from it, as they did after their shock loss to the Titans a number of months ago.
With rep round coming and a week off for the squad, they will ensure they come into their Round 15 clash against Brisbane aiming to take charge.
2. Kalyn Ponga and Mitchell Pearce are still a lethal duo
Against Melbourne hardly anything went to plan but the one try Newcastle scored was off a Pearce-Ponga combination.
(AAP Image/Brendon Thorne)
It seems like we’ve got the living comparison of Gary Moore and Phil Lynott on the football field. When Pearce and Ponga are playing their absolute best together, the Knights’ opponents cannot handle what they throw at them.
3. Newcastle Knights are still legit
Sure, we may have not achieved the result we wanted, but there’s no point losing hope because we got thrashed.
When the Knights have all their troops ready for battle, they are ready to take charge and cause total mayhem for whoever they face.
Roarers, what do you think? Will the Knights bounce back or do you think this will lead to a big downward spiral?
Knight Vision
Guest
My 3 1) When playing the Storm expect the ref to set the tone with penalties at crucial times. A Storm win fits the narrative. 2) When playing the Storm expect the crushers, leg pulls, twists, chicken wings, scorpions etc but when giving as good as you get dont do it so obviously as to get penalised and cop a 3 week suspension. 3) When playing the Storm expect a few injuries from the above.....just dont duck your head.
Chris.P.Bacon
Guest
:)
Jamie
Guest
Young Woodford is playing off the bench in reserve grade. So if he can’t even make the run on side in reserves then I doubt he would be there answer.
RoryStorm
Guest
Cameron Smith. Still the best player in Rugby League by a country mile! Naturally, I'm biased, but he's a joy to watch when he's having fun.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
That's a hoot!
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Aye to that, Broncos will pay.
Superspud
Roar Rookie
I think it's a simple case of a team being up for six weeks and run into the best side in the comp. No panic yet it's how they bounce back.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Fortunately they don’t have to play the Storm again..and the only way they’re going to go deep in the semis is by not drawing them.. they need wingers that don’t make costly, elementary errors every other game.. Kurt Mann somewhere else, Watson at 6..what’s the problem with young Woolford I wonder, a genuine hooker until Levi is rushed back.. Suggesting a trade with Brisbane : Ramien for Mcullouch ?
The King of the World
Roar Guru
He was in and out until he permanently chose to stay from 1978 onwards.
The King of the World
Roar Guru
Or maybe it’s because Phil Lynott died 24 years before Gary Moore did.
The King of the World
Roar Guru
I’m talking about in music dammit. I know that’s how they finished off which sucks but you can’t deny they were brilliant musicians.
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
Nice Thin Lizzy reference, but Scott Gorham is feeling a bit under-valued. Didn't Moore only make one album with Lizzy?
Insider
Roar Rookie
It’s quite obvious fans can see what the coach clearly cannot
Clanger McClunk
Guest
Who are Gary Moore and Phil Lynott? What is their connection to RL?
Albo
Roar Rookie
The only lessons that the Knights hopefully learned yesterday were : 1. You can't give the Storm a head start by making so many errors 2. You need to contain Munster for 80 minutes ( that's why Cleary should be picked for NSW again tonight). 3. You can't waste opportunities to use Ponga more on that left side when the Storm has such a problem with their right side defence.
Albo
Roar Rookie
And Gary Moore really didn't showed his best form until he split for Phil Lynott !
Insider
Roar Rookie
They will lose next 3
Peter Piper
Guest
que the music "Always look on the bright side of life, dum dum de dum"
Chris.P.Bacon
Guest
"It seems like we’ve got the living comparison of Gary Moore and Phil Lynott on the football field" Are you suggesting that Pearce and Ponga are playing like they've both 'overindulged' in alcohol and hard drugs and will die prematurely? That's a big call Adrian.
Bryce Burgess
Guest
I think Nathan Brown and Mitchell Pearce will have the Knights champing at the bit to destroy the Broncos (no pun intended) in Newcastle. They’ll have fire in the belly.