Where did it all go wrong for Newcastle?

Reminds me of a few NSW supporters from a couple of years back.

The Nathan Brown sacking has been so badly handled that the playing group have already responded with their recent performance. Chances are if this gets any worse the Knights might see one or more of their big names walk. More years of rebuilding!

He at least gives 100% each week.

Agree about Levi. I would have thought Lino may have got more of a run in that role, he's the 3rd best half on the books but still a fair terrier around the ruck.

Ideally you are spot on ND but if the CEO was gathering evidence enough to make this push likely there is every chance he may have given him/manager an audience ta some point. If Brown was going ok and (say) Ramien or his dad wanted the same meeting, Brownie would've been involved. It's just ugly politics.

A few observations from a non-Knights fan: Lack of forward development in 2019. Klemmer gets way too much ball for someone who creates nothing but some meters. Others with potentially more skill sets , like Barnett, Ese Ese, Safiti , & Fitzgibbon needed more involvement in matches to develop their games and be part of the team process. The Knight's number 9 ( Levi) has had just one really good game this year ? New 9 desperately needed. Brayley will be a good buy. Ponga is a brilliant player in bursts. But he can turn off regularly and spend a full half of footy with barely a touch of the ball ? Pearce's form has been awful ever since Origin time. More local products are needed in the squad to develop a hunger for success that many of the current imported cast-offs will never have.

Realistically where it went wrong was the expectations. If you'd think 2 spoons would tell you all you needed to know about Brown's coaching. I don't think I've ever heard of a coach selling the rebuilding dream for as long as Brown has and having the fans and club management alike all lapping it up and begging for more. The great thing for Brown is, he has come out of this smelling like the rebuilding guru which basically means he gets to be paid big bucks for less than mediocre results over a long time. In a results driven industry that's gotta be first. Even Cleary who has been touted as a "rebuilder" didn't end up with 2 spoons.

Did not mean the Problem was Ponga himself , just the fact that the CLUB CEO never came out and clarified anything....in fact the Club CEO is more the problem than anything else with info that has come out in the past 48 hours over the whole coaching fiasco. Were the players unhappy with Nathan Brown were they going behind his back...??? if that was the case any Senior manager / CEO worth his salt (and yes I have been in such positions in my working days) would have told the players that if they had anything to say to the coach, to say it to his face and organise a meeting and sort it all out. In fact there is a standing joke in NRL circles right now that if you want to talk to Gardner the CEO you will find him on his surf board at Nobbies Beach

The spine was definitely the killer this year for the Knights. 10 different combinations is just ludicrous. I also think everyone (especially the media) hyped up the Knights way too much at the beginning of the year. Besides Klemmer, Saifiti, Ponga and Pearce, I find the rest of the team fairly average. Ramien was complete flop. Players like Glasby, Fitzgibbon and Barnett are decent enough but nothing spectacular. Guerra and SKD although great players in the prime, are just about finished. There is almost a belief that they need to do another rebuild and move on at least a half a dozen players. However, whichever coach goes in there next year, it is a definitely that you can work with.

No things started going wrong much earlier..in the 11 games since the bye they’ve won 3..Ponga came out during the week himself and said the $6 mill. was nonsense, a fabrication, he’s never had such talks with anyone..the problems aren’t with Ponga..

There's more to this than anybody knows. There's still a lot of people that aren't that happy that Wests group bought the club and some lost control. Johns has an axe to grind with certain people. Of course he knows who Pezet is and what his qualifications are and to bring Gardner into it looking for some to blame. Maybe the group didn't consider him for any position. As far as Brown is concerned if you were working in a commercial enterprise and knew you were going to be sacked you'd probably resign as well.

Now you just need someone to fix the Knights. Or relocation perhaps? The West Coast Knights?

That's the Newcastle spirit.

When somebody suggests that one player in the club despite being very good , but yet unproven in consistency is being looked at for a massive contract increase tying up a massive part of the salary cap and the club does not come out and flatly deny it , you are asking for trouble, big trouble.....They recruited Clemmer & Pearce & SKD on big money and to throw another 1.4 at Ponga was going to leave the cupboard pretty bare for anyone else with aspirations to stay at the club... From the time that contract business rared it's ugly head not only did the wheels fall off but the wheel nuts got lost in the process ...

Newcastle born and bred, one eyed supporter but not anymore. I give up on the Knights, totally done with league. Bring on the NFL!

Adrian, there are 4 sides so far this round who copped beltings and this shows to me the players are not engaged with the programme for the rest of the season. Sure there are a few who are trying but the bulk just want to season to end, which is really tough on fans, especially fans as passionate as the Knights have. Who ever picks up the coaching position with your guys has a tough task next year, because he inherits both the playing roster and a side that lacks spirit. It's probably going to take more than a season to instill the sort of attitude that prevailed when the Chief & co were playing. Don't expect miracles in 2020, I think your boys might disappoint you.

The knights will not make the finals. Sacking your coach is a good start but I have a feeling next year may be more of the same. Hopefully you have saved your articles to the hard drive of your computer to save time.