NRL's kick-blocker crackdown changes the game - but the question is do we want that?
NRL kickers are under more pressure than ever. But what will the knock-on effects of the new crack-down be?
In the space of seven days, the Newcastle Knights have gone from the announcement of Nathan Brown’s resignation to the hiring of Adam O’Brien, the Sydney Roosters assistant coach.
This will work wonders for the Newcastle Knights.
After spending over a decade with the Melbourne Storm coaching staff, O’Brien was in the first of three years with the Roosters, but he has a contract clause saying he can leave if he gets a head coaching role. This is a blessing in disguise.
I’ll give credit to Mitchell Pearce. He has apologised to Knights supporters about that embarrassment against the Wests Tigers. The players just didn’t click as they did last week when they defeated Cowboys.
Pearce being the halfback and captain makes him the most important player. The halfback on the field is essentially the general. There’s two things generals do: they gather their masses and they call the shots.
This Saturday will be our last home game of the year against the wooden-spooners, the Gold Coast Titans. There’s still a slight chance we can make the eight depending on the Knights winning our last two matches and other results going our way, but I’m not going to set anything in stone.
Knights supporters only want them give it their best – not just for us, but for themselves and to give Nathan Brown a happy memory in his last outing as Knights coach.
The rebuilding era of the Newcastle Knights is done. This year – whether in the finals or not – was to set the platform. And next year, we’ll really make our strides.
I know that Adam O’Brien wasn’t in my list of coaches to take the role next year, but I had no idea he was available.
He has gained a wealth of knowledge from both Craig Bellamy and Trent Robinson so he can use what he’s learned from the last decade-plus and put it into action.
With such a winning attitude and desire to succeed with Newcastle, it will give us a bright future.
When we finally win our next premiership, whichever year it may be, we can look back and say it was all worth it.
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NRL kickers are under more pressure than ever. But what will the knock-on effects of the new crack-down be?
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