Dogs loss shows Knights are not premiership contenders

I don’t think the Knights will win the premiership but one loss doesn’t necessarily mean a side isn’t a contender for the premiership. Especially when the surface of the pitch resembled Perth after a light shower than Newcastle. Take nothing away from the Dogs; it was a very good win, but I wouldn’t be putting a line through the Novacastrians just for slipping up on one game. The injuries will hurt, but I definitely think they’ll make the 8. I’d say around they’ll finish around 6-7th spot. Bugger it, I’ll lock it in. Knights to finish 6th and take on the 7th placed Tigers in a home elimination final.

For some of those games I also think the weather had something to do with it. Heavy rain levels the playing field somewhat as its mistakes galore. Storm struggled in the first half against the Broncos as well when the rain was heaviest.

I think what this season has shown thus far is that injuries are going to play a key role in how the Top 8 end up. Depth will be tested, and with no Qcup on NSW cup players will have to be brought into games to get match fit just to cover off for potential injuries. The Knights depth (or lack there of) could be telling however teams like Canberra seem to have adjusted to it better. The Knights have a reasonably tough schedule with games againsty Storm, Manly, Wests, Roosters and Sharks. I think they are another year off contending.

To me the Knights are never consistent in making the best use of their real weapons. I think Ponga and Best are potential match winners, yet we see Ponga drift in and out of matches , and Best can have matches where he barely touches the ball except from hit ups off his own line ? There seems to be too much playing "off the tops of their heads" by playmakers Pearce & Mann , without any apparent plan in mind ? Both love to run the ball without any great purpose, and Mann in particular has to stop turning back inside with the ball, and try to give Best or Ponga some early ball on his outside.

Clubs like the Storm / Roosters didn't become powerhouses overnight. It's these kind of losses that teams on the up, can later draw back on to ensure losses like that don't occur. A strong team and a strong club takes a few years of consistent stability usually to really hit their straps. Manly for example in the noughties , had a few years hovering 7th - 10th before becoming a really strong club that performed consistently for that golden run.

O'Brien has done a great job in instilling a bit of toughness in this squad in such a short period of time but games like yesterdays show that they are probably another year off being genuine contenders.

Connor Watson now at the end of a 3 year, reported $500 k a season deal is at the bang for buck evaluation stage. Basically identical to Kurt Mann in utility, but far less durable and far more prone to over estimate his limitations. To be frank in 3 years he’s gone sidewards. If Chris Randall is fit throw him in, played 80 mins on debut in the Panther draw and went really, really well. Sounds like the coach is aching to give Phoenix C. a run so it’d be possible to see him in the 14. Dunno if they were ever a true contender, but 7 or 8th has to be deemed a disappointing season.

I don't follow the Knights closely but I'm wondering what the Newcastle coach offers as a reason for the loses you mentioned against low ranked teams? I accept, as others have pointed out, that if a side has a good day as the Doggies did, then they can cause an upset, but as you point out, that's happened a couple of times, so stops being a one-off and starts becoming a trend. The Knights will obviously do it tough thanks to injuries. It seems like a war of attrition this season, with so many really good players sidelined for long periods or the whole year. Might be a case of last man standing, come the grand final.

Yep - this is the killer for mine. A couple of big losses there.

Keep your chin up young fella, the Marathon Stadium days will come back some time. The International Sports Centre in Broadmeadow has had some names but the Marathon era was probably the highlight years of the Knights. As for the current season, it looks like another rebuilding year. Admittedly a wet track can be a leveller but Canterbury should have been trounced yesterday. As far as this season goes it looks like we have three divisions; Div 1, Melbourne, Easts, Parramatta, Penrith and Canberra. Div 2, Newcastle, Souths, Manly, Tigers and Cronulla. Div 3, Warriors, Cowboys, Brisbane, Saints, Titans and Canterbury. On a good day a lower team will beat a higher rated team which is what happened with the Knights.

It's going to be hard without any good dummyhalfs but I just don't think Pearce is up to it anymore. Players and commentators are kidding themselves if they still rate Pearce as the best halfback in the game. He is been awful the last few weeks.

Losing two hookers on top of this loss, and they're just making up the number now. They'll come in 7th or 8th.

It was a weekend where some top teams struggled with the weak teams. 1. Sydney struggled against the Warriors. 2. Canberra struggled against Soufths. 3. Newcastle struggled against Canterbury, 4. Penrith struggled against Titans. 5 Manly struggled against Cowboys, 6. Parra struggled against Wests.