The Knights may not have been favourites heading to Townsville last night, but their performance against the North Queensland Cowboys shows the road ahead is a long and very uphill one for the struggling team.
Of course, there are plenty of positives to take out of the game for the Cowboys, but the way the Knights fluffed opportunities all night long and struggled defensively.
Given the messages Adam O’Brien was telling his team all week around defence following their magic round humbling at the hands of the Wests Tigers, to see them concede three very soft tries inside the first 20 minutes would have had the coach ripping his hair out.
While it wasn’t a case of game over, and the Knights did work their way back into the game, some poor attacking decisions, particularly when the Cowboys went down to 11 players following Jason Taumalolo and Lachlan Burr being sent to the sin bin, and during the second half, stunted their run back into the game and they eventually fell by 16 points.
And while Mitchell Pearce and Kalyn Ponga’s injuries are stunting their attack and any sort of momentum they might be able to build towards an eventual berth in the top eight, if the Knights can’t fix their defence and somewhat baffling team selections, it’ll be curtains before the dynamic duo can do anything about it.
(Photo by Tony Feder/Getty Images)
After making the finals last year, this season should have seen continued improvement for Newcastle, and while the men in red and blue have had the occasional bump in the right direction, their defence in the last few weeks has been abysmal.
The signs were there in Round 5 when they let in 42 against the Titans, but they have now let in scores of 38, 36 and 36 in three of their last four matches, with just the solitary victory against the Raiders in between.
While that shock win over Canberra might have given fans some false hope, the bottom line is that no team is winning games conceding 36 or 38 points, and that’s the way it’s gone for the Knights who have now slumped to 12th on the table, and potentially a spot lower by the end of tonight if the Tigers manage to hand the Warriors a beating.
Regardless of being 12th or 13th, there isn’t a whole lot of difference. The bottom line is it’s not good enough, and with a defence in the bottom half, but an attack not able to run with it, it’s hardly a surprise to see them at the bottom end of the table.
Defence starts as an attitude first and foremost, and the Knights simply haven’t got it. That much is clear in some of the soft tries they are giving up. The way the Cowboys were able to saunter over for some of their tries on Thursday tells you all you need to know about Newcastle right at the moment.
But it also comes down to the coaching, and while O’Brien arrived at the club with much fanfare as Nathan Brown’s replacement, he really hasn’t been able to do that much better or live up to the expectations places on him, and this year in particular, he is failing badly.
The Knights’ defensive structure seems far too compact, with the side regularly being burnt on the edges – particularly their right edge. The fact they almost always seem to be outnumbered suggests something isn’t right in their set-up.
O’Brien didn’t help himself last night though with a baffling last-minute swap. Blake Green passing fit somehow meant Kurt Mann ended up playing fullback, and while Mann has been in great form, he is simply not a fullback. It was proven when he was at the Dragons, and on occasion since then, and yet O’Brien ran with his number six there last night to absolutely disastrous results, with Mann dropping balls and missing tackles.
Now, no one is going to be able to fill the role of Kalyn Ponga to the level he does, but Tex Hoy was the better option, and it’s not just hindsight saying that either. It’s history and proof which told us Mann shouldn’t be playing fullback.
(Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)
And while the Knights are an absolute rabble, losing three of their last four in horrendous fashion, credit needs to go to the Cowboys who took full advantage.
After a competitive outing against the Roosters last week and some promising results against lesser teams before that, it’s clear North Queensland are starting to turn a corner on the back of the form displayed by Valentine Holmes and Scott Drinkwater, as well as a much more focused effort from their monstrous pack of forwards.
They are starting to turn into a genuine finals contender, especially with a soft run in the draw over the next six or so weeks.
Last night was a contrasting story of teams with relatively inexperienced coaches and contrasting storylines, with one team seemingly floundering on their way down, and another heading up the ladder.
The coming weeks will be critical for both sides, but if the Knights are waiting on Ponga and Pearce to return thinking it might fix everything and take them back to the promised land of finals and winning games, they will be sorely mistaken.
Rob
Guest
Look I think the 6 again totally missed it’s purpose in a lot of ways. It actually promotes the wrestling? Holding a player up and pulling him around with the ball locked up off the ground as a opposed to making a nice clean one on one. It hasn’t effect the best wrestlers in the business like the Storm and Roosters. They haven’t changed the way they defend.
Rob
Guest
They’ll get a crowd just by picking Luki. Never seen or heard such joy and elation for a player on debut. The grandstand were cheering when he came on and with everything he did. They went wild when he scored.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Yeah Clifford has looked heaps better recently. So its bit sad he's going. I try to give everyone a fair go so I'll give Townsend a fair crack next year as we all, should.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
As he should be.
Rob
Guest
You realise the Clifford signing happened under Green when Morgan was the man that they had locked in at that time? I have always maintained Clifford and Drinkwater were better balanced. Morgan needed time coming back from injury with centre being a good option due to a weakness on the edge. They mucked Clifford around not persevering 2 years ago at 7 and particularly trying to make him play 6. The kid was first one dropped yet McGuire and Master were a much bigger problem. Clifford has confidence problems because he’s been told how they want him to play instead of using and encouraging his natural strengths. Hess has now been told to do what comes naturally and he’s a different player.
Succhi
Roar Rookie
Some of their key appointments are a bit bizarre. Pearce as captain when the Roosters didn’t want him around. Siebold, well enough said. Klemmer, Freddy didn’t want him in the Blues team because of his attitude. When I read about off field issues in the pre-season, I wrote the Knights off for 2021.
Succhi
Roar Rookie
I remember Nathan Brown blaming Wayne Bennett for leaving the club in a mess and he had to rebuild and fix it. Seems it’s broke again.
Gareth
Guest
Of course they would - they have nearly 400 NRL caps between them in a novice backline. Defensively they've had to use rookies and players out of position to fill key roles. Not to mention, with Pearce and Ponga they wouldn't have to do as much defence as they have because when those two combine their end of set decisions and kicking game is much better (Crossland and Green have been rubbish this year). Side note, not a Knights fan, just think you've not provided any credible argument as to why getting 20% of their salary cap back playing together wouldn't put them back in the 8.
Crow
Roar Pro
Neither players are fit.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
The only disagree with is that the six agains were some form of square up. The Cows were making easy metres in that second half and the Knights started laying for an age in in the tackle. We got the 6 agains 3 to 1 in the second half. I scored it 6 to 2. So imo we were well and truly ripped ioff.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Oh I think the Clifford Drinwater Combo is going well. Clifford has a better kicking game than any of the other options. Its why Payten went after Townsend, to give us a decent kicking 7. Me I would have persevered with Clifford a little longer. Hes a bigger body and his defence is good. Drinkwater runs it well so I assume he and Townsend are lined up for next year. Where does Deardon fit. ? I have absolutely no idea.
Albo
Roar Rookie
As sure as night follows day ! Its one of the rules of SC !
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Hey Scott...I have noticed a gradual but constant improvement in your writing style over the last year or so. Keep up the good work! I guess practice makes perfect after all.
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
Mind you Albo as soon I trade him he’ll have a blinder
Rob
Guest
Jimmmy, They got lucky with so many of the knights established, best players unavailable. The win does mean something (2 points the same as any other win). I think the start won us the game to be honest and that’s the one of the few positives I’ve got in their overall performance last night. Been the problem for years with them starting slowly. They made soft errors and Holmes needs to learn how to tackle ASAP or I’d be happy to see Hammer in the 1. He’s good a great ability to do something special with the ball but he can also produce a soft error and can’t make a tackle. The Cowboys rattled home on the back of a 6 again square up blitz and some tired opposition defence. Gilbert would have been great to have had back in round 1. He never stops trying and talking especially in defence.
mick
Roar Rookie
i have been saying for 2 years the knights are overated and so is obrian , they are soft and dont know what winning looks like , this is not seibolds doing it is obrions and the payers , bottom 4 team
Rob
Guest
I’m sure Todd is over the moon to have your blessing.
Rob
Guest
Hi John, Payten came to the Cowboys in 2014 to coach NYC and was assistant head coach in 2015 to Green, I think until going in 2018 to the warriors. You can draw your own conclusions. His playing history starting with the Raiders in the 90’s, Roosters early 2000 and then premiership with Tiger 2005 would suggest he knows what success looks like on the football field IMO.
Morshead
Roar Rookie
Ahh the Knights. A team of two eras... their first 15 years, and their last 15+ years. What joy it is to be a supporter.
Dutski
Roar Guru
Just curious jimmmy. Who do you favour at half when Hampton is fit again?