Newcastle has put the cleaners through an insipid Wests Tigers in a 26-4 NRL win at a raucous McDonald Jones Stadium.
In a triumphant homecoming in front of 23,214 fans after eight months away, the Knights dominated a Tigers team who were their own worst enemy.
Club legend Benji Marshall took aim at the Tigers on the Fox League coverage, questioning their effort and labeling them “not first grade standard”.
“It was really terrible,” said Benji. “The completion rate was 60% and you can’t win any game of footy like that.”
“They just weren’t competing and I’m sure Michael Maguire will have a lot to say afterwards. From an effort point of view it wasn’t there, it wasn’t first grade standard. I dare say he might be making a few changes next weekend.”
Adam Clune set up two tries while halves partner Jake Clifford also scored one of his own and had a hand in two others.
The win came with the Knights missing both Kalyn Ponga and David Klemmer to knee injuries and it keeps them unbeaten after two rounds.
Maguire said they had no one else to blame but themselves.
“It was disappointing,” Maguire said. “We put it on ourselves. The defence side of things was probably lacking at the start and crept into our game.
“It rolled into poor completions and you put pressure on yourself.
“There were areas in our effort that could have been better for sure. You have to turn up committed every time you turn up at a rugby league game.”
In a one-sided affair, Newcastle enjoyed 56 per cent of possession and had 44 play-the-balls on the Tigers’ line.
Clifford had their first try when he grubber-kicked for himself to score after just three minutes, after an offload caught Tigers fullback Daine Laurie out of position.
Clune then took charge, kicking for a chasing Tyson Frizell who caught the ball at ankle-height and planted it down.
The five-eighth backed it up by sending Bradman Best over just after the break, making it 20-0 and putting the game beyond doubt.
Dane Gagai also claimed his second try in as many weeks on return to the club from South Sydney, while Dom Young also benefit from Clifford’s vision on the right.
A knee injury to Lachlan Fitzgibbon was the only real concern for the Knights, who could easily have won by more given their dominance.
“I always thought coming here we needed to make sure we invested in our defence,” coach Adam O’Brien said.
“That’s your character. We have worked really hard the last couple of years on our character. We’re only two games in but we have defended really well.”
The Tigers have numerous problems after Maguire entered the season as the most under-pressure coach in the NRL.
They completed at just 61 per cent and ran almost 400 less metres than the Knights, with their only try coming through Ken Maumalo in the final five minutes.
In a first-half horror show, Jackson Hastings was put on report for a dangerous lifting tackle, while Tyrone Peachey was sin-binned for a blatant professional foul.
David Nofoaluma dropped a Laurie pass in their own in-goal, while a break through the middle was stunted when a Peachey pass hit the ground.
Stefano Utoikamanu also bombed a certain second-half try when he spilled the ball over the line, before Maumalo’s late effort stopped them from becoming the first team this year to be kept scoreless.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I don’t disagree with you, but what you’re saying proves my point… teams come and go out of that top tier (Penrith came into it in 2020) but invariably the premiership is one by one of the preseason favourites (Storm in 2020 and Panthers in 2021) When was the last time a team beyond an opening quote of say $6 (which is still pretty short) won the premiership…? It’s been a while…
Westie
Guest
Still, Penrith were no hope at the start of 2020. Favourites by near the end of the season. Then didn’t win it…. If they are favourites this season? I don’t think they’ll win it again this year. Most likely the Roosters will.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Yeah as I said teams come and go out of that top tier but both the 2020 and 21 premierships went to the favourite or second favourite team starting the year…
Westie
Guest
Perhaps…However, there’s always the bolter. Penrith were 10th just 3 seasons ago. Predicted to be well down the table in 2020. Yet made the GF in 2020 & 2021. They didn’t go out trying to buy their way up the table , or to buy a premiership either. As some other clubs are doing. Also only bought just a couple of not in high demand players. So anything is possible, if the club puts in the effort & the players have a good attitude.
Panthers
Guest
Poor form! It’s when a team is down, that they need more support, not less. No matter how long it takes for them to come good. Every club from Sydney’s west has these bad seasons. As it’s harder to get the best players to go west. That’s the way it is. Still never give up giving support to your club.
Robert
Guest
This tigers side is a team of gutless tacklers paper thin defence - they are not like the strong forwards like Sironen Roach or the fast backs of the 70s 80 like Killeen , Percy Knight Corowa . I no longer support such a gutless side
no one in particular
Roar Guru
They are first grade standard, they just aren't playing like it. They all look disinterested, they don't care and they don't want to work. They all act like the guy who has given his employer their 4 week notice
Albo
Roar Rookie
But has Benji said something that isn't correct ? The Tigers are a shambles. Apart from Luciano Leilua ( who they have already let go for next year) and Stefano Utoikamanu ( who they won't give 40 minutes game time ??), the rest are not NRL standard, and not showing that they could be in the coming weeks ? I thought that they had a go early against the decimated Storm last week, before folding completely in the end, but yesterday's performance was atrocious. And making Ken Maumalo their captain ? Seriously ?
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
And you'd be right. And that's not good. Based on my research a while back, over the past ten years there's an average of only 2 changes in the 8 each year. A viable (read; competitive, interesting) comp needs 4/5 IMO.
The Barry
Roar Guru
That’s already the case… Teams come and go out of that top group, but 95% the premier this season comes from one of six teams… and I reckon probably 70% likely that it’s one of three
Coastyboi
Guest
Like Fabio? The most beautiful man in the cosmos.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
the game has moved on from Flanagan and Maguire
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
At the moment the Tigers x Manly would be 4 all at full-time with Manly getting up with a field goal from DCE.
Danno
Roar Rookie
Cruel for the what could of been bank balance , he done everything except ground the ball , I reckon 1 cm in it , just give him the try
Danno
Roar Rookie
There’s a good coach just waiting for a phone call , Shane Flanagan
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
Origin coaches try to select good players.
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
I suppose if they decide to punt McGuire they could put Robbie in . Or maybe that's the plan all along . They've got to think outside the square .
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
The big guy that scored their try shows some promise . Buts it's hard to stand out in a team that's below average .
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
Jimmy , trouble is if they take from 2 nd tier that weakens that competition. Going to be hard enough next year with Dolphins . Also expanding ladies to 10 teams that's an extra 120 ladies. God knows where they will dig them up from . They're obvious looking for quantity not quality .
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
It doesn't weaken the top 6 teams. We'll end up like Premier League soon with the comp winners only coming from half a dozen clubs and the rest cannon fodder.