Newcastle Knights suffered their first loss of the season against the reigning premiers.
Down 38-20 and to 12 men for 60 per cent of the game, the Knights never gave up but let the game slip through their fingers.
Overall, I do admire how they never quit and I don’t like to take digs at our players but Mitchell Barnett’s running elbow and send off knocked us down several levels.
Now, Barney, I’m a massive fan of yours but there was no need for any imitation of the Street Fighter games on the field. I won’t deny I was pretty pissed off in the crowd when he was sent off but looking back on it, it was the right call.
What I will not deny from the Knights is their will to never give up. We had fewer errors, better tackle efficiency, better completion rate and more line breaks but letting the game run past us will hurt us. I do admire how they never quit. I believed things could have been different if it was 13 on 13 but we’ll never know. Both teams played their game well but Penrith were the better team and congratulations to them.
Next week, we’re on the road again against Cronulla and the Sharks are on a red-hot roll with two back-to-back wins, Nicho Hynes running riot and brilliant attack.
(Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
The Knights cannot let this result haunt them for the upcoming game. We need to bounce back just as we know how to. I will definitely be there as a proud Knights supporter. I will not get ahead of myself and make any predictions.
What I want to see from the Knights is them to play their game as well as they can, keep in control and bloody win.
The idea of a winning attitude isn’t just aimed on winning or succeeding every team, it’s more to bounce back when things don’t go to plan. Our intentions with our trip to Bathurst was to come away with the win, we didn’t get it the job done and now it’s in the past, we can’t change that.
Instead of focusing on what if, we can focus on what we can do. We can win, we know how to win and we know not to give up. The winning mentality isn’t just in football but also in life in general. If you have a bad day, it doesn’t mean you have a bad life, focus on turning it around the next day and make the best of it.
The winning mentality of the Knights is close to a mirror image of the winning culture we once had. We have shown some signs of that since Adam O’Brien walked in the door and we’re building on it. We are going to where we aim to be and I will not give a prediction or a supposed timeline to when we should win the big one. After all, how long is a piece of string?
As supporters, we’re allowed to voice our anger, frustration and disappointment. I do stand by saying that we’re a long way from being a premiership force. We are going in the right direction and we’re playing to win, not just hoping to win but win at all costs.
Rob
Guest
I think the Knights maybe winning if Barnett doesn’t get sent. Shame that it happened and left the Knights down to 12. I’m still not sure what happened in the fraction of a second decision to lift the elbow. I think it was part reflex self protection at the point of impact and his eyes were looking at the man with the ball not Smith how was in his peripheral vision. Anyway it’s most certainly a send off and suspension worthy. Depending if Smith hasn’t sustained any serious injury 2-4 would be appropriate IMO. I see JWH raising elbows into contact continually and he’s looking straight at the bloke he’s aiming at every game?
Garry
Guest
That elbow took me back aways. Reminded me of Kangaroo games in the UK in the 80’s, where every off screen tackle had the possibility of an elbow rearranging a jaw line. Fair(?)burn, where are you now? Brings a tear to my eye.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Well he may have had some colourful words with Peachey just last year, but I agree on the physical side of things he looked like he’d found the right spot between aggro and thuggish. That elbow though. By golly. I don’t know what has to be going through some blokes head to lead to a decision like that. Senseless. Could’ve excused the ref for sending off a second player just for knowing him.
Nat
Roar Guru
Passionate as always Adrian. The Knights did show a bit of ticker to keep the score in check but it will overshadowed by that horrendous elbow by Barnett. He could go to jail for doing that on the street so maybe it is on the streets he will find himself for the season.
Tony
Roar Guru
He was knobbled
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Where did that elbow come from ? Nothing more than a random act of violence. Really thought he was over all that, after seeing nigh a glimpse of it for a few seasons. Take his season judiciary.
Andrew01
Roar Rookie
If I am Adam O’Brien I would have waited till the team left the sheds for the second half, walked over to Barnett and told him to make sure he was dressed and not in the sheds at full time. Then told him to go find the driver for the supporters bus and see if there were any seats because he won’t be on a Knights team bus till he earns his way back on, and he has a lot of work to do to prove to everyone at the club he isn’t just a selfish thug.
The King of the World
Roar Guru
He did sir but it wasn’t exactly his main head that got hit.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Nice read. Does anyone know if Kurt Mann passed his HIA? He looked pretty nuts out there and struggled with his ball handling after the hit.