In back-to-back weeks, the Newcastle Knights have played in front of their home crowd on consecutive Sunday afternoons and suffered consecutive slaughterings.
Last Sunday was a 39-2 loss to Parramatta and this Sunday was 50-2 loss to Melbourne. In the last two weeks, we have scored only four points – all from penalty goals – and conceded 89 points.
We have scored 92 points after eight rounds and 46 of them were scored in Rounds 1 and 2, which we won and six losses in a row is horrendous. Jake Clifford kicking the ball out on the full to begin the game set the tone for the match.
Melbourne Storm are the elite team of the competition and there’s no point denying that. However, we let them roll over us. If you allow Melbourne to destroy your team, they will do so and show no mercy.
I have been a fan for more than 20 years. I have seen them win premierships, I have seen them when Brian Smith did his damage, I have seen them in the Nathan Tinkler disaster and I have seen them in the rebuild with Nathan Brown.
A score like this from Brian Smith to Nathan Brown would easily be understandable but this is 2022 and after two back-to-back seasons of making the finals then this, this is unacceptable. I have never been more disgusted and I know other Knights fans who share my rage.
Us fans can’t accept this at all and I think a problem we’ve had is accepting mediocrity.
I can see what Adam OBrien is doing: he’s trying to build on the winning culture Newcastle once had. Last year, we showed signs of that, and this year, after winning our first two and building on the progress of last year, we have totally flunked.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Next week, we are facing North Queensland and they won’t take it easy. We need to enter there with the aim to win, not just play but win, otherwise they will destroy us. I love my team and I will always do so but that is unacceptable.
In the press conference, O’Brien and Kalyn Ponga both mentioned how they want to fight out of the rut they’re currently in. After the last two weeks, they really need to bring everything they’ve got, otherwise, not only will we not make the finals, we could get the wooden spoon and now we’re currently last, the Knights have to prove to us fans that they’re better than the team who struggled all those years.
I don’t think sacking AOB is the right option because it will set us back. We proved we can make the finals under his coaching and we have made more finals with him than with Wayne Bennett or any other coach we have had since Michael Hagan. Observe:
2007-2009: Brian Smith – zero finals
2009-2011: Rick Stone – two finals (2009 was mostly built on by Brian Smith so technically only one)
2012-2014: Wayne Bennett – made the finals once
2015: Rick Stone and Danny Buderus – wooden spoon
2016-2019: Nathan Brown – zero finals
2020-2022: Adam O’Brien – two finals and counting
I don’t want us to get rid of AOB, it would be a bad move but if so, the only two people who I can think of are either Shane Flanagan or Shaun Wane. Shaun Wane turned Wigan into a powerhouse team.
So, Roarers, what do you think? What changes do Newcastle need to make?
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
Resigning Ponga for another 5 years is probably the worst decision the club has ever made. He's yet to play to his potential and is now in his 6th year at the club, hasn't really done a lot at clube level thus far.
Cat Brown
Guest
How about the Walker Brothers. They have an unorthodox way of coaching which just might work at the Knights. Lets give Clifford another go. He's a good player just had a shocker. All players have one of those in their game. AOB is trying to build a "mongrel" mentality into the team. But the biggest thing that needs to happen is David Klemmer needs to shave the beard and the hair. He was very intimidating when he has hairless
:stoked:
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
I dunno who the knights would buy TBH, mushi. Missed out on Brooks. Got Clune. Then Milford when he was released by the bunnies. Klemmer will probably go. But who do they sign to replace him? God not Aidan Tolman or anyone with the surname Fifita. Sigh. The Dolphins are having enough issues recruiting. And who would wanna come to the Knights atm? Look at Eenie Meaney and Josh King. They look like superstars playing for a good club. We take a good player and turn them into fodder. Sigh. And double sigh
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Dylan played in the local Newcastle comp at 6 last year and is a recognised goal kicker. He also scored a hat trick last week. He will have some confidence and that’s something that, sigh, us Knights fans can’t find anywhere ATM. I don’t know what the Knights problems and I think AOB is in the same boat. Anyway here’s my bandaid fixes. Send Clune off to the doctors. He’s functional when he’s 100%. When he’s not, he’s unfunctional Move Bradman to the opposite edge. The knights were feeding Gagai there heaps till he got injured. Kinda keeps their (lack of) attacking focus Dylan Pythian to 6. Clifford to 7. Let Pythian kick goals. Start with Leo Thompson. Somewhere. Anywhere. Dunno where. Well Dan Siafiti can go back to Reggie’s. Love Dan but he’s been awful. AOB tell em to use the footy. Off load. Throw passes. If it doesn’t come off, it doesn’t. Cause what they are doing now, whatever it is, is giving me a rash. These fixes of course will achieve nothing but in some ways that’s better than what we have now. Maybe we will get two or three penalty goals next game. Won’t that be something.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Maybe they saw a fortune teller the day before and knew the result. Would make sense why they didn't wanna be there. "You will lose 50 nil tomorrow" "Oh will we just. We will show you"
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Pfftt. Coaching Cooper in the last two years at a heaps sick Roosters outfit would be like teaching Joey Leilua how to have a brain fade and bag his coach.
The King of the World
Roar Guru
I wasn’t expecting us to win at all but they just didn’t look like they wanted to be there.
Succhi
Roar Rookie
Surely there will be one NRL coach gone by the end of June! Barrett and AOB must be looking over their shoulder and Madge and Griffin have recovered somewhat.
Thanks for the links. One of the articles point out that his track record is actually quite good. With the Roosters when Cronk was there, with Parra these last two years, and then just this year with NewCastle. I rate him because of that, and I also note that of those teams in the past, there's been an experienced head coach, whereas with the Knights hes pretty much green. So it wonder if theyre not using him to his potential etc. Also note, that last year Seibold left., and maybe this year is the first that Obrien actually has no 'old head' advising him.
mushi
Roar Guru
Search “Johns working with Newcastle” Bunch of articles like this (also some more recent ones saying how he is rubbish) https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2021-news-andrew-johns-joins-newcastle-knights-in-coaching-consultant-role/news-story/da22c83ae57a8242275cc0dcef413722
mushi
Roar Guru
He helps multiple teams
last I heard he was helping the Eels halves. https://www.sen.com.au/news/2021/02/23/how-andrew-johns-is-helping-dynamic-eels-duo-reach-the-next-level/
mushi
Roar Guru
Isn't he mentoring the knights halves?
Albo
Roar Rookie
The halves have gone backwards since Johns has been mentoring them !
Dionysus
Guest
Pretty much what I was saying KoW. He did keep them there and what is more, they declined when he left the role. I reckon Wane is the sort of character the Knights would respond too. A tough as guts no nonsense but compassionate when needed coach would go down well. He has that rare quality that Bellamy, Bennett and Robinson have that gets guys to buy in 110%. A good showing in the World Cup and I am sure that some NRL club will be after him.
He seems to help other teams well. Esp their halves... wonder if that can rub off on the team
souvalis
Roar Rookie
If you sat down to watch yesterday's game expecting anything different, you haven't seen much of the Knights' last 5 weeks. Half the side are currently depth players and Ponga and Klemm the only regulars not playing hurt. Things are that grim fans are calling out for Dylan Pythian to be reinstated.. and he probably will be. If the coach goes with Clune Crossland Clifford Jones and Sagi another flogging is on ..if he doesn't ..bigger flogging.
Adam
Roar Guru
I imagine AOB is gone and Ponga is the scapegoat on the player's side...
Adam
Roar Guru
I caught about 20 mins of the game. And the word terrible springs to mind