The Newcastle Knights ran out in front of 21,332 fans at home against the reigning premiers, the Penrith Panthers.
I didn’t expect them to win but I was hoping for all the money in the world that they’d put up a fight. Penrith ran to a 26-0 lead at the break and a 42-6 win.
Believe it or not, I still don’t think sacking the coach is the answer and look how well that’s gone for the Wests Tigers. They change their coach at the snap of the fingers.
I understand that fans want the Knights to win the grand final and I have said multiple times, we’re nowhere near premiership contenders.
I don’t like saying that, I didn’t want to say it but I’m not going to write a bunch of fairytale BS.
Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s take a look at the big picture here.
There’s more to it when Adam O’Brien took over from Nathan Brown. I have gone over part of it before but I should summarise it just a bit more.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
What did Adam O’Brien have when he arrived?
A team built by Nathan Brown. A team with a lack of depth. Juniors who came through with a mindset of rebuilding instead of a winning culture.
I don’t know how long it will take for the Knights to be premiership contenders but I can see what the long-term plan is.
When O’Brien was learning from Craig Bellamy, he was learning from an elite system in the competition.
Melbourne are up there and they know how to be there. Bringing that to Newcastle won’t be an easy task.
With the signings we’ve made and are making, it not only gives our team some depth, but also makes our players have to earn their spot.
Fight for it, not just to earn it, but to keep it.
One player I can’t help but compliment is Dominic Young. The young Englishman plays with no fear and is not afraid to take risks.
Now, the long-term plan that I have mentioned before is to not only get players to build depth but also create the winning culture we once had into our juniors.
We have to make them understand the importance of playing for the town and becoming a premiership force.
I know I have been over this before but I have no fear in mentioning it so the fans can see the big picture.
All the online bashing about sacking the coach or players doesn’t make a difference. Our role as fans is to show the support to our team.
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
They've pinned their future on a fullback who plays maybe three decent games a year. They had the chance to call his bluff and move him on but they opted to pay him a million a season for the next 5 years, when he is worth half that. Good luck
Bunney
Roar Rookie
It's the forward pack that should be copping brickbats. Klemmer, Saifiti x 2, Frizzel, Barnett etc. This SHOULD be a top pack. They were always going to struggle with their halves being so experienced, but their problems are clearly much bigger than just a lack of creativity/game control. They're being dominated in the middle too. There's plenty of reasons why O'Brien should be under the pump. Pointing fingers at the past, when he's been there for a few years now is weak, imo.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Ummmm....make metres, hold onto the ball and if they make the 5th tackle, then um yeah?
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
And the knights, again, have the worst for and against. So that tells me neither the attack nor defence are improving. What do they do at training? Sit around and sing, "Cmon cmon let's stick together"?
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Fake news.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Slater deserves credit for sure but declarations that he's better than sliced bread after one game are a bit rich. Kevin Walters was yesterday's plodder at both levels but he's today's Chumpion. If SOO proves much about coaching then Bellamy may as well have given it away years back.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Scott P. has a story on it over at ZT..
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
Didn't realise Garth Brennan had left . He's another example of nearly being a able to make the transition . There's a lot of good lower tier coaches in Newcastle but probably not NRL standard .
Redcap
Roar Guru
Their junior teams aren't doing too badly at the moment, so it's not impossible that there'll be some local juniors come through in the next few years. It's a bit of a lottery for every club at that stage - there aren't that many guys who're no-doubt future first graders. Plenty of difficult decisions to be made, so much that can go wrong, or go right at another club.
Redcap
Roar Guru
Which then raises the question, what is the idea?
Redcap
Roar Guru
Hughes just re-signed with Melbourne until the end of 2026 - can't see him leaving.
Randy
Roar Rookie
i saw an underdog QLD team that was better coached and prepared than their opposition, he deserves some credit
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Coincidentally, 3 big positions in his team have left of late, McKinnon in recruiting, chief assistant Willie Peters and now pathways Garth Brennan.. probably nothing in it…..
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Brailey is a good rake and Clifford has shown enough to suggest he can make it. I'd suggest targeting a really good half back and throwing cash their way. Jahrome Hughes comes to mind. A spine of Brailey, Hughes, Clifford and Ponga. The rest can sort itself out.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Madge Maguire and Shane Flanagan had their days in the sun not all that long ago. Every month or so someone is calling for Hasler's head. Next up to the coaching game show: Cameron Ciraldo
Albo
Roar Rookie
Sorry King, but the Knights are going nowhere until they get a decent spine and on-field leadership. Whilst they can try hard each week, their performances lack any direction. Their cattle right now is average at best, and I am not sure they can buy in much better in coming years ? Their marquee player and skipper Ponga , plays one good match every 5 or 6 and is regularly injured. Their hooker is a tough battler but offers nothing in attack. The halves are rejects from other clubs who struggle to stay in first grade. Even the better credentialed performers like Origin star Gagai are struggling in this Knights system. He made 14 tackles yesterday and missed 10 , whilst Kikau and Tago ran rings around him. Their pack dominates no opposition pack despite all of the experience of Klemmer, Frizzel, the Safiti's & Barnett ? The Knights need to develop a bunch of local juniors over a few years to emulate the Johns' - Buderus era again, with a team of like minded locals with a great spine coming through together, before the Knights are going anywhere.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
I don't think he's all out of his depth, but he should be doing better given the grounding he's had in Storm and Roosters. He's still finding his feet but making some poor calls around selections.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Yes Gagai is an SOO center, one who ran the ball a miserable 9 times, made 14 tackles missed 10 and was responsible directly or indirectly for the 22 points Penrith put on in the first half. Souths fans smile. In the 2nd half Penrith went the other way and put another 20 on Tualis side. The forwards played as well as their comparative abilities allowed them. None of them (other than Ponga and lesser extent Young) have the skills or athleticism the top NRL players in their positions have and that’s going to burn slow and long.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
The performances are weak and they want better, can’t blame them for that.
peeeko
Roar Guru
nope