After an amazing win over Gold Coast, Newcastle played at home on Friday against a State of Origin-affected South Sydney team.
Newcastle had three of their own players out, losing 40-28.
Despite the loss, Newcastle never gave up but this is a point in the season in which we need to win way more than lose.
Both teams played well but South Sydney were better and deserved to win.
After South Sydney scored the opening try, Newcastle fired back with three quick tries of their own and I would congratulate David Klemmer on finally scoring in Knights colours.
The fans roared for him loudly for that.
While up by 10, Newcastle managed to force a goal line drop out for South Sydney. The Knights had to do one simple thing: make sure they get the ball.
Sadly, not only did Newcastle fail to do so, they conceded a penalty in which we saw South Sydney score quickly twice. Then, Newcastle let in a shocking half time try that shouldn’t have happened.
If Newcastle didn’t let South Sydney get the ball off the drop out, the Knights would have won 28-20. Unfortunately, this is reality and the 40-28 loss is in the history books.
Newcastle need to get every single thing right every game and failure to do so will see us unable to win. That drop out was the turning point.
It’s now got to the point where the finals look more like a mathematical chance – and that sucks.
I can understand what the long term plan from Adam O’Brien is and that’s to bring the winning culture to the club. It’s going to take longer to flush the logic of rebuilding out of the juniors.
They need to be instilled with the mind of winning.
I think us fans should take some responsibility. I do see some online experts with the usual sack the coach bullshit, but I would like to see how they would do in the hot seat.
The fans need to encourage our boys not just to play but also to win. Win for the town and win for the fans. We are the most passionate fans in the competition, we are crazy about our team and we always turn up because we love our team.
Our players need to keep the foot on the pedal for the full 80 minutes.
We took our foot off the pedal, South Sydney took advantage of that and we lost. We can’t stop once we’re rolling.
We got to keep going until the damn game is over and we win. That’s what we need to do every game.
I’m proud we didn’t quit but I’m pretty pissed off we blew it. We let South Sydney take control and we did fight but as I said, we took the foot off the pedal.
However, before I finish, I would love to add its great for Jayden Brailey to be back. We played a faster game of football when we was on.
NSWelshman
Roar Rookie
Newcastle took the foot off the pedal? Why? Were they winning? Newcastle were totally outplayed mate. Souths put their foot on the pedal.
Sideline Commentator
Roar Guru
I have to agree. In the past, as a loyal fan, I've been willing to give AOB the benefit of the doubt, but the clear lack of team culture and fortitude points to a problem somewhere at the top. Maybe they just need a great defensive assistant coach, but I think AOB should also be on notice. Our team has the cattle to be doing better than it is and AOB is not getting the best out of his players.
Sideline Commentator
Roar Guru
Yes exactly, he's just the halves' coach as I understand it and they're ok. They problem they have really seems to be a team culture/resilience issue, there's just no backbone once the chips start falling the other way. It's so against the original ethos of the "men of steel", a working class team that played hard regardless of circumstances.
Bunney
Roar Rookie
I beg to differ King. Look at your team. In the fwd pack - Klemmer, Frizz, Saifiti x 2, Barnett etc. Ponga at the back, Gagai and B.Best in the centres offer some potency. The only drawback for this team is the halves. Halves are responsible for setting up tries, but it's been Newcastle's defence that's been on the nose this year. Since Rd 2, the Knights have a win/loss record of 3/11 and have scored 204 points while letting in 404 points! That's almost 30 points leaked every week. Considering they were finalists the past 2 years, and aside from the loss of Pearce, the team is better this year, I see this as a coaching fail. Yes, Pearce is a big loss, and they were likely to go backwards without him this year, but they have fallen off a cliff. The talk from AOB about setting up winning habits...why wasn't that instilled in the past 2 years?? That excuse is straight out of the coaching BS and deflection manual.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Sorry King ! But if you can't find a better substitute fullback than Tex Hoy, the Knights are going nowhere good ! His work at back would have the confidence of the whole team totally shot.
The King of the World
Roar Guru
Just because he didn’t make the 8 doesn’t mean he’s a failure of a coach. Losing Mitchell Pearce was always going to be a setback. Considering this is the first year without Pearce, now we can work on potential long term combinations. Look at Craig Bellamy with Melbourne, from 2004-2017 their big three were Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith. 14 seasons their winning ways was built around them and they made – 6 grand finals, 4 grand final match wins and 2 legit premierships. Considering all the rebuilding the Knights went through from Brian Smith blowing up the junior system to the Nathan Tinkler nightmare, it will take way longer than just 3 years. Now with Newcastle, they got 2 current first choice spine members in Kalyn Ponga at fullback and Jayden Brailey at hooker. Now AOB needs to figure out who our long term halves will be now Mitchell Pearce is gone. Will Anthony Milford stay at Newcastle? I don’t know.
Bunney
Roar Rookie
Hey King, I'm fascinated by your sentiment: "I can understand what the long term plan from Adam O’Brien is and that’s to bring the winning culture to the club." Why does he have your backing? Why is his failure as coach this year accepted as part of a long term plan?? With AOB as coach, the Knights snuck into the 8 the last 2 seasons...now they're languishing and you're talking as though this was part of the plan?? I'm confused and think you may have bought some of AOB's media conference BS. The Knights chased and bought Kelmmer and Frizzell to give them a harder edge...but that hasn't happened. Both players have lost edge since coming to Newcastle. The team is obviously lacking commitment in D this season. After they let Pearce go, they were obviously going to lose some polish in attack, and suffer from not being able to score easily due to inexperienced halves. So the focus this year should be on defence. But they have the 3rd worst defence in the comp. Something is very wrong at the Knights this year.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
I thought Klemm was huge last night, shame he didn’t do what he did in the 1st minute, and taken Barnett with him, to KK rather than the 70th. Could definitely see Latrell as Nate Miles, gee he does some horrible things on the field (Pasami forearm was clearly intended, Dom Young shake) and the Klem as Gal, saving his players from rubbish and bearing the collateral self damage.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Joeys not in charge of defense. His responsibilities, Clune and Milf. didn’t cost them the game, they laid on most of their tries and are playing as well as any halfs could behind a soft centered middle.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Thanks Phil. I've had 10 today and while it takes the edge off, it doesn't take away that deep, painful lament of the knights performances. I think I'll have a cup of tea and a lie down
Phil
Roar Rookie
Have a Bex mate, it'll help.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Do they knights have 7 byes between now and the semis?
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
I certainly blame myself, King. I really should be far more encouraging and accepting of the tripe they dish out week after week. I should empathise with the injuries to "key" players which has cruelled our chance to limp into 11th. I should praise them for the resilience they show as the 13th best defensive team. I'm sorry, King. I'm sorry, AOB. I'm sorry, Knights.
Seymour Richards
Guest
Blame Putin!
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Joey Johns is a mentor at the club. The mentor thing can't be denied in theory but in reality, it doesn't stack up so well.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Not mathematically impossible to make finals. If players can give 110%, then the Knights surely can win 10 out of their last 8 games! Half glass full optimism.
The King of the World
Roar Guru
I originally named this article Newcastle down and out. I don’t think we’ll be playing final footy.
The King of the World
Roar Guru
I actually didn’t name it this.
Short Memory
Roar Rookie
"Have Newcastle hit rock bottom?" Nah. They'll have a soft landing on top of the Tigers.