Recently, I asked an open forum question on a Newcastle Knights supporters group page. The idea behind it was to discover just how the base is feeling after a long period of frustration, as well as some thoughts on the team’s chances in 2023.
I received many responses and those that follow were provided by people who have given me permission to include their names.
“I’m an eternal optimist, so I’ve seen our side on paper over the last few years and been quite hopeful (including this year). It has become a long running frustration though, that we underperform. I don’t know what the underlying issues are, whether it’s culture, coaching or something else, but I’m at a loss as to why we can’t seem to click after so many years and quality signings. I’m quietly hopeful it comes together this year.” – Cameron Davey
Kalyn Ponga (Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)
“As a proud supporter I feel for the future of the club. We have the best supporters and our stadium was once a feared ground to play at for the opposition, but those days are gone. I feel the fans are being let down by the club. We don’t want wins every week, we just want effort and passion. I fear for the future of the next generation of fans. What is going to attract my grandchildren to attend Knights games in the future? At least I have the glory days to remember.
We need a club that embraces the community, fans and especially young people. An example is the absence of the Family Fun Day that didn’t happen this year. We need to see our players interacting with fans after the game – win, lose or draw. The club is nothing without fans and we have no team without the club. Let’s work together and focus on being the club other supporters wished they belonged to.” – Julie Antidormi
“Hopefully we will see a more consistently performing team this year. One that shows passion and pride in the jersey, club, supporters and the town of Newcastle. Defend the home ground fortress like the teams of old. Show up on game day and put in the effort for the whole 80 minutes. Get the little things right. Dig deep when you have to and don’t give up. The team needs to narrow the gap between its worst performances and its best. Week in, week out, leave it all on the field and hold your heads high. Please bring back the passion and grit of old in 2023.” – Jason Mather
Daniel Saifiti (Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)
“There appears to be a disconnection between the Knights and the local Newcastle competition. The days of plenty of local players making first grade appear to be long gone. The great Knights’ teams of the past had one common theme – plenty of local juniors. Can’t blame Dom Young for leaving. Players want to win a premiership and Sydney Roosters are a well-structured club that does what we once did.” – Craig Rolls
“I feel the club is in a major decline, unable to hold onto top tier players. Something at the top has to give and I think the coach should be first on the list.” – Andrew Murray
These responses are very insightful and there is one more I’d like to share. My own.
“I feel like the fans are still on the mend from our disastrous 2022 season. After a fiery start, our season soon tumbled. Our players’ heads went down and never came back up. I share the frustration and disappointment. In a way, I still don’t think the club has recovered from Brian Smith’s destruction of our pathways, systems and culture and I don’t think any coach can fix it without the right staff in the office.
A long term goal is pathways, which are being mended bit by bit. Another important goal is to turn our stadium back into a feared fortress. We have the most passionate supporters in the league, we travel to see our team and we’re a one club town.” – Adrian Megale
To all Knights fans, I say that I know last year was painful. We were the most unfit team and having weeks off due to COVID affected us. But this is a new season and we not only should encourage our players to play for the town but also for us.
With things improving in the front office and our club in a brilliant financial position, we could have a bright future ahead.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Jack Hetherington will bring back some passion to the pack ! Hopefully controlled passion !
Albo
Roar Rookie
:laughing: :laughing:
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Lol ‘Fyshwick Beavers’. Lol
andrew
Roar Rookie
:laughing: Ok.
Justin
Guest
As Melbourne have a system that gives each individual certain tasks to achieve. This type of system can’t be easily replicated at other clubs . Penrith for a few years have adopted their own type of system. Again, I’m sure it’s about being the fittest that they can be & each individual player achieving certain outcomes in a game . Their system requires each grade to play in a similar way & to be coached in the same way. Only some talented individuals can play their own adlib style. They too have made some lesser performers at other clubs look better , at Penrith.
Paul
Guest
I feel sorry for Best. They seem to want to use him as a battering ram up the centre ,more often than not. When it should be the plan to get him the ball in space out wide.
Phil
Roar Rookie
Can't agree with you on the coach. He may know how the Melbourne system works but I doubt he could do a Bellamy type job if he went there. Over the years in Melbourne some average players have gone there and progressed in leaps and bounds under Bellamy whereas at Newcastle good players progress has stalled under AOB, eg, Bradman Best, Ponga, Frizell to name a few. Even Jake Clifford who was a fringe 1st grader at NQ ended up a reserve grader. The coach has a lot to do with club culture, getting everyone on the same page, man management, game plans, tactics, instilling belief in themselves and straight out leadership. AOB falls short I'm afraid, he's just lacking some ingredients that make a good coach.
andrew
Roar Rookie
It's not because of the coach. I wonder how many Knights supporters would agree with that statement. Sounds to me like you're happy to give AOB a free pass. I couldn't imagine another club offering him a head coaching job if he's sacked by the Knights.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Coach O'Brien doesn't set the systems or influence the current culture of the club ?
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Well its my pipe dream so why dont you stick your dragons no spoon in your pipe and smoke it
The King of the World
Roar Guru
Joey only works with our halves and Blake Green is our attacking coach now sir. Willie Peters was for the last 6 years.
The King of the World
Roar Guru
It’s actually not that simple. It’s not because of the coach, it’s more so behind the system and culture of the club. Adam O’Brien would excel if he coached Melbourne because he knows exactly how their system works down to the letter.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Not the popular opinion but realistically if you exchanged the coaches the premiership chances would be reversed.
Phil
Roar Rookie
He has a far better chance of winning a premiership at Easts as well as playing under a superior coach. Can't blame the lad for taking the offer.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Why did Dom Young leave despite an English assistant coach and 2 more English internationals joining next year ? There's a problem there and it's not player ability.
andrew
Roar Rookie
Hate to shatter your pipe dream CZ, but Saints won't be the spoon recipient in 2023.
3 R M
Roar Rookie
Peter Parr will get the community engagement right. It is a major focus at the Cowboys and has been since inception. I doubt any other club does this better. All our players interact with 'local' ( from Mackay to the Torres Strait and west to Mt Isa) schools and our community initiatives are numerous and the area they travel and service is larger than some states and countries. Parr has been integral in expanding and maintaining this. This helps with loyalty and pathways it won't have an effect in a year but long term will ensure a lot of your concerns will be addressed.
Weird
Guest
What you said about the pathways and culture is spot on Adam O'Brian said after his first year, that the amount of damage done was a lot more than he expected, and he told him self it will take years until it's finally fixed, now it looks like with Parr joining up famous for reinventing pathways i mean the people the Cowboys got after he fixed their pathways are people like Nanai and Luki. It looks like Parr and AOB are focusing fully on the Pathways bringing people up like Mapapalangi (Almost certainly spelt his name wrong), and people like Cant, Keeley, Lucas and Armstrong not looking far away. But i think Knights fan forgot how bad the system was destroyed it was broken to a point of almost no return, like AOB said "it will take 5 years at the fastest". I really like the way Parr has set standards with stuff and players, i like how he is trying to fix the cap that got broken for years, Klemmer was seen as someone of no importance, he did his job for years until we got back on our feet with props and was on way to much money and him swearing at staff showed he was not a team player and out lived his usefulness so Parr decided to get rid of him for someone of use AKA Jackson Hastings. The Knights wanted to keep Young, but it was also reported they offered 500k, and were not going to go any higher for a winger when we have people like Armstrong who looks like a very good up-and-coming winger, Hunt and Tuala, so he would be easily replaced, and with Young only ever playing one junior game in England before being put in our system the Knights should be happy with the fact that they made Young through their training and think they could do it again. The business the Knights have down in the off season have been massive, Jackson Hastings, Adam Elliot, Lachlan Miller, Jack H, Tyson Gamble and Greg Marzhew, Parr blew up the roster, if they all click the Knights will have one of the most dangours rosters in the comp, with us being able to strike from the left, middle or right side with depth in the half with Crossland, Clune, Gamble, Miller and Mapapalangi, we have depth now everywhere bar props, with it being reported that the Knights are still looking at bringing in a prop for this year Just got to hope Joey who is in charge of our attack like AOB said, we can only hope he can figure it out because he did not do a great job of it last year. But i can see KP being one of the game's great 5/8s he has the style got pace of the bat, great footwork with his union style passing makes him have the potential of the greats.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
See you in the spoon bowl, Andrew. Hopefully the dragons will add to their incredible history and trophy cabinet
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Depends which Johns. He's possibly the next Jebidiah Johannes Johns Junior who plays off the bench in 3rd grade group 46 for the Fyshwick Beavers