Newcastle have made their biggest statement yet ahead of the Finals, beating South Sydney 29-10 to record their seventh consecutive victory, their best run in 20 years.
Latrell Mitchell was binned for an alleged elbow on Tyson Frizell with a minute to go to cap a terrible afternoon for the Bunnies. He will now face the judiciary and, with Souths likely to need a derby win against the Roosters to make the Finals, he is a major doubt.
Jason Demeriou described the incident as ‘silly’ and said that Mitchell deserved what he got from the officials.
“He got his medicine, so we’ll have to wait and see what happens,’ said the coach. “There’s no point talking about it. We’ll wait and see what the verdict is and we’ll go from there. (Potential replacement) Blake Taaffe is doing a great job, he’s played some good footy for us this year. We’ll see what happens.”
Further controversy might be brewing, too, as Newcastle scored a crucial try through Jacob Saifiti on the eighth tackle of a seven tackle set.
“Make no mistake, the best team on the day won,” CEO Blake Solly told the Sydney Morning Herald. “The Knights deserved the two points, they were better and I don’t think this altered the result. I would hate to do anything that takes credit away from the Knights and they way they performed.
“Having said that, we are going into the most important part of the season, and it’s imperative the game gets these calls right.”
The win takes Newcastle to 12 for the year plus an extra point for a draw, leaving the Knights needing one win from their final two – Sharks at home, Dragons away – to make the eight.
At this rate, they might yet secure a home final, and if the atmosphere at a sold out McDonald Jones Stadium this afternoon is anything to by, it will be a daunting task for any team that has to make the journey.
Souths, on the other hand, have now gone 4-8 since topping the ladder in May and will need to beat the Roosters on the last weekend to secure their spot. They are fading fast.
Newcastle were far too good for the Bunnies today, with only Kalyn Ponga’s errant goalkicking keeping the score respectable.
The fullback more than made up for his struggles with the boot by laying on three tries for Greg Marzhew before half time and making three line breaks of his own.
Adam O’Brien has his side playing superb attacking footy, with threat on both sides and Ponga in his best form in years. Even without halfback Jackson Hastings today, they didn’t miss a beat. His replacement, Adam Clune, even found him to slot a derisory field goal at the end.
“I’m really happy for the playing group,” said the Knights boss
“They’ve worked hard all year, it’s not just for the last seven weeks when the results have fallen that way. They’ve worked hard since November.”
Demetriou, on the other hand, has a huge job to even make the post-season – especially if, as expected, he has to do it without Latrell.
“We’re just a team playing without much confidence at the moment,” he said.
“You’ve got to play tough, you’ve got to wait for the opportunity to come. You’ve got to be prepared to take your medicine. They put pressure on us with their defence and they made our execution hard.”
Newcastle might have been a little disappointed by their first half: they were 12-0 to the good and had played pretty much as well as they can, with the left edge electric and the defence exceptional, especially on goalline.
Marzhew had run in a hat trick, all laid on by Ponga, but the fullback had erred with the boot and missed all three conversions.
It was arguable that Demetriou would have been the happier coach.
His side couldn’t take a trick in the first half. More than once, they found themselves on the wrong side of a lead runner and were forced to give up the ball. They got to decent positions, but the passes didn’t stick. Even when they forced repeat sets, the Knights’ killer short dropout nicked it back.
This was as good as the Bunnies had gone in a long while, and they had nothing to show for it.
South Sydney have generally fallen over when they haven’t been able to defend their errors, and that was very much their undoing here.
For a side that are known as possessing one of the best left edges in the game, they struggled massively with Newcastle’s equivalent, particularly the dexterity of Ponga.
It was as if the Bunnies had never seen their opponents before. Their two key patterns are a deep one to the right, with Dom Young aimed at the corner, and a more shallow move to the left that allows Ponga to make the key decision.
Today we got the run in both directions, with Campbell Graham – usually one of the best defensive centres around – unable to cope with his movement, plus the pass that Bradman Best was able to bat on.
It was ironic that Souths seemed so unable to stop the Knights’ big idea, as Newcastle had gone all their homework.
When the Rabbitohs looked to put on their left edge attack, the defence often slightly dropped, allowing for a bend-not-break approach. Brisbane did this too, and it went a long way to negating Latrell Mitchell by taking away the pass to Alex Johnston.
Dane Gagai, who has often been exposed in defence (and particularly by Souths) was able to follow this to perfection, with the huge wingspan and pace of Young cutting off the passing lane outside of him.
Typically, Souths have benefited from the willingness of sides to bite in, with their skill good enough to get around, but against defences that hold position, they are making metres, but not breaks.
Without as much strike from deep, Souths’ poor kicking became exposed.
Lachlan Ilias sent one straight off the field – he’s good for one of those a game at the moment – and beyond that, struggled to offer anything more than innocuous bombs. It remains the biggest weakness in his game.
As they chased the game, a familiar spiral set in for Souths. They always play high risk footy, but as the errors increased, so did the frustration, which eventually spilled over into Latrell’s moment of madness.
He was lucky not to be sent off – referee Grant Atkins discussed it with the Bunker – and will now surely miss his team’s biggest game of the year.
Souths are used to playing without him through injury, but this one was entirely self-inflicted.
wilbas
Roar Rookie
I just see his friendship with Latrell caused him to decide to go to Souths..
Poss
Roar Rookie
:laughing: :laughing: :thumbup:
Robbo
Roar Rookie
Looks like the Ferrari is carrying too much Peroni
Poss
Roar Rookie
Yeah Andrew :laughing: Mitchell actually referred to himself as a Ferrari a year or so ago.. But I'm yet to see the Ferrari,it had a flat tyre on the weekend I think..
andrew
Roar Rookie
The only Ferraris that immediately spring to mind for me are Walsh and Ponga . Mitchell?, more like a banged up old Ford.
Poss
Roar Rookie
That you did NQR..
NQR
Roar Rookie
Did Latrell actually miss him? Or did he just miss hurting him? He didn’t miss Manu and I actually thought it was partly accidental at that time. Maybe I gave Latrell too much benefit.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
As always thanks Jimmmy. Its about time we see a Cows - Knights grand final. It will be a charge from the bottom 8 the likes we havent seen since the Cows made their last grand final
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Well Hook is a bit of a toss, so he gets that one too
NQR
Roar Rookie
Okay so as a Cowboy supporter I see the massive impact Holmes suspension has had on his team by his absence. Holmes got a player high as he attempted to shut down an over lap. The player dropped before contact but wasn’t injured or even sent for a HIA. Now you have Lateral racing into a player at speed already tackled and deliberately dropping elbow and shoulder out of frustration? He made about as the same impact on his opponents head and neck as Holmes ever did IMO? It’s also like comparing Luciano being banned until court case for breaking a phone and Latrell being charged with fitting in a public place and assaulting police still playing?
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
The post season stats would be interesting. A lot would be from activity in Vegas.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
I’d love to see 3 in a row. Don’t think many others would! There’s some tough challengers this year & I think a few clubs can win. They could sink lower after this season, as you can’t keep losing good players & stay near the top. Still, it’s been a good change while it’s lasted. Has been some very good close games between South’s & Penrith , over the last 4 years. It’s always been, I’m not sure who’s going to win? South’s aren’t done as yet for the year! Next year with players like Wighton, Munro etc. I’m sure South’s will again be up there. :thumbup:
steveng
Roar Rookie
Nah Panthers, your ugg booted mob don't do too badly in the mountains there also :laughing: we don't have anything against the Panthers, except when we play 14 on 13 and you have the addition of Grant Atkins :laughing: as last time he wasn't there, the Bunnies WON. I thought that there is a good amount of respect between these two sides imo and I've really admired the Panthers achievements as they have really set the standard of the NRL in the last 4 years and imo they will go 3 in a row as no other team NOT even the Broncos will beat them, if you can get better than 2.1 odds take them and put your house on them :thumbup:
steveng
Roar Rookie
I'm not riding on any high horse, its just amazing how these NRL crowds always have a go at Latrell who is a champion, as its that bad, that it gets down to pure hatred and jealousy, I would never ever boo a talented player like Latrell to put him off or to make him unwelcomed, the Souths crowds don't do that, we have a go at wrong decisions by the refs, which btw, should have been done in yesterday's game when the Knights scored on an 8 tackle set when the score was at 12-4, but there wasn't enough of us there to make it count, as that is where we boo and have a go. The Bunnies will WIN on the 1st of September, and it will be a new team, new form and a new winning team, you mark my words as we will be in the 8 and will do just as good as last year, we need BigTB back as we've missed him :laughing: :thumbup: btw have to make some sort of an excuse to end it all.
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
Don’t let Statistics fool you Astro – they may have won those games despite of Trell input
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Yes, I love your undying enthusiasm for South’s. It’s good to see! We very biased supporters are often misunderstood. :laughing: I’m just wondering if the burrow could give the Panthers a little cheer or clap when they enter the stadium where South’s are the home side ,next time they play each other? :laughing:
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Riley Jones is a very talented junior rep player that plays NSW Cup for Newcastle at Hooker. So much so, that the Roosters were also looking to buy him. He was rushed up to NSW Cup level this season. To me if he’s still there , he comes onto the bench next season. Crossland stays as starting hooker . Brailey is then third & leaves the club.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
No. They only got it incorrect on one occasion. Plus they didn’t diddle South’s of some of their tackles. :thumbup:
Horses for Courses
Roar Rookie
I love your enthusiasm for your team but come on man the Souths crowd is notorious for being one of the most parochial in the competition so get down off that high horse you're riding. It is a shame that Mitchell cops the brunt of it but you have to admit he did a pretty good impression of a villain yesterday.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Just to put my two bobs worth in for that shite fight yesterday, and its not an excuse in any way, but one thing that baffles me and put me right off is this, why were the crowd booing when Trell came on the field? This is without a ball being kicked or played, Trell hasn't done nothing to any of the Knights players for that biased crowd to show their ugliness, the NRL is becoming even worse than soccer and crowds are showing worse sportsmanship than any other sport. The Knights will have it coming to them so Frizel, Ponga and all you Knights better be ready, and stop acting like world beaters, lets see what happens, as beating an out of form Bunnies side is no gauge for the finals, as the Bunnies could make the finals also, so don't count on anything all you Knights fans as all this will come back to bite you! that Trell elbow incident was nothing don't get too excited all you Chook fans thinking that Trell will be suspended, as he won't be! That wasn't a head high or an intentional elbow onto that boof Frizell head, it was just a clownish reaction from him when he knows that he will get all that crowd that is behind him, to howler and scream in his support, also what about the time Frizell threw the ball at Trell's head, where was the reaction from the ref or bunker? Anyway, the Bunnies are out of form and NOT like they usually are, I'm not making any excuses but what goes around comes around, just remember that all you Knights supporters, as you had everything go your way this time. GO YOU BUNNIES :thumbup: :laughing: :thumbup: