The Knights control their finals destiny and coach Adam O’Brien admits he may have broken the golden ladder rule he’s been preaching all season.
O’Brien has said all year that he won’t look at the ladder until September but he revealed after beating the Titans on Sunday that he may have glanced at it “a couple of times” over the past week.
The Dragons and Broncos losing on Saturday night means Newcastle will make the top eight for the fourth time in five seasons if they beat the Dolphins at home on Sunday.
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Bulldogs forward Max King joins the Fox League podcast to go inside the Bulldogs’ remarkable 2024 revival and chat about the impact of coach Cameron Ciraldo, captain Stephen Crichton and the club’s renowned defensive system
“I’m really proud of them, they worked really hard for the result,” O’Brien said in his post-match press conference.
“We knew all the results were going to be important and a few fell our way yesterday but the biggest result was our game. We needed to make sure we took care of this one then we’ll prepare for the Dolphins next week.
“We need to defend well (against the Dolphins) and I think the key is starting well. I know we had the first try scored against us but I felt like we were on top. I feel like we started really well and that will be the key again next week.”’
A journalist then asked: “Adam all season you’ve been saying you’ll wait until September to look at the points table, so I guess that philosophy has probably been proven, right?”
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O’Brien then came clean.
“I might have looked at it a couple of times in the last couple of weeks,” he responded, which triggered laughter in the room.
“We’ve still got another one to go, so we’re not there yet, I just want to stay pretty grounded on that point.”
Knights skipper Kalyn Ponga put the call out for a full house at McDonald Jones Stadium next Sunday.
“We can feel it, we can hear it, it gives us a boost and no doubt there will be 25,000+ there next week,” Ponga said.
“Having the Hunter behind you is huge, we’re excited by that. We’ve got a job to do and we know what they want and what they expect.
“I’m calling for the Hunter to get around us and turn up next week on Sunday and give us that support. It’s do or die for us, we have to win.”
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