Knights coach Adam O’Brien admitted it was “very” hard to watch his side’s historically bad attack on Sunday and believes some of his players have “the yips”.
Newcastle’s 46 points this year is their fewest scored in the opening five games of the season in club history.
They have the worst attack (9.2 points per game) in the NRL but interestingly they also have the second-best defence (17.2 points per game).
Watch your team in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership. Stream every round LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play, on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer.
CHANCES ARE YOU’RE ABOUT TO LOSE. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
They scored just one try against the Tigers on Sunday, a consolation in the 79th minute, in the 20-4 loss at home.
The Knights now sit 12th on the ladder and O’Brien said they’re relying “way too much” on their defence to keep them in games.
“That was very (hard to watch) is the honest answer, it wasn’t good enough,” O’Brien said.
“There’s a combination of things with the attack, there’s concentration errors which heaps pressure on you and can create the yips for some.
“We found ourselves in a situation where I think we completed our first nine sets and there was a fair bit of fatigue in the game. We just didn’t fire any bullets because we’d been so fixated on having high completion rates.
“We need to get the balance and understand what our best attacking footy looks like, what our combinations are like and then make sure we’re getting the fundamentals right so you’ve got the energy to do that and the confidence to do it, we’re just in a little bit of a rut.
“We’re doing some really good things defensively but we’re relying on it way too much.”
Benji talks on Tigers growth | 05:40
MORE NRL NEWS
‘SNITCH’: Fresh details over Leniu-JT stoush emerge as handshake snub revealed
‘NOT WHILE I’M COACH’: Benji shuts down Api early release after Cowboys bold bid
‘NO BULLSH*T’: Ricky’s subtle dig at Manly after Seibold breaks silence on Fogarty
‘F***WIT’: Rooster’s ugly spray of NRL icon as details of Robbo spray emerge
O’Brien emphasised there are several factors behind the side’s stuttering attack and that it largely boils down to preparation.
“Some guys are down on a bit of confidence, some guys are trying too hard and others just lack attention to detail and concentration so it’s a combination of everything.
I just said to the team, you’re not just going to be able to turn up and hope that you get it right on game day, you’ve got to train your way through it.
“We’re a young team at the moment with some personnel out but at the end of the day that’s the NRL and everybody goes through these periods.
“So we have to get our training right and the more good training days you put together, the better chance you are of performing on Sunday.
“We’re really fortunate we get to be where again in seven days and rectify a few things because they (fans) stayed to the end and I don’t think they wanted to but they did and that’s who they are we owe them.
“It’s definitely not just on our kids, it’s across the board, it’s everyone, me, we’re all in it. It did become a little contagious and that’s a sign of frustration and pressure.”
Double sin bin after all-in melee | 01:02
Knights skipper Kalyn Ponga said his side won’t shy away from the challenge in front of them.
“Individual errors, concentration… you can talk about the attack but we didn’t get the whole game cycle right tonight,” he said.
“When we’re at our best there’s a rhythm to our footy, for sure. It’s off the back of hard work. We’re just not earning the right to play and that’s probably the most disappointing part.
“You can just give away cheap footy and then you’re defending your line and then you’re tired and your attack looks slow.
“There’s a few factors to consider but the only way out of it is hard work and sticking together and putting on a performance that this town is proud of.
“We’re not going to shy away from it. We’re going to be accountable, we’re not just going to wake up tomorrow and pretend it didn’t happen.
“There’s a lot of hard lessons there for a lot of boys and as a team, we’ve got to be better and not only today but around the place and during the week. We have to work hard through this period.”
Watch LIVE coverage of the 2025 Betfred Super League season on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer
Discussion about this post