Newcastle Knights should be playing in NRL finals, says coach Nathan Brown

NEWCASTLE coach Nathan Brown has welcomed the pressure that comes with the Knights’ recruitment drive, declaring they now have the players to “get back to finals footy”.

Nathan Brown finally has a competitive roster. Photo: Phil Hillyard

NEWCASTLE coach Nathan Brown has welcomed the pressure that comes with the Knights’ massive recruitment drive, declaring they now have the players to “get the club back playing finals footy”.

As he negotiates a two-year contract extension, Brown has spoken about the “pressure and expectation” his revamped side will face next season following three wooden spoon years.

Newcastle have undergone the most active recruitment drive in their 29-year history, luring Mitchell Pearce, Tautau Moga, Kalyn Ponga, Chris Heighington, Slade Griffin, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Herman Ese’ese, Connor Watson and Jacob Lillyman to the Hunter.

But with it will come pressure not felt in Newcastle for years as they have meticulously built a side capable of challenging for the top eight.

Nathan Brown finally has a competitive roster. Photo: Phil Hillyard

“There is definitely more pressure on now to win more games,” Brown said. “To get some consistent, winning sequences, for sure.

“That comes from the younger players gaining more experience and obviously when you’re recruiting players like Mitchell Pearce, those quality players will bring more expectation.

“I would much rather have those blokes in the roster and have more pressure and expectation than not have them there, if that makes sense.

“There is certainly a much bigger expectation on the club now from where we have been.

“We have the nucleus of a team that can build and get the club back playing finals

footy.

“The last couple of years we weren’t settled in the pre-season about which players would be in key positions. Now we are pretty settled and we can be pretty settled for a number of years.”

Brown with new recruits Mitchell Pearce and Aidan Guerra. Photo: Brett Costello

Brown has endured pain and heartache through the past few years and wants to remain in Newcastle now with brighter times looming.

“The worst part of what we have done has been done,” Brown said. “Now we have a squad that can play together for a period of time.

“It will be a stable roster, which is the best time to be involved I suppose.

“You don’t want to go through what we’ve been through and then not be part of what’s at the club now. We have done the hard yards. We have all been through that — fans, staff, players.

“Now there is certainly some light at the end of the tunnel. The younger players have been together for a few years and we have recruited some experience players and some good young ones.”

Brown’s manager, George Mimis, has started talks with Newcastle about a two-year extension.

Under contract for next year, the new deal would see Brown remain in Newcastle until after the 2020 season.

“There will be performance based clauses — that is always the case these days with coaches,” Brown said.

“That’s the way it is.

“I feel comfortable with where everything is at. The club has been open and honest. We are in a business where you need results to maintain employment, to maintain a job.

“We hope to get something sorted for another couple of years, hopefully get it down before the season starts.”

Brown said he hadn’t yet made a final decision on his new skipper although Jamie Buhrer was under consideration again.

KNIGHTS’ POSSIBLE 2018 ROUND 1 TEAM

1 Kalyn Ponga

2 Nathan Ross

3 Tautau Moga

4 Shaun Kenny-Dowall

5 Ken Sio

6 Connor Watson

7 Mitchell Pearce

8 Daniel Saifiti

9 Danny Levi

10 Jacob Lillyman

11 Aidan Guerra

12 Jamie Buhrer

13 Sione Mata’utia

INTERCHANGE
14 Brock Lamb

15 Jacob Saifiti

16 Chris Heighington

17 Herman Ese’ese

Originally published as Newcastle Knights should be playing in NRL finals, says coach Nathan Brown