Nathan Brown downcast after shocking Knights performance
It was a performance that underlined the decision that Nathan Brown and Newcastle had already come to — 30 unanswered first-half points from an underachieving team out of ideas.
Nathan Brown says you need to look no further than what his side dished up in their record breaking loss to the Tigers to understand why he won’t be Newcastle’s coach next year.
A horror week took a dramatic turn for the worse for Brown who had to watch his side meekly forfeit any hope of finals football. It came in the same week Brown decided this year would be his last in charge of Newcastle.
The team came into the match knowing they were a shot of playing finals football. But that was blasted away when they conceded 30 unanswered first-half points.
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“We had a genuine semi-final position on the ladder with where we sat,” Brown said. “The first half was a reflection of why the boss (chief executive Phil Gardner) and I came to the decision we did.
“When you’re in these situations when you get to the end of the road of like where I’m at. You’re either going to get an outstanding performance or you’re going to what we did in the first half.
“It’s a long way behind what that group of players can get it. I had no idea (it was coming) The boys trained well.”
There were few decent performers for the Knights. Fullback Kalyn Ponga had a night to forget, spilling a bomb which led to a try, kicking a restart out on the full and throwing an intercept pass. While Brown praised debutant Bradman Best there was little solace he could take out of that inept performance.
Brown said he did not feel the players owed him more but said “it was clear” why he wouldn’t be hanging around next year.
“It’s unfortunate for a lot of people — the fans, the players,” Brown said. “Me and the boss — we have good honest conversations. What we talk about people can speculate. We came to this situation because we thought this was the best thing for the club.”
The Knights face the Titans on Saturday in the annual old boys day. Brown said he felt his players would lift in front of Newcastle players of yesteryear.
“I’ll have a good honest conversation with the leadership group and with Phil,” Brown said. “We’ll work through it. We will resolve what we need to resolve.
“If you said to me how it’s ending and how it looks today would I want it to look like that? No.
“I’m proud of what we’ve achieved. The next coach will be happy with where the squad is at and the salary cap situation.”
Originally published as Nathan Brown downcast after shocking Knights performance
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