Newcastle’s season hanging by a thread after 30-6 loss to Manly
They were the hottest team in the league two months ago but finals footy is now a mathematical hope rather than a formality for the embattled Knights.
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Newcastle’s season is hanging by a thread after they were crushed 30-6 by the Sea Eagles at Lottoland, with their finals drought now likely to extend to a sixth season.
Fans in the Hunter had grand plans after their side won six on the trot earlier in the season, but the Origin period has decimated their campaign, with the Knights now on a five-game losing streak and sliding down the ladder every week.
Nathan Brown wielded the axe after last week’s loss at home to the Tigers but the changes made little difference as they failed to fire a shot against a Manly team that never left first gear following their gruelling extra-time clash in Melbourne seven days ago.
“We had to make those changes. We had to see some sort of change, and obviously the changes didn’t change the resolve of the team today,” he said.
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The class of Daly Cherry-Evans was the deference as he set up Manly’s two first-half tries; the second finished off spectacularly by Reuben Garrick in the corner. The skipper also plucked a crucial intercept midway through the second stanza but couldn’t link up with his support.
David Klemmer was a colossus again for the Novocastrians but his playmakers couldn’t take advantage of his strong work with the middle, with Newcastle managing just one try in 80 minutes via some Kalyn Ponga individual brilliance.
It was hardly Manly’s silkiest performance of the season, but their defensive resolve shows they have what it takes to match it with the big guns come September.
Saturday’s result solidifies their spot in the top eight with five rounds remaining, while the Knights are on their last legs needing to win at least four of their final five fixtures.
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Good-Knight
They were the hottest team in the league two months ago but finals footy is now a mathematical hope rather than a formality for the embattled Knights.
The free-flowing footy and gritty defence that defined them earlier in the season has been replaced by robotic go-forward with next to no flair in attack. A loss to the Eels at Bankwest next week will be the final nail in the coffin.
“We touched them up at our home ground earlier in the year so they’re going to be coming for us, especially at their home ground,” hooker Connor Watson said.
Bigger isn’t always better
State of the art stadia is the goal for NSW, but while we wait for Allianz and ANZ to be redeveloped, it’s time we celebrated our suburban grounds. Following on from the magical scenes at Leichhardt Oval on Thursday night for Robbie Farah’s 301st game, the Manly faithful came out in force for Golden Eagles day to remind people how good Lottoland can be when packed out. The long lines and outdated infrastructure are quickly forgotten when the Sea Eagles strut their stuff in bright sunshine, and the heaving hill made it a day to remember for the 15,012 in attendance.
“Everyone was talking about us having a hangover after last week, but once we warmed up there were people everywhere so it would’ve been hard not to get up for it,” Curtis Sironen said.
Fullbacks fail to fire
The battle between Origin megastars Tom Trbojevic and Kalyn Ponga was worth the price of admission alone, but the key men fired blanks in perfect conditions, much to the disappointment of everyone at the ground. Ponga came up with one moment of magic when he bamboozled the defence, but it was an uncharacteristically quiet afternoon for his Manly counterpart, with Turbo making four errors and failing to inject himself with his typical gusto through the middle.
“Turbo is our strike weapon, but teams are going to read him and put extra guys on him. That opens it up for the rest of us,” Sironen said.
The edge of glory
You can’t mention the Sea Eagles without bringing up their star-studded spine, but the back-row duo of Curtis Sironen and Joel Thompson have gone from toilers to genuine stars in 2019, with their stocks growing every week. Both men crossed for tries on Saturday afternoon to continue their hot streaks, and you wouldn’t begrudge anyone if either one of them was nominated on Dally M Medal night when the back-rower of the year award is presented.
“They’re playing good footy and their form shows it. I’m pleased with the way they’re performing,” Hasler said.
MANLY 30 (R Garrick 2 C Sironen J Taufua M Taupau J Thompson tries R Garrick 3 goals) bt NEWCASTLE 6 (K Ponga try M Lino goal) at Lottoland. Referee: Henry Perenara, Phil Henderson. Crowd: 15,012
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