Brock Lamb’s kicking game got him back in first grade with Jack Cogger dropped
BROCK Lamb will get a reprieve as Newcastle try and sort their halves out while Mitchell Pearce is sidelined with one skill in particular putting him ahead of Jack Cogger.
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BROCK Lamb’s kicking game has earned him a recall to first grade at the expense of Jack Cogger as Newcastle look to turnaround their poor display against South Sydney last week.
Lamb will have his chance to take over Mitchell Pearce’s No. 7 jersey as coach Nathan Brown looks to revive the attack when they take on Penrith on Friday evening.
Brown said it was not so much a reflection of what Cogger had done in his two weeks at halfback, but more what Lamb can add to the side.
“Coggs is a little bit unlucky, but without Mitchell we certainly suffer with our kicking game,” he said.
“Brock kicks the ball very, very well and Connor [Watson] since he came back, his form has been really, really good.
“[Jack’s] probably a touch unlucky but we need to kick the ball well and Brock’s a goalkicker as well, which we haven’t been doing as well with. He’s got some strings to his bow that can certainly help us improve.”
The Knights were out-kicked 22 to 14 and 581 metres to 364 by Souths in their 38-16 loss last week.
It was a quick return to reality after their dying minutes win over Manly the week before, their first without Pearce.
Things don’t get much easier against Penrith.
In-form James Maloney is second in the league for total kicks this season (100) and the Panthers are sitting third on the ladder.
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Centre Nathan Ross said it had already been a tough week at training for the Knights who felt they were outmuscled in the middle by the Rabbitohs.
“It’s unacceptable. I guess we put ourselves in a position to win the game and then to just let the Bunnies … get a roll on and really get stuck in to us,” Ross said.
“We got stuck into each other this week that’s for sure. A lot of focus was on defence and making sure that our middle and our ruck doesn’t get blown open.
“Far too many quick play the balls against us and it’s hard to defend on an edge or even at marker when the ruck’s so quick.”
The Knights’ pack will also have a reshuffle with Luke Yates named for this week.
Brown said last week was disappointing but he that the players coming in had earned their place.
“We’ve got a couple of changes. Had a few blokes who’ve been knocking on the door for a while,” he said.
“Yatesy played the last two wins we had, he’ll come back in. Kingy’s [Josh King] been 18th man for a number of weeks now and his form in reserve grade has been very good. He’s been unlucky not to play to be honest.
“Then Danny’s [Levi] had two games this year, one pretty good, one steady and he was very good in reserve grade on the weekend.
“Those guys have been rewarded for the form they’re showing in the lower grades.”