Newcastle Knights coach Wayne Bennett holds one-on-one crisis meetings with entire squad

WAYNE Bennett is attempting to arrest his side's horror season by holding one-on-one crisis meetings with his entire NRL squad.

FEELING unprecedented pressure, Wayne Bennett is attempting to arrest his side's horror season by holding one-on-one crisis meetings with his entire NRL squad.

Bennett started the individual meetings yesterday and will work through his roster over the remainder of this week.

The master coach has made the semi-finals 22 times in his 25 seasons and not missed a final series in 20 years. That looks like changing in 2012.

"It's a performance review and looking at the efforts of individual players," one source close to Newcastle said.

The meetings are being held in between training sessions.

Future contracts have not been discussed - only how every player is under-performing.

"You wouldn't think this would happen if they were winning," the source said.

Newcastle play Wests Tigers this Monday night at Hunter Stadium.

PROPPING UP MAROONS

NSW had a chuckle this week at the possibility of Queensland picking New Zealand-born prop Sam Kasiano.

Kasiano's selection would mean the Maroons have a whopping five front-rowers in their squad with three coming off the bench.

It could also mean one star prop - either Petero Civoniceva, Matt Scott, Ben Hannant or David Shillington - would be dumped.

"Now we'll see how loyal they really are," one former NSW star said. "What odds they name Kasiano as 18th man - just to get him into their system?"

LEWIS ON THE MOVE?

IT is the rumour that won't go away. Luke Lewis won't be a Panther next season. Stay tuned.

STEWART YET TO SIGN

UNBELIEVABLY, Manly and NSW fullback Brett Stewart remains unsigned for next season.

The Daily Telegraph has been told Manly wants to offer Stewart a three-year deal but the tryscoring fullback wants a four-season contract. Manly is struggling under salary cap pressure.

Stewart, a two-try hero in Origin II, wants the deal settled immediately after Origin III.

Meanwhile, one controversial Manly figure is headed for a massive fall in coming weeks.

It should make for interesting reading.

COOPER TO PLAY ON

THERE has been on-going talk that this will be Matt Cooper's final NRL season. Wrong. The St George Illawarra centre is telling friends he wants to play on again in 2013.

BOWEN IN THE FRAME

GREG Inglis would be favourite but don't be surprised if Mal Meninga opts for Matt Bowen as Queensland fullback.

Inglis, Bowen, Darius Boyd and Ben Barba are all candidates to replace injured Billy Slater, who still rates himself a chance of playing but is no hope.

Inglis' form for Souths this year from fullback has been stunning but Meninga has always been a fan of North Queensland's Bowen, who was brilliant in last weekend's match against Brisbane.

In that match, Bowen made 19 runs for 211m, 15 tackle busts, two try assists and one linebreak. They are fair stats to throw at the Queensland coach.

JEREMY'S SPOKEN FOR

CRONULLA have hosed down suggestions they are attempting to offload tough forward Jeremy Smith. In fact, the Sharks want to re-sign Smith until the end of 2014.

There was speculation St George Illawarra had shown internal interest but Cronulla won't be allowing Smith to move next door.

Smith is contracted until the end of next season but Sharks coach Shane Flanagan said: "We are hoping to do something with Jeremy for 2014."

Flanagan said his club was also looking to buy an outside back and had identified a couple of prospects playing in England.

Cronulla will sit down with centre Colin Best next week to discuss playing on in 2013.

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