I watched the game at the ground so I haven't heard any commentary except the posts on this thread.
I gave them a B. There were too many missed tackles and errors for anything more.
They were not prepared for the intensity at the start. Newcastle took it to them, especially down our left side.
In the first quarter we had made 14 missed tackles to their 2. It was like they had bloody fleas.
Their try was from a forward pass from what I could see. The women touchie was on that side and I think she was too scared to call it.
Apart from the try the Knights never looked in it at all. As usual the referees seemed to be looking at only one side and they really kept them in the game. FFS Matt Chechin called a try that had to be overruled by the Bunker because it was clearly dropped...FFS
Luke and
Blair again led the forward pack with intensity and
Jazz topped the tackle count again. Well done
Jazz, he has to be kept on. The forwards dominated after the first quarter.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck should get the Dally M, but he isn't, playing for the Rorters anymore.
Some have commented that the score didn't reflect the domination, and it didn't. Some of that was due to poor finishing or pushed passes.
For a million dollar player
Shaun Johnson makes too many kicking errors. Out on the full and line kicks going dead but his linking with
Blake Green is very impressive and will keep any team on their toes.
It has to be remembered that for that forward pass try against Cronulla the club would now be sitting 4th instead of 6th. They are not a bad side and are playing within themselves. After that hectic opening you could see
Blair and Luke settling the forwards into a grind and it wore the Knights down slowly but surely. That was why there was no helter skelter hail mary shite trying to push the scoreline out in the second half. Very Melbourne like.
One worry is we have two Rolls Royce wingers who are not really being fed properly right now.
Hiku was the best feeder for
Fusitua and we all know about the Ken Maumolo /Kata situation. Championship teams don't waste talent like that. I am sure
Kearney is working on it, after all he had to address the forwards first.
Next week could be a key game. We can beat the Dogs over there and if so I reckon 5th or 6th has to be in sight.