Too much respect. We were guilty of respecting Melbourne far more than we should have last weekend and paid a big price for it.
We focused too much on them and not enough on ourselves during the build up and what you saw in our really ordinary first half performance was the consequence of that.
Don't worry, we've learnt a valuable lesson heading into tonight's clash against Brisbane. We respect every opposition but the biggest thing for us going into any game has to be ourselves and making sure we are ready to go.
We'll be getting back to doing what we do best against the Broncos from the opening whistle which is to control the footy when we have it and come up with defensive pressure when we haven't. Those two basic requirements went out the window in the first half against the Storm.
Toohey's News: Listen to Barry Toohey's new podcast in your Podcast app
Personally, I was gutted after the game with not only the loss, but the way I played to be honest. It wasn't good enough. I guess in some respects, it was a bit of a reality check for all of us.
The upside was the way we fought hard in the second half to right the wrongs of the opening 40 minutes. That was the positive to take out of our first defeat.
Brisbane will be desperate and if they are anything like last week, they will come out of the blocks fast and try and seize all the early momentum from us.
Ads (coach Adam O'Brien) has given us all a talking to and we had a really honest video session reviewing the Storm game. He's given everyone the chance to make amends so the onus is on us now to get it right against Brisbane.
Kalyn's new deal
It's massive news for the club that Kalyn is going to be here for another four years.
All the boys are obviously stoked for him and really proud of him. Apart from his wonderful ability as a player, I can't speak highly enough of him as a person. He's a great young bloke who is really respectful, cares about everyone and is always wanting to learn and improve. He's obviously had a really good up-bringing.
He's very competitive - he always wants to win at everything and on the field, he's not afraid to put his body on the line to make a try-saving tackle. He has this great ability to switch on footy-wise when we are training or preparing to play but switch off when we're not.
Just in the past 12 months since I've been in Newcastle, he's really matured into a leader and is talking a lot more.
But yeah, he's a bit different as well. He's right into photography, he's got a bit of a swag about him and likes his fashion.
But for all the attention he gets and the expectation that surrounds him, he manages to take most things in his stride and stays really grounded.
IN THE NEWS:
-
Man arrested over 2018 death of Ewan Sams, who was hit by 4WD in Coalfields backyard
- Calls for Upper Hunter MP Michael Johnsen to resign over Black Lives Matter / abortion post
- Baby boy's tragic death set for trial
- Fraud squad police execute search warrant on Sydney-based auditing firm to seize ALS Newcastle lab documents in international fake coal testing investigation
- TAFE students earn high praise for edible works of art
- NSW Environment Minister Matthew Kean demands the EPA take action on the heavily-contaminated Maitland Truegain waste-oil refinery site
- Knights boss Phil Gardner says Kalyn Ponga could have earned more money elsewhere
