DAVID KLEMMER writes: We are a rung or two behind the…

DAVID KLEMMER writes: We are a rung or two behind the heavyweights

There are a lot of encouraging signs around the way we have started the season.

We have shown some fight in games when things have got tough. At other times we have looked pretty good with the footy and generally, we have defended okay when we needed to.

But like I said a few weeks back, you don't earn much in a month of footy and we haven't hit where we want to be yet - where we need to be.

If you look at sides like the Sydney Roosters and the Parramatta Eels right now, we're still a rung or two below the standard they have set but we are building. We are striving to put ourselves up there and continue to improve and that's what we will be doing on Saturday when we make the trip up to Townsville to meet the Cowboys.

They might have struggled a bit in their past few games but the Cowboys in Townsville is never an easy assignment. We know they have a quality forward pack led by one of the best there is in Jason Taumalolo and Josh McGuire is an experienced campaigner who knows how to get the job done.

Toohey's News: Listen to Barry Toohey's new podcast in your Podcast app

They'll have copped some up there in the media this week after their first half against the Wests Tigers but they also showed what they are capable of in the second half of that game.

I've got no doubts they are going to be right up for the challenge and looking to redeem themselves so we are going to have to more than match their enthusiasm for redemption if we are going to come home with the points.

I guess one of the exciting things for me right now is the challenge Adsy [coach Adam O'Brien] has put out there for us to keep finding improvement. Once again, we were good in some areas against the Broncos but as our review video revealed, there were also some areas in both attack and defence where we need to get better if we are going to climb those couple of rungs I spoke about.

One thing is certain. Now is not the time to be slackening off and letting our guard down.

Threat: The Knights will be hoping Cowboys enforcer Jason Taumalolo won't be wearing a smile like this after the two sides clash in Saturday's round 7 encounter in Townsville. Picture: NRL Photos.

Tough blow for Bradie

There were a lot of rumours swirling around last weekend about what we were allowed to do when the NRL relaxed some of the health protocols. So I feel really sorry for Bradman Best with what's happened to him.

He's only a kid, he's only 18 and right through this coronavirus stuff, he has done the right thing and followed all the protocols. But I think he was just busting to get back down to the Central Coast to see his parents and thought it was okay to do so.

He's copped it on the chin after realising he'd made a mistake and we can't do anything about it. No one is angry with him, that's for sure because we all understand.

But we are playing under rules and regulations that even if we think they are tough, it's bad luck because it's what has got us back on the field playing again.

IN SPORT:

Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.

Already a member? Sign in here