I BELIEVE Knights players should return money they were paid for the weekend ("Not good enough", Newcastle Herald 26/8). In my view they displayed no pride in Newcastle, the Knights jersey or even themselves.
How could a side with so many State of Origin players play with so little enthusiasm?
Get rid of the big-money boys and start preparing young local up and comers. What can we lose after that performance? Other teams used to dread coming here, knowing it would be a tough day out. Now they must rub their hands in glee at an easy two points. Stop being princesses and earn your money boys, or give it back. I'm 60 and I'll go out and play for nothing. I wouldn't help win any games, but I'd put some heart in.
Gary Bennett, Kahibah
PAST SHOWS US THE PATH
I SINCERELY hope coach Nathan Brown takes his showponies with him, although most of the team played like schoolboys. In my opinion Kalyn Ponga was repeatedly out of position, didn't tackle and seemed to want to be up with the forwards. Sorry, this is less than acceptable. As a member of the club, I hope that the Wests Group thinks long and hard about importing yet another outsider to coach this less than capable, low-performing team. Like every member, I want my team to at least compete. There is a monumental amount of work to do.
For the city's sake, the fans' sake, and more importantly, the team's sake, put in a local coach and rebuild with people who have the regional pride that Michael Hagan built on his way to winning us a grand final.
Dennis Crampton, Redhead
THERE'S MORE TO THE STORY
UNFORTUNATELY the Newcastle Knights are a basket case. When a team loses five straight, then wins six straight then loses six straight, alarm bells must have rung somewhere but where?
I realise they wouldn't exist without the Wests Group, but in my opinion Phil Gardner doesn't know enough about football or footballers. I believe Nathan Brown should have been fired a long time ago, especially for the reason he never seemed to expect the team to do well then never seemed to be upset when they didn't do well.
Can someone swallow humble pie and reinstate Jesse Ramien to the roster? Unless he has done something drastically wrong, why would you sack a young inside back with attacking ability, all the time seemingly deliberately starving him of the ball?
Something smells really fishy here.
Robert Green, Georgetown
TIME FOR LONG, HARD LOOK
ANDREW Johns hammered it home the other night after the Knights capitulated to the Tigers. I think he is right, there are a lot of people in the background that need to be pulled into gear. I believe player managers have caused a lot of problems over the last few weeks, culminating into what happened.
In my opinion the Knights management should buy a large mirror and place it in the change room for next week and have the whole 16 players look at themselves because I feel that the supporters don't deserve the crap they dished up. I leave Bradman Best off this list as it was his first game and he got no assistance from the other 16.
Allen Small, East Maitland
CLIMBING OFF THE RAMPARTS
I WROTE a letter last week praising Brownie for the way he was to exit the Knights. Now it seems I might have had the wool pulled over my eyes, and what we were told was not the whole truth.
I don't attend the home games but have paid full membership for many, many years. I watch the games on pay TV.
Lots of my friends were so happy that Wests had taken the Knights onboard; maybe we will now rue the day. The question that I want to put forward is, was the outgoing coach's departure helped along with a monetary farewell gift as well?
I'll wait to see if I renew next year or just watch the games. I'm not really happy about this situation.
Wal Remington, Mount Hutton
CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS
THE Newcastle Knights can still qualify for the finals. Of course, they have to win their two remaining games against the Titans and Penrith to reach 24 points. Cronulla must also defeat the Tigers in their last game to reach 26 points (seventh place).
The Tigers should beat the Dragons to gain 24 points but could have an inferior point differential to the Knights. Brisbane must lose at home to Parramatta and away to the Bulldogs to remain on 23 points. It is impossible for the Bulldogs to qualify because of their point differential, presently at -160 points.
To go on then and win the premiership, the Knights would then have to win three consecutive games against the top four qualifying sides. Any takers?
Gary Dowling, Hamilton
EMBATTLED COACHES NO HELP
BACK in the sheds and during the week's preparation, I believe the hearts and minds of our players are firmly set by the coach. In my opinion Nathan Brown is wholly and solely responsible for the disengaged mindset which has dogged us all season.
As professional sportsmen, the players need our support to navigate the Brown mind field. Coaches worried about their own survival rarely inspire others.
Eric O'Reilly, Merewether
DULL TACTICS FRUSTRATE
I AM another frustrated Knights fan. The team should learn from the Tigers that players must back up their ball carriers, run hard in groups and throw short passes.
Knights defenders can then mobilise and cover the opposition attackers. Instead, they are running one-out into opposition defenders and therefore cannot get through to the try line. Meanwhile, their opponents are scoring against weak defence.
I am an old retiree, an ex-rugby union footballer now 88 years old.
Jim Donnelly, Newcastle East
WE NEED HISTORY'S HEROES
AT the risk of poking my head up only to have it shot off at the turkey shoot, I'm convinced there are only three prospective coaches capable of lifting the Knights into the winners' circle.
Firstly, Phil Gould brings football brains and management with a proven winner's record. He's followed by Danny Buderus and Andrew Johns.
I believe either of these champions, or even both as a coach and assistant coach partnership, will succeed.
Unproven coaches will only see more years of what fans have endured. In my opinion the selection panel needs to look long and hard at those being considered.
Darryl Sharpe, Hamilton
THE POLLS
SHOULD the Knights keep Nathan Brown in charge for the last two games?
Yes 64%, No 36%
AFTER sitting and watching the Knights get belted by the Tigers ('Not good enough', Newcastle Herald 26/8), I believe the new coach has a lot of work to do. First, clean out back-room staff who allegedly worked to get rid of the coach, and then the players who haven't been seen to play for the jumper and in the spirit of the Knights.
Greg Parrey, Ashtonfield
IN my opinion the Knights are an absolute disgrace to the Newcastle rugby league community. After Saturday's dismal attempt, I think the whole team should resign along with Brown. We should re-sign local players and coaches who would have some pride playing for Newcastle and not just to get money for nothing. I won't be renewing my membership. Go the Jets.
Bill Slicer, Tighes Hill
NEWCASTLE Knights, hang your heads in shame. What a pathetic effort. Nathan Brown, I apologise. Phil Gardner, you may not have interviewed prospective coaches, but I believe you had to know what was reportedly happening.
Darryl Horne, Waratah
DIABOLICAL! Phil Gardner probably wishes a number of the Knights players had resigned rather than Brown.
Anne Stuart, Merewether
IS it possible to prevent the Knights from wearing the Newcastle jumper for the final two games of the season? That disinterested, embarrassing display on Saturday night was a dagger to the heart of all Knights supporters. I would not be surprised if the old boys boycotted the old boys' day next week, and I actually encourage them to do so. I'm 64 years old and I am willing to play the final two games if they are after someone who actually cares and doesn't want a million dollars to do it. A disgusting display.
Eddie Niszczot, Thornton
WHAT a woeful, disgraceful performance! The Knights' 46-4 loss eclipses their previous worst at Campbelltown, 52-12. Where is the players' shame?
David Crich, Tenambit
MY husband and I travelled down to Campbelltown on Saturday to watch our team, the Newcastle Knights. What we watched was a team with no pride in the jumper. The Tigers outsmarted, outplayed and out-enthused the Knights. Congratulations to Bradman Best ('Best of a bad bunch', Herald 26/8). At least he was enthusiastic. You can't say the same for many others.
Sue Wilkinson, Balmoral
I AGREE with Andrew Johns' comments about the Knights. Watching that game on Saturday night was embarrassing for any supporter to watch.
Barry Reed, Islington
I THINK the Knights' owners made the wrong decision in letting Nathan Brown go last week. In my opinion they should have retained the coach and sacked the players.
