Latest news with #AdamOBrien
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Health
- News.com.au
‘It's ridiculous': Newcastle coach erupts over NRL stitch up
Knights coach Adam O'Brien has launched a stinging tirade at the NRL over the draw after he was forced to rest skipper Kalyn Ponga from his side's 20-6 loss to the Dragons. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer > The Knights are 14th on the ladder, but O'Brien refused to use his captain for what would have been three games over an eight day period, including next week and Origin I. 'He was doing everything he could and I took the decision away from him because it is the right thing to do,' O'Brien said. 'I know Val (Holmes) backed up, but he is a centre and Kalyn had a pretty rough 10 days up there while he was trying to get that ankle right and it is the type of injury that takes a few days to settle down. 'Two days is not enough. He is disappointed and angry with me but we have got to protect him. 'Look in this battle we lost to the scheduling and the draw. Someone has got to play Friday okay we get that. 'But then they hit us next Thursday as well. Hit us again, so it would have been three games in eight days. 'That's not looking after our players, so I had to look after him.' O'Brien confirmed Ponga's ankle injury won't stop him playing next week, but took aim at the draw for not looking after player welfare. 'He will play Thursday,' O'Brien said. 'I always knew that once the draw came out we would cop the Friday after Origin, but it would have been good if someone said, give them the Saturday or the Sunday the following week. 'But whoever does the draws either hasn't lived it or doesn't care, so I don't know which one it is. 'You have got teams like Canberra who haven't had a bye yet and then you have got teams who haven't left home in seven games in a row. Like it's ridiculous. 'But the draw didn't have anything to do with the way we played tonight.' O'Brien felt discipline cost his side of competing with a bigger and more experienced Dragons side in his eyes. 'We had much more discipline last week,' O'Brien said. 'We made it really hard on ourselves in the first half. When you come here and you are giving away some experience and certainly size, you can't afford to triple whammy that by giving them easy possession. 'We certainly were our own worst enemy with nine penalties at half time. We just can't afford to do it.' The Dragons, meanwhile, have momentarily shot back into the top eight. The 18-0 half-time score would've felt like a recurring nightmare for O'Brien, having now been held scoreless in the opening 40 minutes seven times in just 12 games this year. Following a stack of poor defensive efforts in the opening half, you couldn't blame O'Brien for blowing up after his side gave up a 70m line break to debutant and two-time Olympian Nathan Lawson in the first minute of the second stanza. While the break wouldn't bare points, the burst just sucked the energy straight from the red-and-blue outfit. The Red V did a number on last week's star duo in Fletcher Sharpe and Dylan Lucas, the pair hardly sighted in attack as their halves Tyson Gamble and Jack Cogger tried steering the ship. A penalty goal midway through the second stanza stretched the lead to 20 points, and put the final nail in any chance that Newcastle had of clawing their way back into the contest. A flick pass from a drifting Leo Thompson found Kai Pearce-Paul for his second NRL try, finally getting the Knights onto the score board with under 15 minutes left on the clock. The Englishman's four-pointer would signal the third time this season that Newcastle have scored their first points of the game in the final 12 minutes of play, and the seventh time they've scored 12 or less points in a game. Rookie winger Fletcher Hunt was denied his maiden first-grade try after bobbling the ball into Tyrell Sloan, however the mullet-clad youngster's efforts didn't stop all game. It leaves Newcastle to face Manly next Thursday night, as the Sea Eagles desperately cling on to the bottom of the top eight, and the Knights linger on just two wins from their last ten outings.
News.com.au
5 days ago
- General
- News.com.au
‘He's keen to play': Kalyn Ponga no certainty to face the Dragons as Knights superstar braces for three games in eight days
Superstar fullback Kalyn Ponga has declared he's keen to play, but Newcastle Knights coach Adam O'Brien isn't ready to make a definitive call on his availability for Friday's clash against the Dragons just 48 hours after the Origin opener. Ponga was one of many Queensland players to be kept quiet at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night, with the representative fullback flying down to Sydney where he wants to take his place at the back against a team just two points ahead of them on the ladder. 'I spoke to him this morning and he's keen to play,' O'Brien said. 'Those guys, especially after a loss, they want to get back out there straight away. 'It's important that I meet him this afternoon down in Sydney and get eyes on him and work out what's right for him, but also what's right for us given the fact that we trained without him all week and some guys got the job done last week. 'There are a few things to consider, but first and foremost I want to make sure that he's healthy. 'He'll play a big part in the decision whether he'll play or not. He's got no pressure from me.' Fletcher Sharpe will shift to fullback if the Knights decide to rest Ponga, with Newcastle in action again next Thursday when they host the Sea Eagles. Sharpe was phenomenal in their much-needed win over the Panthers in Bathurst and is ready to light it up at the back again if required. 'If Kalyn doesn't play, naturally 'Sharpey' will go back there,' his coach said. 'Until I see him this afternoon, I won't know. Any team that's got Kalyn Ponga in it, it gives you a better chance of winning. 'But at the same time, I'm mindful that he played last night. Fullbacks cover a fair bit of ground and we've got a short turnaround next week so it'll end up being three games in eight days. There's a bit to factor in.' The Knights are enjoying a more relaxed week after the pressure on the team was eased with their win over the undermanned premiers. And while O'Brien has enjoyed the positive vibes around town, he knows his side must move on to their next challenge against a Dragons side that always lifts at home. 'It was great to see smiles on the players' faces and good to see some people in coffee shops around town a bit happier with us,' he said. 'It was a bit of relief but a bit of confirmation that if we can hang onto the footy and play a certain style, we're a pretty effective footy team. 'That's done now and we need to go and recreate it.'
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lucas magic consigns Penrith to last on ladder
Dylan Lucas' hat-trick has powered Newcastle to a vital 25-6 defeat of four-time reigning premiers Penrith, who slumped back to the bottom of the NRL ladder in Bathurst. As injuries and State of Origin absences depleted both sides, Lucas showed his credentials as a future NSW player, helping the struggling Knights ease pressure on coach Adam O'Brien with an improved attacking performance. Fletcher Sharpe excelled replacing Queensland's Kalyn Ponga at fullback, scoring the Knights' first try at close range to trigger a 24-0 first-half skirmish. Sharpe finished with a staggering 18 tackle busts and four line breaks to go with a game-high 272 metres and was the Knights' best in a more even second half on Saturday night. Penrith's five Origin absences notwithstanding, O'Brien may have found the solution to his long-running halves problem as five-eighth Tyson Gamble laid on all three of Lucas' tries. Two came from beautiful flat balls in back-to-back sets before Gamble put boot to ball and helped the second-rower make it a four-score game after 25 minutes. Lucas could've had a fourth try in the shadows of halftime had he not spilt the ball over the tryline with Daine Laurie covering in defence. Dylan Lucas scores his third try in just sixteen minutes! 🤯#NRLPanthersKnights — NRL (@NRL) May 24, 2025 Adam Elliott tore a bicep in the first half as the only sour note for Newcastle. The loss laid bare the mighty task ahead of the Panthers to salvage an already dire campaign in the always-testing Origin period. The Panthers mercifully have byes before the final two Origin games but may need to rest players after Origin II given a trip to Auckland three days later. Goal-line defence was again a major issue for Penrith in the first half, with back-up halfback Brad Schneider targeted by Lucas ahead of his first two tries. The Panthers are now one point adrift at the bottom of the ladder and could lose prop Liam Henry to suspension for a crusher tackle on Sharpe. Henry went to the sin bin for the shot in the first half, putting the Knights in position for their fourth try. Highly-touted forward Harrison Hassett cut through for a try on debut in the second half. But that was good as things got for Penrith as former Panther Jack Cogger put the cherry on top with a field goal as the last five minutes approached. Newcastle debutant Paul Bryan dislocated his shoulder in his first minute but played on after having it popped back in.
News.com.au
15-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘Not best practice': Lessons learnt as Dom Young's move back to the Knights stalls, Dane Gagai prepares for NRL game milestone
Adam O'Brien has paid tribute to milestone man Dane Gagai as he prepares to join the NRL's 300-game club on Friday night, with the Knights coach not wanting to talk too much about the club's pursuit of Dom Young that has seemingly fallen apart this week. It seemed just last week that the English winger was set to rejoin the Knights this season after being linked with a move away from the Roosters who had dropped him to reserve grade. But negotiations have stalled, with Roosters coach Trent Robinson slamming the Knights and Young's agent for the way they handled the potential deal. Robinson was disappointed that the Knights approached his club but then demanded the Roosters pay Young's salary when they were the ones who instigated a potential move. 'Probably a thing that I've learnt out of the week is that doing your recruitment and retention through you guys (the media) is not best practice,' O'Brien said, with the Knights boss working alongside Robinson at the Roosters in the past. 'Right now he's a Rooster and I'm focused on Fletcher Hunt being on the wing for us tomorrow night.' Hunt will make his NRL debut against the Eels after scoring five tries in his past five games in reserve grade, but it's a man at the other end of his career who has attracted the headlines this week. Gagai, 34, made his debut back in 2011 and has enjoyed an incredible career at several clubs as well as on the representative stage for Queensland and Australia. O'Brien praised Gagai's relentless pursuit of excellence and said he had the rare ability to make other players around him lift at training and in games. 'It's really special for him to join the 300 club, especially the way that he's played is quite remarkable because every tackle and every run is a full-on contest for Dane,' he said. 'To do that over that length of time (is quite an achievement). Three hundred games is a lot of pre-seasons, that's a lot of hill sessions and a lot of wrestle sessions. 'To do that in front of our local supporters and his family is very fitting.' The Knights are chasing a much-needed win against an Eels side featuring Dylan Brown, who will move to Newcastle next season on the richest deal in NRL history. It's been a rough few weeks for the Knights who will be without powerhouse winger Greg Marzhew (knee) for the next few games. 'He's had some surgery on an MCL,' his coach said. 'I think it was initially 4-6 (weeks), but he's a very good healer. 'He's very optimistic and he's told me 'I'll be right for next week', but I don't think that's the case. It's not an extended thing, so he'll be back before you know it.'
News.com.au
09-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Knights urged to make tough $2m call after embarrassing defeat to Gold Coast Titans
The Knights turned in one of their worst performances of the last decade as they conceded 24 straight points to lose 24-20 to the languishing Titans on Friday night. Having not bagged a win since besting the Roosters 30-12 in Round 4, underfire Des Hasler got a much-needed win. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE in 4K with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. But after the full-time whistle, it was his coaching compatriot who found himself under immense pressure as Knights fans called for Adam O'Brien to be sacked immediately. Despite the Knights playing finals footy in four of the past five seasons, there is a growing sense that O'Brien is not the man to bring an elusive premiership to Newcastle. And while Newcastle's attacking struggles have been well highlighted in the early season, the overall lack of structure and creativity from a team full of attacking juggernauts is deeply troubling, and it has many feeling the Knights need to bite the bullet and sack him at whatever cost. However, the problem is O'Brien's contract runs until the end of 2027 and written into his deal is that if he is axed he will get a full payout of around $2 million. But after a complete horror show against the Titans and a sense that the Knights are continuing to trend in the wrong direction, fans are calling for O'Brien's head. 'Knights getting booed off their own field after pissing away a lead & conceding 18 straight points to lose. Not sure how Adam O'Brien survives this. Their attacking structure is non-existent. Their players look out of belief,' one fan wrote on X. 'Adam O'Brien surely gets the sack this week,' another said. 'Adam O'Brien must be walking one hell of a tightrope,' a third added. O'Brien touched on the disappearance of the lead after the game, and the under-fire coach didn't miss in his analysis. 'It's not a good habit to get in, getting ahead of ourselves after one game, and I'm not saying it's everybody that did that, but when we get into a good lead, and then fell into a hole at the backend of the first-half and beginning of the second,' O'Brien said in his post-match press conference. 'It's embarrassing really.' It's the first time this season the Knights have scored 20+ points and lost, and there's a key component to the compounding losses according to O'Brien. 'I was never concerned when we had the forwards. We had them for the Dolphins game, we scored 26, next game we had them was the Souths game, we scored 30. 'The errors are coming from out wide. The outside backs are making all the errors and it's costing our middle a little bit.' The Knights are now 3-6 in 2025.
