Defence wins games
Todd Bates
And hopefully a few others and more of our pathway players getting a go.
NRL Round 27 - Eels Vs Knights - 4:05pm Sunday 7th September - CommBank Stadium
- Thread starter Lefty
- Start date
Frank McWilliams
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Disappointing, poor loss but some excuses if we are truthful but a loss was always likely.
Didn’t help loosing f/b and 7 that created big shifts in positions. Hopwood played well for a young middle in a side getting smashed.
Hunt, Cup, Young, Gagai, Best and Marzhew ok for 2026. Need to sort out 6, 7 & 9 assuming Ponga at 1. Lots gone for 8-13 but likely replacements look ok, our younger players, ESL, McEwen, Hopwood need time so new buys need to step up.
Think 2026 is a reassessing year along with development under new Coach so might have to wait for 2027+ for better results
Didn’t help loosing f/b and 7 that created big shifts in positions. Hopwood played well for a young middle in a side getting smashed.
Hunt, Cup, Young, Gagai, Best and Marzhew ok for 2026. Need to sort out 6, 7 & 9 assuming Ponga at 1. Lots gone for 8-13 but likely replacements look ok, our younger players, ESL, McEwen, Hopwood need time so new buys need to step up.
Think 2026 is a reassessing year along with development under new Coach so might have to wait for 2027+ for better results
Kurriboy
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Where, have I ever said all our problems will be solved when AOB goes?
Nowhere.
But he is a big part of the problem.
I really don’t think people will be satisfied with that. There seems to be so much anger out there, people are expecting a complete turnaround.
Kurriboy
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
I'm expecting a change in how we play from this tripe AOB ball. He shouldn't head coach anywhere ever again. Out of his depth.
I'm expecting the team be competitive, look trained, look professional.
You really can't blame anyone for their anger and expect them not to be angry.
This season was completely unacceptable, even with the injuries.
Frank McWilliams
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
We need a leader, not a Captain, Ponga is not that leader, yes someone like Lucas would be very good but what I’m looking for is a 7 that calls the shots, directs play, sorts out what’s happening next play, bit like a Moses does.
You need someone that calls the shots during play where a Captain is more the huddle inspirator, asks or the effort, points out those that could be better, makes the decisions.
You need someone that calls the shots during play where a Captain is more the huddle inspirator, asks or the effort, points out those that could be better, makes the decisions.
mullenmagic
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Impossible to say how much of the blame for the problems is on any one person from the outside looking in. What's clear is that there is a problem, and I would argue AOB has shown no signs that he was going to be part of a solution.
Naive to think that a new coach automatically will yield better results especially when we don't even know who that new coach is yet. All I can say is there's finally hope that things could change, and that's nice.
Naive to think that a new coach automatically will yield better results especially when we don't even know who that new coach is yet. All I can say is there's finally hope that things could change, and that's nice.
I didn’t blame anyone for being angry, that’s their prerogative. Just saying what I see, I don’t think a year or two of rebuilding will be accepted by a large proportion of the fanbase.
The question is why are the Newcastle Knights always in a rebuild, why is this club so pathetic and how do we stop it.
mudmarn
Jeff Doyle
We wont be winning the comp. There will be big changes in playing group as well....again... I think a pass would be anywhere from 6 to 12.
Supporters know when a team is having a go and when they look to be enjoying their footy. If the new coaching team can get them to that point that will be half the battle.
Les Misérables
Adam Woolnough
Best, Lucas, Young, McEwen, the rest are no loss and McEwen needs to learn to tackle before anyone else will want him.
Im assuming Ponga leaves irrespective of what happens
Kurriboy
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
And to be honest, I don't mind.
We have tried and tried to make Ponga work for us. Look maybe the next coach can work the team better, I'd like to see him try with Ponga, but if Ponga leaves I'm ok with it.
Sharpe to fullback and a big amount of cap space for new coach to play with.
Frank McWilliams
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Records are made to be broken!
Celticman98
Sean Rudder
Fletch rightfully criticizing our performance.
frankLauda
Ben Kennedy
The team deserves all the media bashing they get. I didn't watch the game, but I can only imagine, going by what blokes like Fletch and Vossy are saying, that there was no effort.
Newygirl
Todd Bates
It’s right about the players clocking off once the ball goes past them. Not just yesterday either. They’ve always been like this. As soon as the ball goes past them in attack or defence they stop moving. It’s part of the reason their support play sucks as well.
For whatever reason they play with very little intensity and simply aren’t as engaged in the game as most other teams. They definitely don’t compete on every play like the top teams do.
They just don’t seem be as motivated as most players. I can understand them not being motivated under AOB who would be, but the poor attitude also precedes him as well. It seems to be so deeply ingrained it’s hard to imagine anything else.
Whoever the next coach is needs to address this first and foremost. Find out what it is they will actually motivate them to perform at a high level week in, week out.
Maybe pay Chridtian Welch to have a go at them every week in the media. Spite works pretty well for the Raiders
For whatever reason they play with very little intensity and simply aren’t as engaged in the game as most other teams. They definitely don’t compete on every play like the top teams do.
They just don’t seem be as motivated as most players. I can understand them not being motivated under AOB who would be, but the poor attitude also precedes him as well. It seems to be so deeply ingrained it’s hard to imagine anything else.
Whoever the next coach is needs to address this first and foremost. Find out what it is they will actually motivate them to perform at a high level week in, week out.
Maybe pay Chridtian Welch to have a go at them every week in the media. Spite works pretty well for the Raiders
Frank McWilliams
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
I think many players put in efforts but seemed to back off once the break was made.
I thought Croker and JSaf put in big performances but were often isolated by others failing to back them up.
Injuries, HIA, didn’t help meaning a reshuffle of players in positions not originally selected.
Use of bench was poor, Hopwood played strong for one so young but the failure to use ESL for longer minutes when he has had a bit of experience over the last few weeks.
Don’t get me wrong we played poorly and Eels probably played at there best, was very one sided
Moses was great along with that old slow bloke on the wing but even better I liked what I saw of Brown.
Aside did he deliberately shank the first kick at goal out of embarrassment not expecting the second chance which he kicked, awkward moment
I thought Croker and JSaf put in big performances but were often isolated by others failing to back them up.
Injuries, HIA, didn’t help meaning a reshuffle of players in positions not originally selected.
Use of bench was poor, Hopwood played strong for one so young but the failure to use ESL for longer minutes when he has had a bit of experience over the last few weeks.
Don’t get me wrong we played poorly and Eels probably played at there best, was very one sided
Moses was great along with that old slow bloke on the wing but even better I liked what I saw of Brown.
Aside did he deliberately shank the first kick at goal out of embarrassment not expecting the second chance which he kicked, awkward moment