Biggest 'lesson' Knights must learn from shock surge

When the Newcastle Knights lost seven games out of nine mid-season and were languishing well down the ladder, things got so dire that the club began secretly searching for a new coach.But then, all of a sudden, something amazing happened: the Knights started winning and couldn't stop.Their 10-match unbeaten streak became the talk of the league, deservedly earned Adam O'Brien a new deal and took the club to within two games of the grand final.They weren't just winning games - they were playing sparkling attacking football as they did so, blowing many opponents off the park with their speed and power.The brilliant Kalyn Ponga, finally over his concussion and injury worries, was at the heart of the remarkable revival. His raids from the backfield worried every club in the NRL and he set up countless tries for his outside men.Wingers Dom Young and Greg Marzhew were the main beneficiaries of Ponga's class, scoring an amazing 47 tries between them, while centre Bradman Best also got in for his share of the spoils with 13.McDonald Jones Stadium was the epicentre of the NRL for the second half of the season, with sellout crowds delighting to the team's bright, attacking style of football.'No frills' players like Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Phoenix Crossland, Tyson Gamble and Leo Thompson bought into the Knights' new attitude and had career-best seasons.If there was a downer on the team in 2023, it was that long wretched run mid-season which cost them a top four berth.The Knights had the personnel to be a real force had they finished in the top four and after beating Canberra in their opening finals game, they were trounced by a pumped-up Warriors team in Auckland in a disappointing end to an otherwise fruitful campaign.The lesson the players should have learned is that it's a long season - and you have to turn up every week wanting to win and believing you can do so to be successful.If the Knights take that out of 2023, they can be an even bigger threat next season.

Stat that explains Knights' rise

A daring early attacking blitz philosophy has the Knights on the verge of a remarkable late charge into the finals. Adam O'Brien's men have won seven games straight for the first time in more than two decades - and it's all due to a series of early blitzes. The Knights have scored more points than any team in the NRL in the first 20 minutes of games this season, throwing the ball around early while their rivals are simply playing steady football. They were at it again against the Rabbitohs yesterday, giving danger men Kalyn Ponga, Bradman Best and Greg Marzhew the ball with early time and space to charge to an 8-0 lead after just 13 minutes. Souths never recovered from the onslaught and were chasing their tails all game, with the Knights finishing convincing 29-10 winners. The loss leaves Souths in a precarious position in the finals battle, with a bye next weekend and then it all coming down to the final round clash with old rivals, the Roosters.

Knights reject poaching attempt of star forward

Newcastle have rejected a bid by Super League club Warrington to allow star forward Lachlan Fitzgibbon to join them immediately.The Wolves want Fitzgibbon, who signed a three year deal with the club to start in 2024, to make the switch now to help them with their Super League title hopes.With both clubs in precarious positions on their respective ladders, the Knights declined the approach in the belief that they can still make the finals with a strong run in the latter stages of the season.The Knights are in 14th spot on the ladder, but a big win over the Bulldogs followed by the bye last weekend has them just three points away from eighth position.In England, Warrington are in fifth spot on the ladder, but only four points behind leaders Catalans Dragons, who suffered a shock loss to Huddersfield, who are third from the bottom.Fitzgibbon, 29, had offers from both rival NRL clubs and England but opted to take the long-term deal at Warrington in a move that will possibly see out his career.