Knights legend Andrew Johns has delivered a stinging critique of his outdated facet, labelling Newcastle’s 43-12 thrashing on Friday night time by the hands of the Eels as “hard to watch”.
After slender defeats towards the Panthers and Cowboys in back-to-back weeks, the Knights have been blown off the park by the Eels, trailing 30-6 at half time.
Johns, who works as a specialist teaching guide for the Knights, believed Newcastle have been fortunate to not lose by extra.
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“There were 65 missed tackles (by the Knights), Parramatta made 13 clean breaks,” Johns mentioned on The Sunday Footy Show.
“Parramatta should have scored another five tries, they bombed certain tries so the score could have been 70-80.
“They are off the pace, so far off the pace it’s not funny.
“It was hard to watch. They showed zero fight.”
Despite their 14th place on the ladder, the Knights have principally proven a little bit of resolve this season, one thing Johns and co-panellist Billy Slater pointed to.
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“They’ve really competed hard this year, but they were disappointing on Friday. Some of the missed tackles,” Johns mentioned.
“Parramatta took advantage of the lack of desire in Newcastle’s defensive line… They tore them to shreds on both sides,” Slater added.
Maroons coach Slater has an enormous resolution to make relating to Ponga and whether or not he picks the incumbent fullback for Queensland for Game I.
In his second recreation again after lacking the previous 5 video games with concussion, Ponga missed plenty of tackles and didn’t threaten in assault.
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Slater defended Ponga’s latest kind.
“He’s played three games in 10 months. That’s not easy to do,” Slater mentioned.
“The time that he’s had out since Round 2, he hasn’t achieved lots of operating, he hasn’t had lots of coaching and our recreation is a recreation you want timing and getting your reps in.
“He must play a bit extra footy and when your workforce is off the tempo, it doesn’t assist.
Source: www.foxsports.com.au