Ben Cross mindful of Storm dangers
BY ROBERT DILLON
SIDELINED Knights enforcer Ben Cross believes some teams are beaten mentally before they even run out at Olympic Park.
Cross spent two years with Melbourne, in 2006 and 2007 when they were at the peak of their powers, and knows exactly how much of a home-ground advantage they enjoy in the Victorian capital.
"You get a bit of the breeze coming off the Yarra and Port Melbourne, so it's pretty cold when they play the night games," Cross said yesterday.
"The field's usually greasy and wet.
"The Storm players live and breathe down there and get used to it, whereas we usually train and prepare here on nice, dry fields.
"Everything is in their favour down there, which makes it difficult for the opposition.
"They just feel like they're invincible when they're playing at home."
Asked whether opposition teams were expecting the worst before their matches at Olympic Park even kicked off, Cross replied: "Plenty. I think a fair few are.
"They just see their roster, and having to play Melbourne in cold, breezy conditions at Olympic Park sort of gets into your head straight away."
The NSW Origin prop, who is unlikely to play again this season after rupturing his biceps in round seven, said a positive attitude would be crucial for Newcastle when they tackle Melbourne tomorrow night.
"We gave a pretty good account of ourselves last year [in an 18-4 defeat] and put all that stuff out of our minds," Cross said.
"You try to play them player for player, tactic for tactic, and stick to the game plan.
"But really, it's just a game of footy. You just get out and do what you do."
Knights coach Brian Smith was confident his players would respond positively to the challenge tomorrow night, rather than being intimidated.
"It's really up to the individuals to show they've got what it takes to go there and compete," Smith said.
"That's a very individual thing.
"If you think you're beaten before you go anywhere, no matter how daunting it is, you probably shouldn't be in a Knights jersey or even in the NRL."
Smith conceded, however, that playing Melbourne after their 26-16 defeat in Canberra last weekend would not help Newcastle's cause.
"The fact that they lost last weekend is not going to make it any easier," he said.
"They're a proud club and we're probably getting them at the worst possible time."
Herald
