Match Discussion: Round 24 vs Cronulla @ PointsBet Stadium, Woolooware / Dharawal

[perverse]

Being one of the very few who goes against the “sky is falling” mentality here, and not scared to voice it, what suggests I am remotely worried about being criticised for it?

If I was worried, I would have left here years ago. I don’t care about not being one of the sheep.

Naw, you're so brave! lol.

I think you're all taking this far too seriously. I made a toothy blowjob joke with my tongue firmly in cheek, and Alex got his panties in a twist (after being the aggressor taking little pot shots at Haffa and Woody earlier in the thread). That's about the sum of it. We are allowed to be cynical after 2 decades of routine failure. Get the stick out of your arse and have fun with it. Dare to have a laugh at yourself.

For a lot of us, the cynicism is a coping mechanism for all the disappointment. I think we all broadly understand this and have fun with it. I don't really understand what this "being challenged" is all about, but it's super cringe.

 

[perverse]

I still think we're more than capable of being a top 6 side every season. The biggest change we need to make is getting rid of AOB.

I've said it for years, but it's Pareto's Law: moving him on will move the needle the most. I'm not saying there's a definite better candidate out there, but there's nothing worse than a coach playing negative football, trying to grind out narrow losses. There's absolutely no advantage in not contesting kicks. Remember when we would always run one-out from the ruck for 75 minutes of the game? He seems to be moving away from that, but I don't want to wait around for him to understand that challenging kicks is beneficial for the team.

We do need a good middle forward. Dan should go, and Leo is rocks and diamonds for some reason. I can't think of anyone off the top of my head, but JWH would have been perfect. I'd also move Frizz into the middle and start him in the front row. KPP to the right and Lucas on the left. Lucas would actually be a great option for the short ball we love to play so much. He has a great step before the line and is an effective hole runner. KPP should be encouraged to use his offloads every time he gets the ball and should be our first target for bombs.

I'm personally a Crossland fan, but a halfback he ain't. Play Gamble on the left and Pryce on the right. Keep the Poms together. Rotate Crossland/Brailey in the middle, and Ponga should get the ball at least twice a set, even when we're coming out of our own end. That should be our first instruction.

We have excellent outside backs in Best, Gagai, Sharpe, and Marzhew, who is awesome out of our own end. McCarthy looked like a great prospect over the weekend as well.

All in all, the club looks set for a big shift in the right direction. Get AOB out of here and put McDermott in charge.

Halfback is the main key... I think the rest is almost academic if we can't fix that. I am encouraged by a lot of things in our squad, but the halves are a massive question mark with no clear solution. Even on the off chance we get Pezet, he's no guarenteed silver bullet either.

A season without endless injuries to key personnel would be pretty cool, too.

 

[perverse]

I see it from both sides. I'm normally an optimist and think we're at least a chance most weeks. If we're mathematically still a chance of making the 8 then I'll still cheer for that over hoping we lose as some sort of punishment or payback on the team.

It's not about payback or punishment, it's about limping over the line to a "pass mark" versus shining a light on issues to actually get them fixed. It's about signing our coach to a 12 month extension versus a 3 year golden handjob for a run of 10 good games.

When we have major issues in the team but paper over the cracks, the problems just fester. It's not about punishment as much as fixing things. I'd very much not like to limp along in that grey space from 7th to 14th for the next 3-5 more years while we still have Ponga. I'd like to succeed - like actually succeed. Like the good old days when we were literally kids.

The rest of your post, agreed wholeheartedly.

 

[Haffa]

I’d settle for a run of form similar to the dogs. Where we look like we are capable of having a genuine crack at the title if the cards fall our way this season with the knowledge that we are bringing in some decent players next season.

Cynicism and being a Knights fan should go hand in hand. If anyone actually took the club seriously anymore they’d be committed by now.

 

[Apey]

Yeah the whole being 'happy about losing' is just a short-term pain for long-term gain thing. Fans like Alex seem ecstatic with the idea of, on average, being a 7th - 10th place side for the rest of our of natural lives. Which is exactly where we continue to dwell if we are content with doing so.

We've been an absolute dire team to watch in 2024. I've left early from multiple games this year, and I'd say I've attended at least 90% of our home games since 2006 (excluding the covid games where nobody could attend). I reckon I'd leave one game a year early on average. We've never played a more boring and negative style of footy, and no doubt that is emphasised by the fact that last year we were one of the most exciting teams to watch.

Outside a few stalwarts (Ponga, Best, Gagai when he's on) and a new kid on the block (Sharpe), I feel like we have very little to look forward to in the near future - which is an all too familiar feeling at this point.

I honestly can't even imagine what kind of lens you would have to be watching our team through to be happy or content with the way they are playing, the way they are coached to play, or even the direction they are heading in.

We aren't making the finals, so thankfully there is only three more weeks of watching us play "rugby league" left this year. I expect 2025 to be just as bad, though, so there's that.

 

[mozza91]

I get not being happy or content with where we’re at but if you’re so unhappy following the side week to week without appreciating the small victories eg Sharpe’s try against the Tigers or the fun high scoring game vs Parra you’re going to be totally miserable.

 

[Alex28]

Naw, you're so brave! lol.

I think you're all taking this far too seriously. I made a toothy blowjob joke with my tongue firmly in cheek, and Alex got his panties in a twist (after being the aggressor taking little pot shots at Haffa and Woody earlier in the thread). That's about the sum of it. We are allowed to be cynical after 2 decades of routine failure. Get the stick out of your arse and have fun with it. Dare to have a laugh at yourself.

For a lot of us, the cynicism is a coping mechanism for all the disappointment. I think we all broadly understand this and have fun with it. I don't really understand what this "being challenged" is all about, but it's super cringe.

It’s only fun now you’ve been called out on it…

I’m not wasting my Sunday arvo being doom and gloom about the team I love. f**k that. That’s what’s cringey.

 

[Alex28]

Yeah the whole being 'happy about losing' is just a short-term pain for long-term gain thing. Fans like Alex seem ecstatic with the idea of, on average, being a 7th - 10th place side for the rest of our of natural lives. Which is exactly where we continue to dwell if we are content with doing so.

We've been an absolute dire team to watch in 2024. I've left early from multiple games this year, and I'd say I've attended at least 90% of our home games since 2006 (excluding the covid games where nobody could attend). I reckon I'd leave one game a year early on average. We've never played a more boring and negative style of footy, and no doubt that is emphasised by the fact that last year we were one of the most exciting teams to watch.

Outside a few stalwarts (Ponga, Best, Gagai when he's on) and a new kid on the block (Sharpe), I feel like we have very little to look forward to in the near future - which is an all too familiar feeling at this point.

I honestly can't even imagine what kind of lens you would have to be watching our team through to be happy or content with the way they are playing, the way they are coached to play, or even the direction they are heading in.

We aren't making the finals, so thankfully there is only three more weeks of watching us play "rugby league" left this year. I expect 2025 to be just as bad, though, so there's that.

Why do you even bother? Like seriously. If that’s the way you see things, you have much, much better things you could be doing with your time.

 

[Alex28]

I get not being happy or content with where we’re at but if you’re so unhappy following the side week to week without appreciating the small victories eg Sharpe’s try against the Tigers or the fun high scoring game vs Parra you’re going to be totally miserable.

Someone gets it. There are signs of progress there. I love the fact we are seeing the future of the club being developed - like Lucas and Sharpe. Last years ride into the finals was great fun. That’s the stuff that makes supporting the team worth it.

 

[Apey]

I get not being happy or content with where we’re at but if you’re so unhappy following the side week to week without appreciating the small victories eg Sharpe’s try against the Tigers or the fun high scoring game vs Parra you’re going to be totally miserable.

While I get where you're coming from, and I certainly do enjoy the rare exciting moments we provide even in this forgettable year, your two highlights here are against the two teams who are both 4 points clear in the spoon race. That about sums up where we're at as a team.

 

[Apey]

Why do you even bother? Like seriously. If that’s the way you see things, you have much, much better things you could be doing with your time.

Because I love the club, have supported them since I was a kid, and will continue to do so until I'm an old man. That doesn't mean I have to delude myself into believing in fantasies like the coach is doing a great job or we're heading in the right direction. Positive vibes from fans won't win you premierships. We'd be favourites every year if they did, despite what you read on here.

 

[perverse]

It’s only fun now you’ve been called out on it…

I’m not wasting my Sunday arvo being doom and gloom about the team I love. f**k that. That’s what’s cringey.

 

[Dr Dr Gimedanews]

Halfback is the main key... I think the rest is almost academic if we can't fix that. I am encouraged by a lot of things in our squad, but the halves are a massive question mark with no clear solution. Even on the off chance we get Pezet, he's no guarenteed silver bullet either.

A season without endless injuries to key personnel would be pretty cool, too.

this - improving the spine is priority.

 

[slotmachine]

Not going to Ponga when he's already kicked a field goal

He actually missed in the end.

 

[Walk On Home Boy]

After a couple of days to process, I can wholeheartedly say that this was one of the worst and hardest to endure losses the club has had. Not only did it end our season but the way in which it unfolded highlighted the multitude of deep-seated issues the club has (as you guys have covered so comprehensively).

Realistically speaking, it's probably a minor miracle that we even manage to compete with such a spine. It's the major issue with the roster and it's not close.

 

[mozza91]

While I get where you're coming from, and I certainly do enjoy the rare exciting moments we provide even in this forgettable year, your two highlights here are against the two teams who are both 4 points clear in the spoon race. That about sums up where we're at as a team.

Yeah we definitely suck and I’m more than happy to bring in a new coach and some new players (this is the tricky part) but I’ve had a few enjoyable days at the footy this year to go with the depressing ones. I’m going to the last 3 games so hopefully I get 3 more good days.

 

[Woody90]

Tbh I’ve long felt that the toxic positivity of a lot of the supporter base (not necessarily anyone here but the “support everything the club does or piss off” attitude of a lot that’s highlighted in a certain FB group), is one of the things that’s held the club back.

Even just our reputation as a supporter base for consistently showing up regardless of how bad the team if performing.

What real pressure are the club under to perform when they know they’ll sell tickets and memberships regardless? Was more of a thing back when we didn’t have an owner so selling memberships and tickets was more important, but I think that attitude has carried on.

FTR: definitely not saying I want us to become a bandwagon supporter base, but I think indirectly our blind support has held us back.

 

[Apey]

Yeah we definitely suck and I’m more than happy to bring in a new coach and some new players (this is the tricky part) but I’ve had a few enjoyable days at the footy this year to go with the depressing ones. I’m going to the last 3 games so hopefully I get 3 more good days.

Oh yeah, I'll be at the last two games of course. I'm glad we're playing other bottom 8 teams though.

 

[The Axe of Druss]

Tbh I’ve long felt that the toxic positivity of a lot of the supporter base (not necessarily anyone here but the “support everything the club does or piss off” attitude of a lot that’s highlighted in a certain FB group), is one of the things that’s held the club back.

Even just our reputation as a supporter base for consistently showing up regardless of how bad the team if performing.

What real pressure are the club under to perform when they know they’ll sell tickets and memberships regardless? Was more of a thing back when we didn’t have an owner so selling memberships and tickets was more important, but I think that attitude has carried on.

FTR: definitely not saying I want us to become a bandwagon supporter base, but I think indirectly our blind support has held us back.

Toxic positivity is exactly the right term for it.

Akin to the morons who say "Love it or leave it" when anyone dares point out an issue with Australia. You can love something AND be critical of it at the same time. The 2 aren't mutually exclusive

 

[Reflector]

Tbh I’ve long felt that the toxic positivity of a lot of the supporter base (not necessarily anyone here but the “support everything the club does or piss off” attitude of a lot that’s highlighted in a certain FB group), is one of the things that’s held the club back.

Even just our reputation as a supporter base for consistently showing up regardless of how bad the team if performing.

What real pressure are the club under to perform when they know they’ll sell tickets and memberships regardless? Was more of a thing back when we didn’t have an owner so selling memberships and tickets was more important, but I think that attitude has carried on.

FTR: definitely not saying I want us to become a bandwagon supporter base, but I think indirectly our blind support has held us back.

For mine the wake-up call should be that the NRL chose to leave the Knights out of Magic Round. Or the fact that opposition teams' fans aren't particularly concerned about hosting Newcastle like they once were. Of course the faithful will still go to away matches, but not in the numbers they used to.

Teams like the Bulldogs, Tigers, Dragons and Eels have a large dormant fanbase who flock to the away matches in big numbers when the side is going well. Newcastle haven't had that for years, apart from home games. If they were good enough to still be relevant, no way in hell would the NRL have dropped them from Magic Round.

I browse the Dragons sub a fair bit also, and at least there's (overall) a greater demand for real success. Same even from Tigers fans (I suppose when you're literally at the bottom, the only way is up but even when they were coming 9th there was more outcry about underperforming). AOB's "finals is good enough" mentality is a reflection of a large part of the fanbase.

The Tigers board on the other hand, have lived off 2005 for too long, likewise the Raiders and any coach who was part of the Green Machine, or the Knights and this notion that having a dig and passionate fans equals success.