Knights plan hot Hagan greeting
By Nick Walshaw
August 04, 2008
NEWCASTLE warhorse Steve Simpson concedes his team's season goes on the line on Monday Night Football - against the coach who knows them best.
Newcastle is hoping 2001 premiership coach Michael Hagan will receive anything but a warm homecoming when he returns to EnergyAustralia Stadium for the first time in opposing colours.
Both clubs sit two points adrift of the top eight, with the loser effectively guaranteed its Mad Monday date.
"Hages obviously knows a lot of the older guys in our team very well," Simpson conceded.
"But our side has changed a bit since he left.
"We've had a number of personnel changes and we're playing a different style now.
"But a win against Parramatta is imperative for us. We've got to win this one and keep on winning, because if we make the top eight we believe we'll be doing a lot more than making up the numbers."
Of all the battles taking place on the field tonight, none outweighs the tactics used by Hagan and rival Brian Smith - the two men who have been compared, critiqued and criticised ever since swapping clubs in 2007.
Judging by statistics, Hagan has the edge on his rival, having won eight of 14 encounters and three of their past four.
The affable Queenslander also won the 2001 premiership in his first foray into the first-grade coaching ranks, while Smith is now on 499 games and counting.
The game will also provide a homecoming of sorts for Knights discard Clint Newton - back to watch his old club for the first time since a sensational walkout last year.
