This in Danny Weidler’s column today in smh:
Rugby league’s most exciting attacking weapon Kalyn Ponga is being stymied by a player feud that is making it impossible to pick one of the Knights’ big-name playmakers.
Newcastle’s stuttering attack is one of the talking points of the league, as is their persistent swapping of halves. An obvious solution to their problems, purely on the playing front, would be the selection of Jackson Hastings, who has previously helped bring Ponga to life.
However, Hastings appears to be the last person the Knights would pick to play first grade, and it has been difficult to work out why he is on the outer.
This column has been made aware of a falling out largely between one of the team’s leaders and Hastings. The matter relates to their wives not seeing eye to eye over a comment Hastings’ partner made. As a consequence, the player has told people at the club of his feelings and the club has backed one of their most respected players.
The club has knowledge of the dispute but says that is not why Hastings is being left out of the team.
That is difficult to accept given the halves crisis.
There have been other minor issues with Hastings, but it seems that one is the most difficult for the club to overcome. The result is the Knights’ best halfback, who is paid about $800,000 this year, has not been given a chance in the top grade by coach Adam O’Brien.
It’s an ugly situation and this column is not aware of attempts to resolve it, but if the Knights’ season continues to spiral out of control, and they continue to struggle to score points, it may have to be addressed. Especially now it is in the public domain.
There are also growing concerns about Hastings’ welfare. Expect this to become an issue.
This column has been told that a handful of players have made the case for Hastings to be selected, to put the team first before personality clashes.
This column is aware that Hastings has had issues at other clubs. I also have not been told exactly what happened between the players’ partners, so I can’t comment on whether the matter can be resolved. But we do know Hastings isn’t being selected, and the impact it’s having on the team.
Not many people outside the Knights are aware of this issue, and it was interesting to hear the club’s greatest player, Andrew Johns, calling for Hastings to be reinstated to the first grade side.
I assume Johns is not aware of the issue, but he made the following comments in a Sydney Morning Herald subscribers newsletter about the Knights and Hastings.
“Whatever faults he’s got as a player, Jackson will get them around the field,” Johns said. “His kicking game is up there with one of the best. I don’t know what’s happened there, but I don’t see Tyson Gamble as a halfback. He’s a good club five-eighth, but I don’t see him as a week in, week out halfback option.”
When asked about potential issues with senior players, Johns said: “For the good of the team, you have to put that aside. That’s a job of whoever is within the club. Whether it’s the CEO or someone else, you’ve got to get them all together and sort it out. The attack has been dull and they haven’t looked like penetrating defences.
“Everyone knows if Kalyn isn’t firing, then the Knights are pretty easy to handle.”
*****
This explains a fair bit. FFS, if the guys are getting mixed up in the issues of the Real Housewives of Newcastle, the leadership needs some serious shaking up - top to bottom.
