Stone backs curt reply to sceptics: Rick tips side to lift minus Gidley
BY ROBERT DILLON
KNIGHTS coach Rick Stone says his players are entitled to feel "insulted" about the perception they will struggle to win games while skipper Kurt Gidley is injured.
Gidley is expected be sidelined for the first month of the NRL season after tearing his hamstring in last weekend's All Stars match.
Most teams in the NRL do it tough when their most influential player is unavailable, but the strength of Newcastle's roster is its all-round depth rather than the brilliance of any individual.
Stone was confident the days when Newcastle's hopes of winning games hinged on a single player, such as Andrew Johns, were long gone. And he backed his troops to respond to the challenge of starting the year strongly in Gidley's absence.
"I think a lot of people would consider Kurt a bit Joey-like, which is a probably a little bit of an insult to the team and the other players, I reckon," Stone said yesterday.
"I've got as much respect for Kurt as anyone. He's an outstanding player and one of the best in the league, with what he brings to the team.
"But I'd like to believe that the team has evolved a bit more than that, rather than relying on one particular player.
"Kurt brings a lot to the team that money just can't buy, like his physical presence and the tenacity that he can drive the team with.
"But we've got some decent replacements here and I'm more than confident those boys can do the job."
Stone said the ideal scenario would be for the Knights to be in form and well placed on the competition ladder when Gidley returns.
"I don't think any player needs to have a massive amount of pressure put on him when he's coming back from an injury," Stone said.
"That goes for Kurt, too. If he can come back once we've won a few games, it would be a tremendous boost for the team, no doubt."
The Knights play the Bulldogs (away), Melbourne (home), Manly (away) and Penrith (home) in the first four rounds.
If all goes according to schedule, Gidley should return in the round-five clash with South Sydney at Bluetongue Stadium on April 10.
"There's pressure on all teams to start well," Stone said. "Obviously everyone wants to win their first couple of games and get a bit of momentum going. We're no different."
Gidley has missed eight games for Newcastle in the past two seasons, of which the Knights won three.
Last year they beat the Bulldogs and Raiders at home without Gidley, but lost to the Warriors in Auckland and to Manly in Gosford.
In 2008, Newcastle beat the Bulldogs (away) but lost to Wests Tigers (home), Warriors (home) and Manly (away) minus Gidley.
With Gidley unavailable, Wes Naiqama and rookie Peter Mata'utia will share the fullback duties in tonight's trial against Melbourne at St John Oval.
Shannon McDonnell, who will be rested because of a hip injury, is expected to be available for next Saturday's trial against Penrith at Port Macquarie.
Stone has earmarked McDonnell as Gidley's replacement when the season proper kicks off.
Herald
