Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien has opened up on the Knights halves battle following the arrival of Jack Cogger within the low season.
Jackson Hastings and Tyson Gamble carried out strongly in 2023 with the Knights proving one of many surprises of the season to qualify for the finals.
But talking to the Daily Telegraph, O’Brien mentioned Cogger, who joined from the Panthers, was placing strain on the incumbent duo.
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“We’re still tinkering with the combinations. As you get closer to trials you want to get a bit more continuity, especially defensively,” he mentioned.
“But Jack has played seven and six at Penrith and filled in for Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai. He’s versatile and it’s the same for Jackson, he can play a number of roles as well.
The good thing about both of them, because they’re footy heads, they understand how to direct the team around. I haven’t locked anyone in.”
O’Brien got here underneath fireplace early following a disappointing 2022 and early struggles in 2023 with studies the Knights had secretly approached Des Hasler as a possible alternative.
The 46-year-old, mirrored on the group’s struggles and admitted he had been “erratic” throughout that interval.
“We were fortunate we played finals my first two years here and then we had that dip in 2022, and I don’t like going back there too often, but it was a tough year,” he mentioned.
“There was a lot of learnings. I was erratic then, I couldn’t quite put my finger on why we weren’t having the season we wanted.
“Letting Mitchell (Pearce) go hurt a lot and then we had an injury to Kalyn as well. We had to go through a lot but we learnt a lot.
“But if you actually look back at it, we grew a lot as people and as coaches and players that year, and it probably helped this year when we faced some adversity, and I had some of my own away from footy, as did the playing group.
“Having gone through that season we did in 2022, it probably helped us.
O’Brien, meanwhile, said he expected to lock up a new deal to remain in the Hunter.
“It’s virtually done, it’s very close. We’re just tidying a couple of things up. I’m very fortunate the club want to extend, I’m happy here with my life on and off the field is the best it’s been.
“I feel like I suit the town and the club suits me.”
READ THE FULL Q&A WITH O’BRIEN HERE
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ALL STEAM AHEAD FOR VEGAS
The NRL has allayed issues raised by the 4 NRL golf equipment launching the 2024 season in Las Vegas at a secret assembly this week.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, membership bosses from the Broncos, Roosters, South Sydney and Manly met with RLC chairman Peter V’landys and NRL chief govt Andrew Abdo on the Racing NSW workplaces.
There they raised two key points. Concerns over visa points for travelling gamers and the prices related to holding coaching camps within the United States forward of the season opener On March 3.
It reportedly took simply two hours for V’landys to ease these issues, promising $700,000 mixed to assist ease the monetary burden of the golf equipment heading to the United States.
He additionally advised the golf equipment that any participant denied an ESTA would have their visa utility fast-tracked by authorities.
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In addition, the NRL would attain out to former ambassador to the US Joe Hockey and former Prime Minister and present ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd to assist ease the passage of any participant who’ve beforehand been topic of police issues.
Speaking after the assembly, South Sydney chief govt Blake Solly advised the Herald the golf equipment have been put comfy.
“We’ve got the comfort and satisfaction that we needed to make sure that it’s going to be a success. From now on, it’s full steam ahead,” he mentioned.
“What Peter and Andrew said today, is they’re very confident that all players will get access to the US, which is really important to the game. We want to see the best players on the field.
“There was a degree of frustration about something of the things and issues we were raising and couldn’t get a resolution.
Peter understood our concerns and he understood some of the challenges Andrew has faced, and he was able to bulldoze through them.”
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
