2007 Round 23 vs Penrith Panthers:
Penrith 46 defeated Newcastle 12.
Newcastle suffered possibly their darkest hour in 20 years, falling to last placed Penrith 46-12 in round 23 of the 2007 premiership. Newcastle lacked effort, pride and commitment, in a match that could have definitely saved them from the wooden spoon had they won.
They started with a few chances, and were unlucky not to be awarded a try to George Carmont in the 13th minute. However, that was where the challenge ended. Michael Jennings was in outstanding form, scoring a hattrick, as did Frank Pritchard, as the Panthers ran away with the match. Michael Gordon scored Penrith’s other try - along with his nine goals from nine attempts giving him a 22 point haul.
Newcastle’s brightest moment was holding Penrith out for four consecutive sets late in the match, before Cooper Vuna scored their second try in the 78th minute.
But overall it was a disgraceful effort for the Knights, and one that suggests they will be worthy wooden spooners should they finish last in 2007. Knights fans can only wait with baited breath for some much needed fresh blood at the club in 2008.
What they said:
Kurt Gidley:
"It's a poor excuse. What's happening off the field shouldn't affect what's happening on the field. I know it does some people, but you don't lose your talent because of what's happening off the field. We need to pick our spirits up. Saying this is the worst time of my career is not going to help anyone."
"We bring up the word pride each week and talk about playing for one another. I've had enough of the talk. It's about applying it on the field. That is just not happening."
Steve Simpson:
"We have to be better than that. We have to start playing. We're not doing that at the moment and that's the most disappointing thing."
Brian Smith:
[Was the off-field controversy a factor in the loss?] "You'd have to talk to every individual about how they feel about it [if that's the case], but it's not hard when you look at the make-up of our team. And if you stood outside the doctor's door and saw half a dozen young boys getting needled up to play today."
"While ever we have virtually no rules about when players are bought and sold in the middle of the season, you run the risk of guys who are attached emotionally feeling that way. Whether that's affecting their performance is debatable, you could be forgiven for thinking some of that is the case at the moment."
"I want to win badly and I understand that sometimes you cannot win as often as you would like. I have got to stick to my plan and the club's plan and we are doing that."
"We simply were not good enough to cope with what they put at us. We have nine days to turnaround to the next game and it will be huge for us."