'Make or break' gamble has to turn 'clueless' attack around

Rarely has there been a more worthy winner of the wooden spoon than the Newcastle Knights in 2025.

While the Knights finished equal last on points with the Titans on six wins, their for and against was more than 100 points worse.

The Newcastle attack, which produced a remarkable 11 scoreless halves in 24 rounds, was clueless for much of the season. And the defence was shambolic, especially in the final nine rounds.

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The Knights lost every game in that time, with the defence conceding 44, 48, 38, 46, 40 and 66 points in the last six games.

Simply put, the Knights gave up.

And you have to feel for the fans, who often packed McDonald Jones Stadium willing their heroes on, only to sit silently through much of the 80 minutes.

With two rounds left, coach Adam O'Brien, who lost the dressing room many weeks earlier, fell on his sword.

The man who steered the Knights to three finals campaigns early in his six years at the helm left with dignity, frankly admitting he was out of ideas and could do nothing more to lift the Knights.

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The lack of a creative halfback combination proved the Knights' undoing, with their attack the worst in the league.

O'Brien tried a host of different pairings, with Jackson Hastings, Jack Cogger, Phoenix Crossland, Jake Arthur, Tyson Gamble and Fletcher Sharpe all spending time directing traffic with little success.

Marquee man Kalyn Ponga managed just 13 games at fullback and was a shadow of his brilliant self in an injury-plagued season, although he was at the helm of five of the team's six wins.

Sharpe finished the season as the team's top tryscorer with 11 from 14 games and his shift from the outside backs to five-eighth was one of the few bright points for the club.

Tyson Frizell was one player who never threw in the towel but, at 33, his ageing body took a terrible pounding.

Fellow veteran Dane Gagai, who club officials curiously declared mid-season would not be re-signed, also tried hard, playing every game and eventually earning a new deal.

O'Brien did blood some young talent and the likes of Fletcher Hunt, Kyle McCarthy, Jermaine McEwen, and Connor Votano shape as the future of the club in the Justin Holbrook era.

Best player: At 34, Gagai put some of his younger teammates to shame over the course of the season, running with real purpose in attack and giving his all in defence.

Biggest disappointment: Ponga is the highest paid player in the game and while injuries marred his season, when he was there he didn't look the player of recent seasons.

Key signing: Dylan Brown's mammoth 10-year deal could make or break the Knights. He had a poor season at Parramatta but maybe the change will spark him.

2026 gains: Dylan Brown (Eels), Lachlan Crouch (Newtown), Peter Hola (Dolphins), Pasami Saulo (Raiders), Matthew Hunter, Asu Kepaoa, Harrison Graham (Dolphins), Trey Mooney (Raiders)

2026 losses: Leo Thompson (Bulldogs), Jayden Brailey (Raiders), Kai Pearce-Paul (Wests Tigers), Jackson Hastings (released), Jack Cogger (Panthers), Jake Arthur (Hull FC)