Knights coach Adam O\u2019Brien has addressed the big \u201cquestion that needs answering\u201d after yet another horror loss to the Broncos in a 46-12 rout in front of their home fans.<\/p>\n
Newcastle have now lost seven straight games and with the race to avoid the wooden spoon heating up, the Knights came up with a staggering 16 errors on Sunday afternoon.<\/p>\n
Speaking in the post-match press conference, O\u2019Brien was asked what he thought of his side\u2019s performance.<\/p>\n
FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer ><\/a><\/p>\n WHAT’S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought the guys (did) a great job in the first half, in particular they got off to a pretty red-hot start but the boys didn\u2019t drop their bundle,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThey (did) a good job. I thought we were close to the better team heading into the break, but unfortunately it goes for 80 minutes.<\/p>\n \u201cFundamentals of the game really fell away, simple passing. I think that\u2019s six two-on-ones that we\u2019ve bombed in two weeks.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd then fatigue and just fell off far too many tackles that led to tries.\u201d<\/p>\n Then came the big question \u2014 how can the Knights fix the fundamental issues in their game?<\/p>\n To go with their mountain of errors, Newcastle also had only a 66 per cent completion rate and missed a 54 tackles.<\/p>\n Tigers link up for ‘try of the year’?! | 00:43<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a question that needs answering or fixing over our summer,\u201d O\u2019Brien said.<\/p>\n \u201cClearly, we are at a point now where it looks like we are trying that hard, that we are making the simple things so hard. <\/p>\n \u201cI guess a bit of anxiety and pressure adds to that, so a narrow focus over the summer to make sure we are getting the fundamentals (right).<\/p>\n \u201cSome of it is experience on the big stage and fatigue. It\u2019s not so much Tyson Frizell or this guy (Dane Gagai). It\u2019s some of the younger guys coming up with the errors.<\/p>\n Adam O’Brien speaks to media after his side’s Broncos loss.Source: FOX SPORTS<\/p>\n \u201cNaturally, experience will fix it. But we can\u2019t wait for that, we need to make sure we are focused on it at training.<\/p>\n \u201cAs I said to the players after the game, fundamentals of tackling and passing, well if you want a long, fruitful NRL career you have to be good at those two things.\u201d<\/p>\n Under O\u2019Brien, the Knights came 14th in 2022 but bounced back the following year to finish in fifth and make the semi finals.<\/p>\n Reports have previously emerged O\u2019Brien is set to be axed as the end of the 2025 season, with the final two years of his contract to be paid out.<\/p>\n However, that move was put to bed by Knights chief Peter Parr, who was confident that O\u2019Brien will remain at the helm next season.<\/p>\n The embattled coach was then quizzed on whether he thinks Newcastle can shift their fortunes next year.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got to believe that don\u2019t you. I can\u2019t remember exactly what happened in 2022, but I think a lot of it had to do with some personnel being out for big periods,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously fell away towards the back end and as I said, naturally we are going to get half-a-dozen good NRL players back into the team over the summer.<\/p>\n \u201c(Peter O\u2019Sullivan) has signed a few guys, so you\u2019re going to get some experience, you\u2019ll find a benefit of these young blokes going through days like today.<\/p>\n Manly put on show for DCE’s 350th | 01:57<\/p>\n MORE NRL NEWS<\/p>\n \u2018NOT ANSWERING THE QUESTION\u2019: Des in fiery exchange with journo over Fifita<\/a><\/p>\n HUGE TWIST: Roosters\u2019 Walker blow as Moses leads Eels to epic boilover<\/a><\/p>\n