It’s Outrageous: A Fuming Adam O’Brien Warns of Major Overhaul Following Knights’ Shocking Collapse

Knights coach Adam O’Brien openly expressed his disappointment with his players after Newcastle’s 24-20 defeat to the Gold Coast on Friday night, hinting at the possibility of utilising reserve grade players.

O’Brien’s frustration was evident during the latter stages of the match and following the team’s failure to maintain a 20-0 lead established in the first half, as he delivered a telling off to his side.

With this defeat, the Knights have now suffered six losses from their last seven encounters.

After building a 20-6 advantage at the break, Newcastle made eight fundamental errors and managed to retain only 34 per cent of the possession in the second half.

O’Brien emphasised that his error-prone backline needed to take accountability for their performance.

“We only completed 55 per cent of our sets in the second half. That’s just not acceptable,” he remarked to the media.

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“It’s clear that some of the more basic skills need to be addressed because it’s not about being flashy with the ball.

“The mistakes are coming from the wider positions. Our outside backs are responsible for the errors, and that’s affecting the forwards.

“We’ve seen enough to know that eliminating those mistakes can lead to some excellent football.”

O’Brien also recognised that some responsibility lay with him as well.

“I’ll take my share of the blame. It’s my job to instil better performance,” he stated.

“At the end of the day, I’m accountable for the results… I need to find the solution.”

When asked about the potential for significant changes within the team ahead of next Friday’s fixture against the Eels, O’Brien indicated that it was indeed on the table.

“I’m not sure how many viable options we have in certain positions,” he noted.

“The first step for me will be to analyse the game at home and assess my role in it, as well as how I can assist the current players before making any decisions on replacements.

“If there are superior options available, we have players in the NSW Cup who are ready to step up.

“I’m at a point where I may need to consider those changes.”