‘Odd Perspective’: Adam O’Brien Finds Media’s Take Humorous After Impressive Performance from Halves Duo

Following Newcastle’s impressive 30-4 victory over South Sydney during Magic Round on Saturday, Knights coach Adam O’Brien took a shot at his detractors in the post-match press conference.

By opting to keep Fletcher Sharpe and Jack Cogger as his halves combination, the Knights reaped the benefits, scoring four tries between them.

Sharpe, who celebrated his 21st birthday, delivered a standout performance with a hat-trick in the rain at Suncorp Stadium, while Cogger found the try line early, notching the Knights’ third try within the first 12 minutes.

Addressing reporters after the match, O’Brien stood by his decision to pair Sharpe and Cogger as the team’s halves.

Last season, O’Brien faced intense scrutiny for frequently changing his halves, with Jackson Hastings, Tyson Gamble, Cogger, Phoenix Crossland, and Will Pryce all taking turns.

Once again in 2025, O’Brien’s selection strategy has come under the microscope, though the criticism may be perceived as somewhat unfair.

Sharpe and Cogger have established a strong partnership, while Crossland and Gamble have only appeared sporadically.

Catch the live action of the 2025 NRL premiership for free on Nine and 9Now.

Gamble returned to the field in round seven after a six-month hiatus but was not part of the Knights’ squad for the Magic Round game, despite his availability, following surgery for a broken nose sustained against the Sharks.

O’Brien explained that he felt Gamble lacked sufficient match fitness to secure a spot, opting instead for Cogger’s reliability.

When questioned if his decision was a form of “vindication,” given the strong performances from his halves against the Rabbitohs, O’Brien had a pointed response.

“Tyson Gamble is a capable footy player, but he only came back for one game before suffering a fracture that required surgery. I believed that one game in six months wasn’t enough, and I didn’t think Cogs [Cogger] had done anything to deserve being dropped,” he stated.

“I’d rather trust the players who are consistently in form to contribute significantly than to swap them out.

“As I mentioned to the media earlier this week, I’m not in the practice of constantly changing things this year. I’m committed to picking my players and sticking with them, and that’s not merely a response to last year’s demands.

“You lot can be quite contradictory.”

This victory against the Rabbitohs marked the end of the Knights’ five-game losing streak.

When asked if the win brought a sense of relief, O’Brien addressed the journalists with another cynical remark.

“It’s just one game,” he remarked.

“We’re used to these pressures—I’ve been here for six years, and it happens every season, so while I don’t welcome it, it’s not going to help to dwell on it. We know what works for us, and we’ll find our way out of these situations.”

“But it is just one game, and I’m very aware that we need to maintain focus and not get carried away with ourselves.

“So, while you [the media] may hold back for now, I’m sure you’ll have more questions for me soon enough.”