Newcastle Knights coach Adam O’Brien has expressed disappointment over the fans’ negative reaction during halftime of their recent dramatic golden-point victory against Manly. The Knights, trailing 16-0 at McDonald Jones Stadium, faced booing from their loyal supporters as they left the field for the sheds, a reaction O’Brien found disheartening.
Despite the poor first-half performance, which saw the young Knights team make critical errors, O’Brien highlighted the players’ effort and suggested that the booing came from those who may not fully understand rugby league. He defended his team, which he noted was significantly inexperienced, pointing out that the first half showcased strong defensive efforts despite the mistakes leading to a challenging scoreline.
Encouraged by the halftime jeers, the Knights launched an impressive comeback after the break, highlighted by Fletcher Sharpe’s two tries, culminating in a thrilling 26-22 victory. O’Brien praised the team’s resilience, especially given the absence of key players due to injuries, including Jacob Saifiti and Leo Thompson, and the early departure of Tyson Frizell due to a head knock.
The second half saw a remarkable play from Fletcher Hunt, who assisted Kalyn Ponga in scoring the winning try, marking the match as one of O’Brien’s most cherished victories with the team. He acknowledged the youth on the field and the hard work the players put in, expressing his grievance over the booing and emphasising that such reactions should be reserved for worse performances in past seasons.
Newcastle’s victory not only provided a much-needed boost, lifting them off the bottom of the NRL ladder temporarily but also underlined the ongoing struggles for Manly, who continue to grapple with inconsistency. O’Brien hopes fans will recognise the team’s potential and efforts moving forward.