While the nib Newcastle Knights’ round five match ended in a disappointing one-point loss, young five-eighth Brock Lamb has taken confidence from the encounter.
“We competed very hard but there are just a few little things we need to work on,” explained Lamb.
“Couple of times we got found on the edge at the last tackle and didn’t have a really good option to kick but they’re just the little things we can fix moving forward.
“We were pretty pumped out there but a couple of things didn’t go our way and we didn’t execute a couple of plays, so we’d like to learn from that game.”
Despite only one win for the season so far, the 20-year-old continues to be positive about the side’s progress.
“We have been in most games this year except for the Penrith game and I think we did learn a lot from that game,” said Lamb.
“The way we played against Cronulla showed what type of team we are and that we’re not going to drop back to those games where we were losing by 40.
“We want to win every game but we’ve just got to fix a couple little things and once we do that, I think we should be right.”
Lamb said the Knights have been reviewing the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs this week but their main focus is on their own game.
“That is what is helping us this year, we’re not worrying about other teams too much, we tend to worry about ourselves which is helping,” he said.
“They are obviously a good side, every side in the NRL is a good side.”
The Knights five-eighth has been working on his combination in the halves with captain Trent Hodkinson and admits with time it will develop further.
“Every combination could be better but we’re still working on things and learning as the year goes on,” added Lamb.
“At the moment, I’m pretty positive and happy with how things are going but I’m learning and developing and that is the main thing for me.”
“I probably had one of my best defensive games on the weekend which gave me a lot of confidence compared to weeks before.
“I have really been focusing on getting my body in front and doing the little things in defence and when I do that my confidence comes out which is good.”
Lamb also mentioned his kicking game is a work in progress.
“We had Dylan Phythian on the left side with the left kick but obviously, he had the injury,” Lamb said.
“If I get the chance to put a kick in, I’m trying to practice as much as I can in training so when it does come in a game, I can get it right.
“We had a fair few sets against Cronulla that were probably in a bad spot and the kick wasn’t as good as it could have been so learning from that and I’m getting better as the week goes on.”
NYC and NRL will be back at home at McDonald Jones Stadium this Friday, the Under 20s kick off at 3.45pm before NRL at 6pm.
