The nib Newcastle Knights earned their fifth win of the season against the Manly Sea Eagles 28-18 on Sunday afternoon.
Head Coach Adam O'Brien and Co-Captain Kalyn Ponga spoke after the game on the home performance, the spine change and key players.
ON THE HOME PERFORMANCE
"They're hard games those ones...it's a credit to the opposition, they would have talked all week about putting in a tonne of effort without their Origin players and I thought that they did that for for their coach and their Club," O'Brien said.
"They held us up four times over the line and we could sense the opportunity. We could smell blood in the water and that led to some frustration.
"We gave two intercept tries through frustration because we could feel that it was just going to happen.
"They're dangerous games and I think if you're down on troops, I (prefer) a real stop, start game so they [Manly] can't get a flow and they got that.
"I was never completely comfortable until Dom went the length (of the field)."
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THE SPINE CHANGE
"I thought he [Ponga] was dangerous every time he got the ball... I think he attacked like a six, he just didn't have to make as many tackles this way," O'Brien said.
"I felt comfortable at the back, it's a obviously a position I've played for so long. I feel quite natural back there. The main point was to get the win," Ponga said.
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"I thought we finished the game quite well to be honest. Yeah, I did cop a couple hits, but I wouldn't have stayed on the field knowing that if I wasn't right."
MANLY'S DEFENCE
"It's no secret I take to the left a lot, it's something I do but you know, obviously yeah, we need to drift both sides a bit more," Ponga said.
"I probably felt I used my eyes a lot more at the back, maybe being at fullback and being able to see both sides of the ruck. I probably felt a little bit freer in that sense and then having Jacko do their roles for me, that allowed me to play."
ORIGIN NEWS
"I was disappointed early but I've got good support around me," Ponga said.
"As soon as I knew what the decision was from Billy, I accepted it and I respected it and then moved on. I knew that I had a job to do this week for the Knights.
"Nothing that I did out there was for Queensland and it was all for the Knights and for myself as well.
"So for me, I just want to play good footy here, as that's my main priority. And I've always said that."
ON MARZHEW, GAMBLE AND BRADMAN
"Greg has been outstanding. He's shown really good work. We left him out of the team in the first couple rounds because we didn't think he's trial form defensively again...he's worked his backside off he's been outstanding for us," O'Brien said.
"Only Greg can do some of the stuff that he does.
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"I thought he [Gamble] competed. I think it actually allows him to be him (Ponga) as well.
"We're going to work on our game and see if we can go back to back wins.
"I think Bradman has had a really good season on the back of his strong pre-season.
"I think he is seeing the fruits of his decision to stay back and work through the summer."
