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Newcastle Knights captain Justin Holbrook expressed pride in his team's resilient grand final performance against the Sydney Roosters, highlighting their massive effort despite a narrow defeat and heavy tackle count.
You may not have known it looking at him or listening to him, but deep down Justin Holbrook was “crushed” afterWatch Australia’s Tour of South Africa Live & Exclusive on Fox Cricket, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo?
WHAT'S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au. As miraculous as his team’s run to the grand final had been considering where they found themselves this time last year, the Knights weren’t just grateful to be here.
Sure, they weren’t expected to be here and they certainly weren’t expected to win. Just like they weren’t expected to beat the Rabbitohs, Warriors or Panthers.
“We obviously threw everything into this week,” Holbrook told reporters in his post-game press conference. “ a lot of talk the last couple of weeks , ‘Oh, that was your grand final last week. That was the one the week before’... we’re not idiots. We know today’s a grand final, and we were ready to go.
” The Knights certainly were ready to go, jumping out to a 12-0 lead and nearly tackling their way to a remarkable, backs-against-the-walls win despite fighting for every inch of field position.
“They were flying off their line and it was so hard to get out of our own end,” the Knights coach added. “Full credit to the Roosters. They played a really controlling game but for us to nearly be able to pull off a win at the end there or give ourselves a chance, it’s so pleasing.
”The numbers spoke volumes of just how hard the Knights were made to work to get within a point of the Roosters, who had 51 tackles inside Newcastle’s 20 compared to six for last year’s wooden spooners. The Knights made 99 more tackles than the Roosters and missed 47 too, but that was more a product of sheer exhaustion as the Newcastle players continued turning up.
“You just felt for them. We were coming off our own line facing baseball bats there. If you can win anything on heart and effort, then we definitely won that because it was the hardest game of footy I’ve ever coached watching our side just get the ball coming off our own try-line the whole time.
“But again you don’t win off being proud, you win off being the better side and we weren’t the better side today and we didn’t win. ”No one play summed up Newcastle’s courageous effort better than the one from Kalyn Ponga, who ran across the field in cover defence to stop a potential try but instead pounced on a Mark Nawaqanitawase bat-back to run away and score.
That never would have happened if Ponga wasn’t in the position to make a play in the first place. Holbrook called it a “phenomenal” moment from his skipper.
“I just love the way he leads our team. It’s so infectious. I said to him a few times this year, ‘If we’re going to get to the end of the year and give it a shot, he’s going to have to be our best player’ and he handled that fine.
“That’s why I wasn’t worried about this week. I got asked that many times, ‘Is it overwhelming? ’. Is it was never overwhelming.
”Ponga, meanwhile, was highly emotional after the loss and was pictured being consoled by Holbrook in the sheds. But the Knights superstar said the overriding emotion was gratitude.
“Just to see the spirit, the pride of our community, the connection that it’s brought to so many people. “I think as players, we probably didn’t get to experience it as much as what the community did. Obviously, you don’t want to drown yourself in it because you can get lost a little bit.
“But I know speaking to people in the community, just the connection that it’s brought, they’re so proud. “The ultimate goal is to win a premiership. Newcastle people are tough and they had to do it tough yesterday with something that happened and our thoughts are with those people as well with the tragedy that happened as we were leaving.
“Someone said before the game it was a distracting. Fortunately we get to be in this position. We get to experience what we experienced this week and it’s definitely a feeling that I’ll chase again. ”
Newcastle Knights Grand Final Justin Holbrook Rugby League Sydney Roosters
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