After a disastrous third season coaching the Newcastle Knights, Adam O’Brien has reflected on the year that was 2022 and the learnings he will take into future competitions.
Finishing seventh in both 2020 and 2021, the Knights’ fall from grace was expected but it was the dramatic collapse that saw them lose 18 matches and 10 from 12 home games that took many by surprise.
A repeat of recent seasons appeared to be on the cards early on after O’Brien’s men secured two hard-fought wins over the Roosters and Tigers, but their success stopped there, winning just four more of their remaining 22 clashes.
The Knights finished the season in 14th, just two positions shy of taking out the wooden spoon.
Despite the miserable result, O’Brien says he has had an opportunity to reflect on his side’s disappointing season and hopes he and his players can move forward on a more positive note in 2023.
“Plenty (of learnings) … it wasn’t enjoyable for anyone; for players, for staff, for supporters,” O’Brien told SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“(It’s been a major) point of reflection over the summer. I think looking back over that season, I’ve learned a lot over (those) 12 months.
“I’ve had a fairly lengthy apprenticeship (with Melbourne and Sydney) and learnt a lot over my journey, but certainly this year I’ve learned a lot.
“Hopefully one day you’re looking back at it and saying we made better or smarter decisions having gone through that type of season.
“I don’t want to do it again, don’t get me wrong, but at the same time you start to analyse things a little bit differently and you make better decisions in and around everything from recruitment, how you prepare each week and how you handle adversity and try and keep a group as confident when you’re going through some of those turbulent times.”
Newcastle fans will have plenty to look forward to as O’Brien also revealed that star playmaker Kalyn Ponga has returned to the field after an injury ruled him out of much of the 2022 season, and has been training at five-eighth.
The club’s season will kick off on March 3 against the Warriors at Sky Stadium, Wellington.