fLIP
UFO Hunter
THE player at the centre of Newcastle's current crisis - Kirk Reynoldson - told last night of how his teammates had pledged to beat Manly tonight "for each other".
In the wake of the very public falling out between coach Brian Smith and senior players, Reynoldson revealed the players had vowed to stick together on the field.
Reynoldson became the focal point of player discontent last week when it emerged that he needed two more games to trigger a new deal with the Knights - but was rested while fully fit for the game against St George-Illawarra.
He has been named on the bench for the match against Manly in Gosford tonight, and he trained with the squad yesterday.
Aware that morale was down in the Newcastle camp, Reynoldson said he and his teammates would bond tonight and hope a win could ease some of the club's growing tensions.
"We have to get together and do it for each other," Reynoldson said.
"This is a low point and there will be a lot of changes to the team after this year.
"But I can't wait to get out there and rip in.
"We only have four games left so we have to stick together and try to enjoy it.
"We have to focus on the game and put all the other stuff to one side.
"Once we run over that white line, it's game on.
"All we can do is play footy and stay together as a group.
"The best thing about footy is playing with and for your mates.
"We will look each other in the eye and remember the reasons you play football, as we all have done since we were in the under-eights."
The Knights' troubles continued yesterday with Smith questioning the outburst by team captain Danny Buderus.
Newcastle is divided: the coach and board on one side, the players on the other.
One source close to the camp said: "It's a war."
Reynoldson, though, just wants to play football with his mates.
"We have to enjoy each other's company - there is still spirit among the players," he said.
"I want to play a good, strong game against Manly.
"There are still a couple of areas we need to work on - direction and aggression, execution and completion. We want to get the two points."
Daniel Abraham is another player known to be frustrated. He has a contract offer for next season but is yet to sign.
"Like the rest of the players, Daniel is frustrated," said Abraham's adviser, former Knights player Matt Parsons.
"The guys most frustrated are the ones that have been there for a while."
Manly and Newcastle will play tonight for the Malcolm Reilly trophy.
Reilly is a Manly legend who coached Newcastle to their famous 1997 grand final win over the Sea Eagles.
Asked who he was supporting, Reilly said: "I am firmly sitting on the fence.
"But Manly are a very workmanlike side - they get the job done.
"They are full of confidence at the moment and Jamie Lyon is such a talented player.
"He did some freakish things while at St Helens.
"They are finishing off their sets well and putting a lot of pressure on the opposition."
In the wake of the very public falling out between coach Brian Smith and senior players, Reynoldson revealed the players had vowed to stick together on the field.
Reynoldson became the focal point of player discontent last week when it emerged that he needed two more games to trigger a new deal with the Knights - but was rested while fully fit for the game against St George-Illawarra.
He has been named on the bench for the match against Manly in Gosford tonight, and he trained with the squad yesterday.
Aware that morale was down in the Newcastle camp, Reynoldson said he and his teammates would bond tonight and hope a win could ease some of the club's growing tensions.
"We have to get together and do it for each other," Reynoldson said.
"This is a low point and there will be a lot of changes to the team after this year.
"But I can't wait to get out there and rip in.
"We only have four games left so we have to stick together and try to enjoy it.
"We have to focus on the game and put all the other stuff to one side.
"Once we run over that white line, it's game on.
"All we can do is play footy and stay together as a group.
"The best thing about footy is playing with and for your mates.
"We will look each other in the eye and remember the reasons you play football, as we all have done since we were in the under-eights."
The Knights' troubles continued yesterday with Smith questioning the outburst by team captain Danny Buderus.
Newcastle is divided: the coach and board on one side, the players on the other.
One source close to the camp said: "It's a war."
Reynoldson, though, just wants to play football with his mates.
"We have to enjoy each other's company - there is still spirit among the players," he said.
"I want to play a good, strong game against Manly.
"There are still a couple of areas we need to work on - direction and aggression, execution and completion. We want to get the two points."
Daniel Abraham is another player known to be frustrated. He has a contract offer for next season but is yet to sign.
"Like the rest of the players, Daniel is frustrated," said Abraham's adviser, former Knights player Matt Parsons.
"The guys most frustrated are the ones that have been there for a while."
Manly and Newcastle will play tonight for the Malcolm Reilly trophy.
Reilly is a Manly legend who coached Newcastle to their famous 1997 grand final win over the Sea Eagles.
Asked who he was supporting, Reilly said: "I am firmly sitting on the fence.
"But Manly are a very workmanlike side - they get the job done.
"They are full of confidence at the moment and Jamie Lyon is such a talented player.
"He did some freakish things while at St Helens.
"They are finishing off their sets well and putting a lot of pressure on the opposition."