Newcastle Knights could go into next weekend's sudden death semifinal against Parramatta without prop David Klemmer after he suffered a rib injury in a final round thrashing from the Brisbane Broncos.
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A depleted Knights side will have some defensive questions to answer this week after conceding six tries in a totally under-whelming 35-22 defeat to the second last-placed Broncos.
But of more concern will be the second half injury to Klemmer, who was in a lot of pain as he left the field with his place in the side for the Eels clash now in plenty of doubt.
Knights stars Mitchell Pearce and Kalyn Ponga played the opening 46 minutes before being rested with their side trailling 24-4.
Coach Adam O'Brien had hoped to see some better attacking football from his key playmakers but they still looked decided clunky on many occasions as they struggled with their ball control and execution.
Having already wrapped up seventh spot in the finals, Newcastle went into the game without injured Origin prop Daniel Saifiti while coach Adam O'Brien rested five players, Jayden Brailey, Jacob Saifiti, Mitch Barnett, Tyson Frizell and Hymel Hunt.
The late withdrawal of prop Jesse Sue, who injured his hamstring in the captain's run the day before the game, left them without seven of their main squad.
Chasing a sixth straight win, they started positively enough with the footy and their intention to move the ball more in attack was obvious but it led to mistakes and it took Brisbane just six minutes to open the scoring through Kobe Hetherington off an Anthony Milford kick.
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In was 12-0 after 15 minutes with winger Corey Oates crossing out-wide with the Knights right edge defence coming up with some poor decision-making.
Bradman Best was denied a try after the bunker found a knock-on following a Mitchell Pearce attacking kick but winger Enari Tuala finally got the Knights on the board when he crossed in the corner after a Ponga cut-out pass.
Brisbane's third try of the half to give them an 18-4 lead at the break came after a very dodgy refereeing call with prop Pasami Saulo harshly adjudged to have collected Milford after he had passed the footy.
In the set following the penalty, Herbie Farnworth pounced on a well-weight Tesi Niu grubber in the in-goal to touch down.
Brisbane put the game beyond the Knights in the opening 20 minutes of the second half when they opened up a 34-10 lead.
Milford scored just three minutes after the break before Starford To'a responded for the Knights following a Phoenix Crossland grubber.
But a Clifford intercept try soon after and a Niu try through some poor Newcastle defence blew the scoreline out.
To the Knights credit, they hung in and came up with a further two quick-fire tries of their own to Jack Johns and Chris Randall to keep the scoreline respectable.
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Barry Toohey
Barry Toohey is a sports reporter for the Newcastle Herald. He covers the Newcastle Knights and hosts the Toohey's News Podcast.
Barry Toohey is a sports reporter for the Newcastle Herald. He covers the Newcastle Knights and hosts the Toohey's News Podcast.
