Knights’ calmness the key in NRL: Stone

A calmness under pressure and game-intensity training sessions are behind Newcastle’s impressive start to the NRL season, coach Rick Stone says.

The Knights have stormed home in the final quarter of their three opening games to record an undefeated start to the year.

With Stone taking over from Wayne Bennett, amid little change in personal on the back of a disappointing 2014, the Knights were expected to struggle this year.

Instead, they have emerged as the early-season surprise packets.

James McManus and Chanel Mata’utia clashed in a near-serious training accident on Wednesday in an indication of Newcastle’s tough approach to 2015.

“When you are training in the middle of the week, you have to have some intensity and quality in your session,” Stone said.

“We had a bit of a collision between James and Chanel Mata’utia there and we had a little bit of blood but they are alright – you have to train on the edge.

“If you are going to play with that type of intensity and quality, you have to practise like that as well; that is part and parcel.

“There is a fine line between getting some injuries, I suppose, and coming through unscathed.

“(But) the quality and intensity need to be there, for sure.”

Newcastle have surged from behind in each of their wins so far.

Tries to Tyler Randall and Robbie Rochow in the final 14 minutes against the Warriors opened their account in round one, before a 63rd-minute try to Akuila Uate and a 73rd-minute touchdown to Joey Leilua pushed them past North Queensland in round two.

Last weekend, rookie hooker Adam Clydesdale laid on a peach of a ball for Jeremy Smith in the 76th minute as Newcastle secured another nailbiting win, this time over Gold Coast.

“We have shown some good qualities late in games in the first three games,” Stone said.

“You judge that a little bit by your kick-chase and your line speed, and your little effort areas and they have been pretty prominent for us in the last few minutes of every game.

“I thought (last week) we showed a bit of composure and some calmness to execute our plays and obviously ‘Clydesy’ laid on a good ball for Jezza Smith at the end there.

“That was a good reward for keeping calm, completing your sets and putting some pressure on the opposition.”

Beau Scott (ankle), Kade Snowden (cork), Jarrod Mullen (leg) and Leilua (hand) should all be fit for Saturday’s match with Penrith at Hunter Stadium, Stone said.

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