CAN we win today without Andrew Johns? It's the million-dollar question, and the answer I'm hoping for, like every Newcastle fan, is yes. From a footballing perspective, losing Joey is a massive blow. But it could be even more damaging psychologically to the Knights. Like it or not, when every paper, radio show and TV station says the Knights can't win without Andrew Johns, it does plant that seed of doubt. But the boys have worked extremely hard this year to not allow others to predict and influence our fate. |
| Author: ADAM MacDOUGALL Date: 22/09/2002 Publication: Sun Herald |
| Joey's a huge loss but remember: blue and red, never dead |
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They are very determined to win today, not to prove to people that they can without Joey but because they want to fulfil their dream of making the grand final. I can promise you that they will not bow out with a whimper there's too much pride in the Newcastle jersey to do that. Joey's absence will mean every player has to lift that little bit extra and some will be given even more responsibility. His absence also highlights the impact of the loss of our other, sometimes forgotten, stars such as Mark Hughes and Robbie O'Davis. But I really do believe the boys can win. More importantly, they believe they can. Finals football isn't the time for flashy play instead, it's when you play tough, drag-em-out, bash-em-up defence and low-risk football. Usually, the battle is won and lost up front. I believe we have a slight advantage in the front row, with big Matt Parsons having the best year of his career, the world's best hooker in Danny Buderus and young gun Josh Perry getting better every game. As the song said: ``When the going gets tough, the tough get going." We all know coalminers' sons are tough. Our club was built on the motto ``be the player that every player wants to play with". Players such as Harragon, Butterfield, Sargent and Johns epitomised that. Today, 17 men in blue and red will relish their chance to be that player. |