GREEN DENIES CLUB IN CRISIS

A dropped ball from Coen Hess coming out of trouble led directly to the Knights’ third try on the stroke of halftime to extend the home side’s lead to 18-6 at the break.

Kyle Feldt also had an open shot at the line early in the second half, but failed to capitalise after he dropped the ball trying to regather a Tom Opacic kick.

“I don’t think (the players) realise how close we actually were. The error and the try on halftime – that was really costly,” Green said.

“If we go into the sheds at 12-6 given all the field position they had, I think we are feeling pretty good about that.

“Particularly the way we started the second half, if we could have turned a couple of those opportunities into points it’s a different game. But the fact is we didn’t, and when the pressure was put on us down at our own tryline we weren’t good enough to stop it.

“I thought at times there we got ourselves back into the game … but once Pearce scored, we just capitulated, which I have never seen us do. It was really disappointing from that point of view.”

Maroons ace Kalyn Ponga had a field day against his former club, running in two tries, two line breaks and finishing with eight tackle breaks.

Hess also struggled to contain the Knights down his left edge, with the backrower caught out of position in his makeshift centre role.

Whether it was his troops switching off late in the game, or a lack of effort all around, Green said he couldn’t put the loss down to one factor.

“When you get a scoreline like that it is probably a combination of everything,” he said. “Some of the tries were pretty easy tries.

“I don’t remember too many games where we have lost like that, not since I have been a coach. I am very disappointed, but to say it is the club at its lowest point, no I wouldn’t say that.

“We need to bounce back and play better. It is pretty simple. We’re the only ones that can fix it and no one is shying away from it either. There is no finger pointing, which is good. We just need to knuckle down.”

Cowboys veteran Matt Scott did not fly back to Townsville with his teammates and remained in Brisbane after he felt sick getting off the plane on the first leg of their return home. While he had not come out of the game with a complaint, Green suggested it could be delayed effects of a concussion.

“I spoke to the doctor, he had scans and they came up clear, hopefully they will get some fluid into him and get him back (later),” he said.