Knights aim to get it right soon
RUGBY LEAGUE: Jesse Ramien risks being left right out in the cold due to the Knights’ habit of feeding Kalyn Ponga’s favoured side.
New signing Edrick Lee has already made an impact, but their other strike backline acquisition remains relatively unused on the other side of the field.
The Knights have favoured Ponga’s left side in attack, but it is Sione Mata’utia who is taking responsibility for young centre Ramien not seeing enough ball.
Newcastle have scored four tries in the first two rounds. Lee has scored two (and had one disallowed) on his left wing and the other two tries have come through the middle.
Mata’utia, who has returned to the second row this season and plays between Ramien and halfback Mitchell Pearce, says the lack of action down their right side is on him.
“We saw glimpses of it (what Ramien can do) in the trial and we haven’t seen enough of it from game one and two,” Mata’utia said.
“We’ve seen what he can do with the ball, he’s a pretty powerful runner and he really wants the ball and you just want to give it to someone like that who can make something out of nothing.
“I’m the closest person to him and I’m the closest to Pearcey as well. I’m the link in between who can probably help them get the ball more.”
Newcastle sit just outside the top eight in ninth with a win and loss, but they are 13th for tries scored and 11th for points (28). That doesn’t mean they aren’t creating opportunities.
Four Knights tries have been disallowed, but even those show their preference for leftside attack. Shaun Kenny-Dowall is confident it will only be a matter of time before himself and Ramien are brought into play more.