Newcastle coach Wayne Bennett says he'll be forced to stick with his under-achieving Knights stars after Saturday's dismal 24-14 NRL defeat to the Gold Coast.
Wayne Bennett admits he has no choice but to persist with his under-performing stars after Newcastle's NRL campaign slumped to a new low against Gold Coast on Saturday.
The Knights were expected to be one of the premiership front-runners this season after appointing Bennett as coach on a $6m five-year deal and bringing representative stars Darius Boyd, Kade Snowden and Danny Buderus to the club.
However, the 24-14 defeat to the Titans left Bennett's side in 10th spot on the ladder and with the lowest scoring attack in the competition.
The veteran coach admitted he was embarrassed by his side's poor form, which has seen them lose four home matches, but with the Knights' NSW Cup side also struggling this season, the former Brisbane and St George Illawarra mentor said his options are limited.
"When you pick teams you pick the best players, not the second-best players," Bennett said.
"I've done one or two things, shuffled a few things around but whoever seems to be getting the opportunity isn't grabbing it.
"There are three or four that are saying I have to be in the team.
"But the rest are serving up indifferent performances. In the end you have to make a decision and sometimes you get it wrong."
The Knights have lost three of their last four matches and face a daunting trip to Suncorp Stadium next week where they'll face the Broncos.
Bennett believes his team's lack of confidence will be seized upon by opponents, but said the recent form of the Titans, who have won their last two matches, should give them belief that a change in fortune is just around the corner.
"It wouldn't matter who we are playing next week, it's just tough for us at the moment," Bennett said.
"Confidence is all part the deal. But no-one can fix that but themselves and until they start playing collectively then we are going to look like we did tonight.
"But the Titans were playing like we are now a month ago. So you can turn it around.
"The game is very simple, but we're just making it complex right now."
