Hugh McGahan: The power of one is sometimes irreplaceable

It is hard to see that the Newcastle Knights team is the same one that was on the road to 14 consecutive losses in 2005. The transformation of a team that was struggling to catch a ball 12 months ago is hard to comprehend but not difficult to see why.

Simply it has a lot to do with what I have been speaking of for a long time - confidence. At the commencement of 2005, Newcastle were playing with Andrew Johns low in confidence and this attitude permeated throughout the team. Then injury struck and Johns was out for weeks but on his return a commitment was made and results turned around.

Unfortunately Newcastle is a team that is reliant on one player for its destiny, similar to that previously of the Roosters and Brad Fittler. Obviously since Brad's retirement the club has struggled, with the halves fighting to gain the control Fittler held on his fingertips. When the club knew Fittler was leaving, it went out to recruit and develop some halfbacks to take over. But this sort of talent is very expensive to purchase and is a large gamble if you do. As it is, they continue to lack in this area and I know that if the Knights do not find another player within a year, they will also follow the fortunes of the Roosters.

But the domination the Knights currently exude is only while Johns is on the field. He inspires his team-mates and controls the game similar to Wally Lewis in the 80s and early 90s. While Andrew Johns is fit, the Knights will continue to trailblaze their way through the early rounds of this competition.

Every team has a player to push them around the paddock, control play and hopefully place them in a position to win games. The Warriors had Stacey Jones and his departure has left a void difficult to replace. It will take a number of games for the combination of Nathan Fein and whoever else (Faumuina, Ropati or Hohaia) to settle into a rhythm that the rest of the team can follow.

As these players set the tempo for the team, a lot rides on their shoulders, in particular Fein. Can we look forward to the control, skill set and rhythm similar to that of Johns? I doubt it and it is unfair to expect it. But it's now time for Nathan to set the standard for the Warriors to progress after the team's shaky start to 2006.

The club's failure to budget for the loss of Jones is testament to its Achilles heel, the development of quality halfbacks. As I mentioned last year when Stacey announced his move to the Super League, the club should have played those who were to fill his role for the remainder of the 2005 season.

Lance Hohaia is the closest player but he has to ply his trade at hooker. We must wait for the combination of Fein and Co to form, or the club must find a quality halfback immediately to steer the team. Until then, the club is set for difficult times.

-HERALD ON SUNDAY