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"I'd be embarrassed": Voss calls on Newcastle to ditch Mad Monday after wooden spoon season
Charles Goodsir • September 8th, 2025 1:21 pm
SEN’s Andrew Voss has emphatically called on the Newcastle Knights players to ditch their post-season celebrations after their "embarrassing" 66-10 loss against the Parramatta Eels.
The Knights conceded 12 tries on their way to their ninth consecutive loss. The final round defeat has resulted in Newcastle claiming a fourth wooden spoon in a decade.
With Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien departing at the end of the season, Voss has demanded Knights players to take accountability for a horror season that produced just six wins.
“The Knights gave up. You can say they tried but they didn’t try hard enough,” Voss said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“The coach now loses his job and players need to get fair dinkum.
“I’d be embarrassed to go on Mad Monday. I’d be embarrassed and I’d go into mourning before I (started celebrating).
“It’s the players that should be fronting the camera today and talking to the fans.
“I’m serious about this. They can’t just walk away into the sunset and say that’s the end of the season.
“Newcastle players need to speak directly to the fans.
“If you’re true about culture and accountability, then live up to the words.
“They must address what happened on Sunday to end the year.”
The Knights ended the 2025 season with a -300 points differential and scored just 338 points for the year. The next worst attacking side was the South Sydney Rabbitohs with 427.
SEN’s Greg Alexander believes Newcastle’s final six weeks for the season was indicative of where the team’s mindset was at.
“The last six scores for the Knights,” Alexander said.
“In round 21, the Canberra Raiders won 44-18. They then had the bye.
“The were beaten by the Panthers 48-12. They lost against the Cowboys 38.4 and that was a really stinky day.
“46-12 the Brisbane Broncos beat the Knights on Newcastle’s old boys day.
“44-16 against the Sharks and then they round it out with a 66-10 loss against Parramatta.
“What a shocking couple of months.”
The Knights have begun their search for a new head coach following O’Brien’s departure.
Newcastle kick off their 2026 season in Las Vegas against North Queensland.
