One of Newcastle’s great forwards, ex-captain Tony Butterfield, has fired up the current crop of Knights forwards after their demolition at the hands of Sam Burgess and South Sydney last weekend.

Writing for The Newcastle Herald, Butterfield said the lack of aggression from the engine room was a worrying sign.

“For our forwards, symbolic of missing the moments to retake initiative was the more obscure though equally revealing response to the Bunnies’ reserve front-rower, the other Nathan Brown” Butterfield wrote.

“By his deeds, it was clear his instructions were simple. Frustrate, niggle and rip into the inexperienced Knights.

“Yet, when he got the ball, were there any personal scores to settle or lynching parties awaiting this upstart? No again. He was met on the back foot and cuddled to the ground.

“I gather winning with a work-in-progress team, is not the primary objective for Coach Brown. But he must have fighters, scrappers, competitors at his disposal. With an enthusiasm that need not be dulled just because the scoreboard offends, he wants his troops to damn well compete on every play.”