Gidley says Knights will get even better - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Gidley says Knights will get even better

By Ian McCullough 17/05/2009 01:24:12 PM Comments (0)

Newcastle skipper Kurt Gidley has warned the Knights' NRL rivals his side still has plenty of improvement left after Saturday's impressive 38-6 victory over the Sydney Roosters.

The Knights produced an almost flawless first-half performance that saw them complete 21 of 23 sets and run in three tries to set up the win.

Gidley admitted it was the best the Knights have played this season but said they still needed to be more consistent.

"That was probably our best yet, in three of the games we have been leading in this season we have lost, so it was good to score first and also come away with the win," Gidley said.

"The aim each year is to reach the semis and this is the best start we've had for a long time.

"We have struggled for consistency in the last few years and this time it looks to be going well but we can still improve.

"It's enjoyable putting three wins together, we haven't won four in a row for a while so it will be nice to do that next week against the Cowboys."

Gidley virtually rubber-stamped his NSW Origin place with a virtuoso display that saw him kick seven from eight goals and set up Jarrod Mullen's first try with a searing 70-metre break.

He said captaincy of the Blues was the last thing on his mind, however.

"I just want to make the team so fingers crossed, we have one more game to go before the team is named so we will take it from there," Gidley said.

Although he is downplaying his own Origin aspirations, Gidley is confident Mullen has done enough this season to reclaim the No.7 jersey for the Blues.

"Jarrod has had a great start to the year, he is strong and a quick bloke for a halfback... he is certainly playing well enough to be there," Gidley said.

Mullen believes Brisbane's Peter Wallace is in the driving seat for the Origin opener in Melbourne on June 3 and, despite his two tries in the win over the Roosters, said he still wanted to improve his form.

"I think Wallace is just in front of me but I am looking forward to catching him and I am not ruling (Mitchell) Pearce out as well," Mullen told AAP.

"I can still improve on a few things, I am my harshest critic.

"At the moment we are all really enjoying our footy, we play an expansive style and it is always good to play in.

"We have good players in good positions so we are going to be a good force this year.

"We haven't beaten a side like that for a while and to get the win like this I think it shows we are making real good progress."

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