He promised it and Nathan Brown has delivered with four players dropped for Newcastle’s Saturday NRL match against high-flying Manly.
The Knights slipped out of the top eight following last weekend’s loss to the Wests Tigers, their fourth defeat in a row.
Jesse Ramien, Herman Ese’ese, Danny Levi and Jamie Buhrer are the victims for the poor run of form, with all four axed for the trip to Lottoland.
The changes mean Hymel Hunt moves from wing to centre and Kurt Mann goes from five-eighth to wing with Mason Lino coming in to the No.6 jersey.
Lachlan Fitzgibbon’s return from an elbow injury pushes Sione Mata’utia to the bench while Connor Watson comes in at hooker and Jacob Saifiti is on the bench.
Manly, who claimed a thrilling golden-point win over Melbourne last Saturday, have named an unchanged lineup.
It’s all change for the Sydney Roosters as well due to several injury and suspension concerns.
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves’ ban and calf injuries to Boyd Cordner and Siosiua Taukeiaho has forced Trent Robinson to shuffle his pack with Isaac Liu, Zane Tetevano and Angus Crichton all coming into the starting side to face Gold Coast at the SCG.
Nat Butcher, Poasa Faamausili and Lindsay Collins all come on to the bench.
The last-placed Titans head south without Dale Copley (knee) while Leilani Latu’s NRL return is over after two matches with Brenko Lee taking his place on the bench.
Halfback Ash Taylor has been named in the reserves as he nears his return to NRL action following two months away from first grade due to personal issues.
South Sydney welcome back Sam Burgess with the Englishman named in the backrow for the Rabbitohs after five games out due to a shoulder infection.
Burgess’s return forces Queensland Origin player Ethan Lowe to the bench for Saturday’s match at Cronulla where Liam Knight comes in after serving a suspension.
Cronulla welcome back Andrew Fifita from suspension while NSW representative Wade Graham and Matt Moylan both return from hamstring injuries in big inclusions as John Morris’s men aim to keep their finals ambitions intact.
In other NRL team news, North Queensland captain Michael Morgan returns after missing the Cowboys’ past three matches following back-to-back concussions.
His return pushes John Asiata to the bench for Thursday’s match against the Tigers at Leichhardt Oval, in what will Robbie Farah’s first match since announcing he’ll retire at season’s end.
Michael Chee Kam has been named by the Tigers but will need to pass concussion protocols to play after being knocked out in an incident that led to Knights’ fullback Kalyn Ponga being sin-binned.
Canberra have an unchanged line-up to face the Warriors on Friday in Auckland with Kodi Nikorima back at five-eighth for the New Zealand-based club after missing last weekend’s loss to Parramatta with an ankle injury.
Brisbane have named veteran backrower Matt Gillett while Tom Flegler comes back from suspension for Friday’s home match against Melbourne with Tevita Pangai Jnr missing out after copping a one-game ban for a careless high tackle on Gold Coast Phillip Sami.
The Storm have made one change from the team which fell 11-10 to the Sea Eagles with winger Suliasi Vunivalu returning from suspension in place of Sandor Earl.