Statistics mean nothing to Newcastle stand-in skipper Jarrod Mullen – and just as well.
Looking at the Knights’ form in Melbourne – or lack thereof – ahead of Saturday night’s sudden death NRL finals clash with the Storm is enough to make them wonder about even turning up.
Their last 10 games in Melbourne have ended in defeat.
And they have never won at AAMI Park which has hosted Newcastle’s last five losses in the Victorian capital.
Melbourne have also emerged triumphant in their last seven clashes with Newcastle at all venues.
Yet Mullen remained unfazed.
“It (stats) means nothing to us,” he said.
“We have got a gameplan going down there and we have some momentum building up coming off three good wins.”
Mullen said the Knights would embrace the underdog tag despite their stirring last round 22-6 win that knocked the Bulldogs out of the finals.
However, Mullen dismissed a suggestion Newcastle were more hopeful than confident of upsetting the defending NRL premiers this weekend.
“They are playing at home, all the pressure is on us. We are the underdogs and that is the way we like it,” he said.
“(But) we have a side here to go a long way.
“We are in for a shot at the title. We don’t want to let it slip through our fingers.
“Everyone is going into this game in good form and that’s what you need in finals footy, momentum, and that’s what we have got.”
Straight-faced Knights coach Wayne Bennett – a seven-time premiership winner – is also helping settle any pre-match nerves ahead of a game in which they are considered $3.15 outsiders with bookmakers.
“He’s been the same, he hasn’t changed much. He’s cool, calm and collected,” Mullen said.
The Knights playmaker’s mood quickly changed though when asked about a Melbourne side smarting from last round’s 20-10 finals loss to South Sydney.
“We are definitely not writing them off,” he said.
“They are a well oiled machine. We will have to try and break them down.”
After leaking a remarkable 324 points – and scoring just 94 – during their wretched 10-game run in Melbourne, Mullen did not surprise when he claimed defence would be the key to a boilover.
But Mullen will this weekend be backing their attack – namely centres Dane Gagai and Joseph Leilua – to finally overcome Newcastle’s second half fadeouts that have cost them victory in their two regular season clashes with Melbourne this year.
“They are future Origin players for us,” he said of their three-quarters.
