Jarrod Mullen admits Newcastle Knights took it easy against Manly Sea Eagles - Herald Sun

Jarrod Mullen has promised Newcastle fans a better effort against the Cowboys. Source: The Daily Telegraph

NEWCASTLE playmaker Jarrod Mullen says his side's heavy loss to Manly was a wake-up call claiming the Knights were guilty of thinking it would be "easy" against the Sea Eagles last Sunday.

But he has promised Knights supporters their attitude won't let them down again this season, starting with Monday night's clash against North Queensland at Hunter Stadium.

In a refreshingly honest critique of the Knights 32-0 drubbing at Brookvale Oval, Mullen intimated the side had got ahead of itself after the effortless way in which it disposed of Wests Tigers in the opening round.

"We didn't turn up and Manly did," Mullen said.

"They bashed us physically. Against the Tigers we played some good footy and we thought it was going to come easy against Manly which is a bit of a ridiculous thing because they are such a good side. That's how I felt out there.

"Everyone knows where we stand now. It was only round two going into round three but it was probably the wake-up call we needed.

Loz previews round three's Newcastle v North Queensland

"I can tell Knights fans it won't happen again this year.

"We'll get back to the basics against North Queensland and grind out a win."

Whether Mullen plays against the Cowboys though or watches from the sideline will hinge on whether he can get through the club's final two training sessions today and Sunday.

The five-eighth took a partially torn cartilage in his left knee into the Manly game and he has been struggling with his movement in the joint this week.

"I hurt is against the Tigers but during the Manly game, it kept locking up and unlocking and I couldn't take off on it so I was a bit of a passenger out there in the second half,"he said.

Darius Boyd. Picture: Porteous Gregg

"I got through the game but I won't be going out there on Monday night if I'm going to be a passenger."

"The physio is pretty confident it will be right but it's still a bit locked up and I haven't run since the weekend."

The preparation for the clash with the Cowboys hasn't been helped by a flu bug sweeping through the club. A number of players were hampered against the Sea Eagles and several players and staff were sent home from training on Wednesday to prevent the bug spreading further.

While he wasn't named to play, big prop Willie Mason remains a chance of proving his fitness to play against his old club.