Newcastle Knights coach Wayne Bennett drops Timana Tahu and Chris Houston ... - Herald Sun

Newcastle coach Wayne Bennett has dumped Chris Houston and Timana Tahu from his squad for the match against the Bulldogs following the Knights' embarrassing loss to Canberra. Picture: Waide Maguire Source: The Daily Telegraph

NEWCASTLE coach Wayne Bennett has sent a clear message to his players he won't tolerate another performance like they dished up against Canberra by dumping senior players Chris Houston and Timana Tahu from the squad for Sunday's clash with the Bulldogs.

In a move certain to shake up the Knights playing group and put everyone on notice, the normally conservative Bennett reacted angrily yesterday to the embarrassing capitulation against the Raiders by making three changes to his starting lineup including the selection of former Roosters centre Joey Leilua at the expense of Tahu.

Normally a strong defender, Tahu had a nightmare time trying to keep a lid on Origin aspirant Blake Ferguson, who ended up with a hat-trick in a dominant performance on the Raiders right edge on Sunday.

Source: The Daily Telegraph

Houston, a member of the club's leadership group and a player who has hardly missed an NRL game since he joined the club several years ago, has captained the Knights this season whenever Kurt Gidley has been out.

But that didn't stop Bennett from axing him in favour of bench forward David Fa'alogo.Playmaker Jarrod Mullen, who missed the Raiders game with a knee injury, returns in the other change. Both Tahu and Houston were yesterday named in the Knights NSW Cup side to take on Manly at Brookvale on Saturday.

With Kurt Gidley back at hooker and Travis Waddell on the bench, Adam Clydsdale was chosen in the Holden Cup side with Neville Costigan reinstated onto the bench.

Source: The Daily Telegraph

"It will send a message for sure," CEO Matt Gidley said of Bennett's shake up.

"No coach in the NRL would tolerate back-to-back inconsistent performances like we have produced over the past fortnight. Wayne expects a lot from his senior players and both Timana and Chris are probably down a little bit form wise."