Newcastle coach Nathan Brown has dumped five-eighth Brock Lamb for Saturday’s clash against West Tigers in Tamworth with Bulldogs-bound Jack Cogger to partner Mitchell Pearce in the halves.
Lamb has struggled for form since coming into the starting side alongside Pearce three weeks ago following a shoulder injury to Connor Watson.
He was close to being axed after the Knights’ loss to St George Illawarra in Wollongong on April 1 but survived thanks to the support of senior players.
But his defensive frailties again came into question in last weekend’s big loss to Melbourne with Brown finally losing patience and deciding to give Cogger a crack in the number six jumper against the Tigers at Tamworth’s Scully Park.
Backrower Mitch Barnett returns after missing the loss to Storm because of suspension.
