Supporters have been there through thick and thin. In the old days of Buttsy, Bedsy, Gids, Johnsy and the crew, there was never any lack of effort in any game.

Even when there was a lack of premium players, there was always that grit and determination to win for the town, even from players on little money. At one stage, after a string of losses at the end of the season, there was a standing ovation from the crowd because the boys had maintained that effort right through the year.

If they were busted, they would battle on and support the teammate next to them. What has happened to this fortitude? Maybe a clause should be included in all big contracts that if it can be shown that you gave up in a big game then that percentage of your contract should go to charity, because God knows you don't deserve it.

As hard as it was, I watched the whole game and there were only a few players that in my opinion put in the hard yards.

Bradman Best ('Best of a bad bunch', Herald 26/8), you tried your guts out. Congratulations on your effort. It's just too bad you didn't have too many friends on the ground to watch your back.

I believe you are an example of the Knights' old school: not afraid to get down and dirty when needed. Maybe the rest of the boys can learn something from you.

AFTER the effort they put in against the Tigers ('Not good enough', Herald 26/8), you have to wonder why the Knights would need a Monday recovery session at Merewether baths ('Deeper issues', Herald 27/8). Salt water may be good for many things, but humiliation is not one of them.

Still, it did provide the players another opportunity to line up and parrot rehearsed and empty one-liners about vowing to do better next time ('Knights vow to repay fans for trying times', Herald 27/8).

As a fan and a member, I most want to be repaid with the truth. If there is a "deeper issue in the playing group", to quote captain Mitchell Pearce, what exactly is it? If there were politics behind the scenes that "sabotaged" the season ('Joey blasts Knights officials', Herald 26/8), what were they? Who did what, when, and why? What were the perceived or alleged slights, grievances, allegiances, and betrayals that have led to this situation? If there were bad management decisions made ('Blindsided', Herald 28/8), what were they? Knights fans don't like seeing their team lose, but they have proven their loyalty will survive a lack of success. Being continually denied the truth and treated like mugs could, however, be an entirely different thing. If the team loses the support of its fans, there is no hope.

Over to you, Mr Gardner.

DON'T the Knights get it? Fans and members want results, not tears and the excuses seems to come so easy to the so-called superstars. Collectively they make far more than executives who, without results, get the punt. At least the coach has realised that his run ended. I still think that the West group should seek a coach with local ties, but time will tell. Hopefully, for the fans and city, they will get it right.

THIS week I, along with a gallery full of local residents, watched and listened to our Lake Macquarie councillors' performance ('Foreshore project on hold', Herald 28/8). If I were a reviewer I would be warning readers to avoid this show at all costs.

As a member of the local community, I was interested in the outcome of the mayoral motion to defer all action on the Bath Street site in Toronto and the reclassification of the Victory Row foreshore land back to community land. Not only was the outcome a little underwhelming owing to the amendment, to have all the Bath Street site reclassified as community land denied, but in my opinion having to wait from 6.30pm until 10.55pm for the final motion with amendment to be agreed upon was a farce.

From my observations, this delay was caused by the antics of Crs Baker and Pauling. In my view their behaviour was less than flattering and totally disrespectful to the mayor, the gallery and the people that they supposedly represent. I hope the people in these councillors' wards take the time to watch the webcast of Monday night's meeting and think very carefully before casting their vote at the next council election.

I congratulate Cr Fraser for holding her composure and dignity in the meeting.

I ask that she look very closely at what the Toronto community are asking for regarding the Bath Street site: more parkland for future generations. Cr Wendy Harrison, again, was the only councillor in favour of entirely returning the Bath Street site to the community. I rate this show zero stars.

WHEN I moved from the Central Coast to Sandy Hollow three years ago, I found to my dismay that my local federal MP was Joel Fitzgibbon, one of Kevin Rudd's most prominent henchmen in his campaign to destroy Julia Gillard's prime ministership (ABC 17/7/12). He also apparently "inherited" the seat from his father.

I didn't vote for him in 2016.

However, this year, despairing of the spivs and thugs running the Morrison government, I held my nose and voted for him, even though, to my mind, he was largely invisible during the campaign.

I'm not surprised One Nation nearly knocked him off ('Hanson visits Hunter as Bonds holds hope', Newcastle Herald, 24/5).

Now he has not only joined with climate change denier Craig Kelly as a Friend of Coal ('Friends of coal group 'childish'', Herald, 3/8), but in my opinion it is clear from his letter (Letters, 28/8) that he only cares about coal miners.

Too bad about the people, including miners' families of Singleton and Muswellbrook, who have to endure such lousy air quality and the health problems that ensue.

Too bad about the poor and marginalised being bullied and victimised by Centrelink.

Too bad about farmers who struggle to make a living near the mines.

Is this what modern Labor has become?

I have never voted for a conservative party and never will, but I will never vote for Mr Fitzgibbon again.

I KEEP reading Mitchell Pearce's comment: "My responsibly as a captain, I let the boys down on the weekend" ('Knights vow to replay fans for trying times', Herald 27/8). Hello? You let the passionate Newcastle supporters down, mate. Without them you wouldn't be playing NRL and may be earning a very modest income. Just try to remember that. I believe pride in the jersey would be a great start.

I AM no genius when it comes to coaching rugby league, but in Newcastle I believe we have one major problem. Players are interviewed, then the players read what they said, they believe it and then forget it. The answer? Don't interview players. Also, Nathan Brown said he was pleased about the way he turned around the club's drinking culture ('Nathan's sobering lesson', Herald 22/8). Sorry, but haven't I been reading about another incident at the hotel he singled out in the courts at the moment ('Knight 'protected' at Hamilton pub: court', Herald 28/8). I think the simple answer would be to make the place off-limits.

STEVE Busch (Short Takes 24/8) argues that aircraft taking tourists to Pacific island nations contribute as much to global warming as Australian coal. To me this seems incredibly unlikely but, as Pacific island traffic represents only a tiny fraction of the world's total air traffic, then if it is true it is very alarming. Can I therefore ask Mr. Busch to tell us the source of his information so that we can better understand it?

HEAR ye, passionate Novacastrians. We need your help to prevent the Maritime Museum from going into extinction ('Bath wipes his hands of maritime museum', Herald 28/8). So much of the history in Newcastle should be preserved. We need a place to showcase our artefacts. Time is running out.

ANDREW Burns and John Morton ('Newcastle's famous couch surfers throned', Herald 28/8) are just a couple of lazy boys playing with their toys, perpetuating the norm. It's somewhat in the like of Life: be in it.

MEDEVAC takes the sick from Nauru and Manus Island and it's saving lives ('Repealing of 'medevac' refugee law risks death, doctors warn', Herald 24/8). Don't hold your breath waiting for the tsunami of boats Mr Dutton told us would arrive from Indonesia. Don't look for longer lines at the hospital or the shortage of housing he predicted. Instead, look at the lives Medivac is saving. I've seen politicians use gutter tactics, but in my opinion playing with people's lives to score political points is a new low even for the present garbage load of politicians Australians endure every day.

NEWCASTLE Knights fans must be the most fickle supporters in the NRL and experts. Always a simple fix. Please stick with the Knights, Bill Slicer (Short Takes, 27/8). The Jets don't need supporters like you.