After heavy defeats to the Storm (50-2) and Eels (39-2) at home, O'Brien has named new halves for the clash against the Cowboys on Saturday, dumping Jake Clifford and resting Adam Clune.

It comes after Clifford's poor showing against the Storm and the Knights' sixth consecutive loss on Sunday.

Knights great Matthew Johns has likened the side's past two defeats to the dark era when the club collected three consecutive wooden spoons (2015-17), saying Knights players showed "a complete lack of resilience".

Panthers legend Greg Alexander also questioned Kalyn Ponga's leadership after the Storm shellacking.

But O'Brien jumped to the defence of his players and maligned skipper on Tuesday, vowing his side would fight through the adversity.

"They care. They're embarrassed," O'Brien said.

"Some people, and I can understand where they're coming from witnessing some of the vision, walk away from the stadium thinking that they don't care. They do.

"Internally, we will have honest, tough conversations. We never shy away from that.

"When you are faced with adversity, we've got two choices. We either run away or we fight. This club, and this team and the men in there, we are going to fight."

Asked after Sunday's loss what he would say to his teammates, a despondent Ponga said "probably not much" but he would "think of something". The response was described by Alexander as "quite an embarrassing moment for a captain".

But O'Brien went into bat for his skipper, saying while Ponga was still developing as a leader, he had led with his actions against the Storm.

"He is a young captain and he is new to it, and he is missing a pretty good co-pilot," O'Brien said, referring to injured hooker Jayden Brailey.

"But in terms of his leadership in the game, he put a tonne of effort in.

"He was, if not our best - he and Enari [Tuala], they both tried their guts out. That's a form of leadership too."

O'Brien said Ponga had support as captain but he would be seeking more from the club's senior players.

"Tyson is a good one there for him, but there is no doubt we have and need more from leaders," O'Brien said.

"There is no doubt that I need to help him every single day with his leadership group.

"I need to challenge our more experienced guys to step up in that leadership role. And it's something that we won't stop investing in, whether you're in the NRL or our junior system, leadership is important.

"It's what carries you through the good times, but it also carries you through the bad times."

Clifford's exclusion comes after he was hooked from the field in the second-half against the Storm.

Before the Knights released their team list on Tuesday, O'Brien said he had pulled the 24-year-old half on Sunday to halt his slide.

"I felt it was a bit like quicksand for him," he said.

"I just wanted him to be able to sit down and reset.

"He has got some challenges there around his preparation, mentally, for the game. He is in a difficult spot ... but he will come out the other side."

Clune was also entirely omitted from the 24-man squad. He has been carrying a knee problem and struggled against the Storm.

Phoenix Crossland, who came off the bench to replace Clifford midway through the second-half against Melbourne, will play halfback.

Tex Hoy has been named at five-eighth.

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