NEWCASTLE (10-14) = Newcastle had a strange season: they lost five of their first six, then won six in a row to briefly enter the top four. By mid-season, they looked like making their first finals series since 2013. Then it fell apart, with coach Nathan Brown forced out after an embarrassing round 23 loss to the Wests Tigers, which they needed to win to keep their faint finals hopes alive. A final round belting by Penrith summed up their horror finish.
