SEVERAL Knights players are facing the possibility of being moved on by the club at the end of the season despite being under contract in response to Newcastle’s dramatic slide to the NRL cellar this season.

Club officials are remaining tight-lipped about the possible repercussions of a disastrous season that has seen the Knights win just one of it’s past 12 matches.

But with coach Rick Stone’s position considered safe for now, a roster shake-up appears the most likely scenario if there is no major turnaround in on-field performance between now and the end of the season.

It is common knowledge senior players Kurt Gidley, Beau Scott and Dave Fa’alogo won’t be at the club next season. But there is now likely to be some others moved on as well.

It is no secret halfback Tyrone Roberts will be off-loaded to make way for the arrival of Blues playmaker Trent Hodkinson but he won’t be the only contracted player to be looking for another club in 2016.

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media_camera Tyrone Roberts has vowed to fight for his spot despite Trent Hodkinson’s recruitment.

Knights CEO Matt Gidley refused to be drawn on the likelihood of a roster shake-up but admitted the severe criticism of the playing group’s performances have been justified.

And he warned their needed to be a positive response from the squad against the Titans at Hunter Stadium.

“Some of our performances over the past 10 weeks, I can understand how people would form the view that players are just too comfortable,” he said.

“I’m as frustrated as the fans are. I think everyone at the club is.

“As long as the team is playing with commitment and passion and hunger, I think our supporters will always embrace our players.

“But when that is not there, I can understand why people get frustrated and angry.

Gidley denied the dismal performances are a result of a poor culture at the club.

“There is nothing wrong with the culture at this club,” he said.

“The traits and the values that form the culture of our club — resilience, passion, inspiration — they are a direct mirror of our community and that’s why we have been successful in the past.

“We’ll never move away from that but that’s clearly been void in our team’s performances of late.

“But there is an opportunity for our team to come out at home against the Titans and remind everyone of the character and the culture of the team and represent Newcastle appropriately.

“I’d like to think we will see a positive response in that regard from the boys.”

media_camera Dane Gagai admits the Knights’ form has been embarrassing.

Knights centre Dane Gagai admitted players were “embarrassed” with their efforts, particularly in recent weeks.

“We have obviously lost a fair few games now and it’s getting to a point where I guess everyone has had enough and we just have to put our foot down and make sure we compete for that full 80 and walk off that field with a satisfactory result,” he said.

“We’ve got some of the best fans here in Newcastle and they don’t deserve the results that we’ve given them.”

As for the criticism, Gagai says they don’t need it for motivation.

“I don’t really think we need that much criticism. We all know,” he said.

“We are all pretty hard on ourselves and I think sometimes we focus on it a bit too much instead of just playing footy.

“We worry about the outcome before it has even happened, we just have to make sure we go out and set the pace of the game. “