Test fullback Slater lamented his own game wasn't up to scratch as a listless Storm lost 26-14 to a re-energised Newcastle with new coach Rick Stone at the helm on Monday night.

An uncharacteristic off-night saw Slater bomb an early try and fumble the ball on his own line to almost concede one as a poor defensive effort allowed the Knights to gallop out to a 26-point lead by the hour mark at EnergyAustralia Stadium.

But Slater refused to blame the Storm's poor attitude on off-field issues surrounding suspended superstar Inglis or injuries like that which ruled out emerging back Joseph Tomane.

''[Having] Greggy or Joseph doesn't help us tackle well,'' Slater said.

''Them not being in our side doesn't stop us doing what we do well.

''If we start looking who we didn't have in, the Sika Manus and those sorts of players, we [are] starting to look for excuses.

''And when you start looking for excuses you may as well pack your bags for the rest of the season. We're at a turning point and I suppose it's up to us which way we go.''

Inglis, who was stood down indefinitely after being charged with assaulting girlfriend Sally Robinson, was sorely missed in attack.

''I don't think off-field stuff came into it, I think it was certainly an attitude thing, and certainly an effort thing,'' Slater said.

''We weren't prepared to work that little bit harder to get the result that we needed.

''They wanted to run harder than us, they wanted to wrestle harder than us, they pretty much wanted to do all the little things that build to a good performance better than us.''

Slater said the Storm must find a way to win away from Olympic Park.

''We've got to get our act together, we've got three games before the new season [finals] starts.'' AAP