By Michael Chammas and Danny Weidler
Newcastle held a meeting with Adam O’Brien on Monday morning to assure him he will remain as head coach in 2024 despite a club official meeting Justin Holbrook last week.
This masthead reported on Sunday that O’Brien had been made aware of a meeting between a Knights official and Holbrook after the team’s victory against the Storm last week.
The club moved quickly to prevent the issue becoming a negative influence on the team. In a meeting with O’Brien on Monday morning, the Knights reaffirmed their intention to honour his contract in 2024.
O’Brien was under huge pressure a month ago but a dramatic turnaround in form has the Knights on the cusp of finals football.
O’Brien, who has led Newcastle to four straight wins, learnt of a meeting between a club official and the sacked Gold Coast Titans coach.
In the same week, O’Brien’s manager Isaac Moses met Newcastle chief executive Phil Gardner.
Newcastle Knights coach Adam O’Brien and former Gold Coast Titans coach Justin Holbrook.Credit: Getty
This masthead was told by a source with direct knowledge of the situation, who did not wish to be identified due to the sensitive nature of the meeting, that the prospect of an extension was raised by Moses, given the team’s significant improvement with wins over two top-four teams in the past fortnight. That has since been denied.
Club legend Andrew Johns said he believed O’Brien deserved an extension.
“He deserves another year. For a fair chunk of the year, to start with Kalyn Ponga was out. Since Kalyn’s come back and playing fullback it’s a different team ... He’s the man to let the club move forward,” Johns said.
“I think he should be coach, I think they should extend him, give him another year and get it done the next couple of weeks.”
Former Knights coach Nathan Brown quit in 2019 after discovering what he believed was a meeting between former Knights recruitment manager Troy Pezet and then-Sydney Roosters assistant coach O’Brien under instruction from club management.
There appeared to be similarities to what was unfolding behind the scenes at the Knights again, with the uncertainty around O’Brien’s future having the potential to destabilise the team.
Sources with knowledge of the situation, talking under the condition of anonymity, told this masthead that O’Brien approached senior officials at the club this week for clarity over the future of some of his off-contract coaching staff members.
The Knights have since agreed to extend the contract of O’Brien’s assistant coach Rory Kostjasyn. Fellow assistant Blake Green, who has another year to run on his deal with the Knights, has been linked with a move to Manly as a replacement for Dragons-bound Shane Flanagan.
Sources with knowledge of the situation said Green was on the lookout for a new job six weeks ago when O’Brien’s days at the Knights appeared to be numbered.
The Knights are on the cusp of another finals appearance under Adam O’Brien.Credit: Getty
The team’s ability to keep in touch with the race for the finals could lead to Green remaining on O’Brien’s staff for another year, if the head coach is spared the axe. Both the Knights and O’Brien declined to comment on Sunday.
O’Brien’s tenure at the Knights has been plagued by injuries but he has guided the club to the finals on two occasions in the three seasons since taking charge in 2020.
The Knights are in ninth position in O’Brien’s fourth season in charge and sit just one point outside the top eight with games against the Dolphins, Bulldogs, Rabbitohs, Sharks and Dragons remaining.
Holbrook started at the Gold Coast Titans at the same time as O’Brien did at the Knights but only managed one finals appearance, arguably with a more balanced roster, before he was sacked midway through this year in favour of Des Hasler.
Knights close on Penrith playmaker
Newcastle are closing in on the signature of Penrith back-up half Jack Cogger, although they might have a fight on their hands.
The Knights were in the box seat to get Cogger’s signature after tabling a three-year deal to the 25-year-old, who also attracted interest from the Tigers before they opted to pursue Aidan Sezer and Jayden Sullivan.
The Panthers’ original offer to retain him was for just one year, but the club has come in late with a revised deal to keep him with the back-to-back champions for another two seasons. Both clubs are hopeful of a decision in the coming week.
The Sharks are expecting to be without Will Kennedy for the rest of the season.Credit: Getty
Season over for Sharks fullback?
The Cronulla Sharks are bracing for the worst and expect fullback Will Kennedy to be ruled out for the remainder of the season.
Kennedy left the field early in the loss to the Panthers on Saturday night after picking up a hamstring injury.
This masthead was told on Sunday the Sharks were awaiting scans for Kennedy, however initial testing indicated that his hamstring injury was severe and likely to force him out for the remainder of the year.
The club’s premiership aspirations have dwindled over the past month and now they are on the lookout for a new fullback.
Nicho Hynes could return to the custodian role for Cronulla.Credit: Getty Images
Nicho Hynes has told Sharks staff that he is willing to move from halfback to fullback, where he has played most of his career, to help the team.
Such a move could see Matt Moylan recalled into the halves alongside Brayden Trindall.
The other option the Sharks are considering is moving Moylan to fullback, where he burst onto the scene with the Panthers many years ago.
Melbourne flyer Ryan Papenhuyzen has been starved of football in recent years.Credit: NRL Photos
Storm cult hero nears injury return
Melbourne superstar Ryan Papenhuyzen is closing in on his return to rugby league after a year out of the game.
There’s talk he could return as early as next week for the Sunshine Coast Falcons in the Queensland Cup, but no one at Melbourne wants to put a date on his return date.
The club insists he is training well and “getting closer”. That may be a matter of days now.
Bulldogs’ English import back on the park
Canterbury’s Luke Thompson played his first game of the year in the NSW Cup over the weekend.
Luke Thompson.Credit: Getty
The off-contract Englishman injured his foot at training before the first game of the season and has waited five months to make his comeback.
The club was impressed with his hitout in reserve grade and expect him to feature in the NRL in their next game after the bye.
Mbye caps busy week with Saints debut
Moses Mbye played his first game for St Helens over the weekend after leaving St George Illawarra during the week.
He hopped off a plane on Tuesday morning and went straight from the airport to training with his new team in the Super League, playing a few days later. The Saints beat Leeds Rhinos 22-18.
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