Phil Gould has questioned Newcastle’s replacement coaching options with Adam O’Brien’s future at the Knights in doubt amid another difficult year.
O’Brien has been at the club for six years and made the finals four times. But there was one 14th-place finish and the Knights are currently 13th.
On Nine’s 100% Footy and in a The Sydney Morning Herald report, it was revealed Newcastle powerbrokers are planning to sack him at the end of the season.
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O’Brien is currently contracted until the end of 2027.
Knights coach Adam O’Brien. nrl
Knights assistant Blake Green, Josh Hannay and Willie Peters are among the possible replacements for the Knights coach. The internal push for Green comes despite the Knights being the worst attacking side in the competition.
Green is managed by controversial agent Isaac Moses, as is O’Brien.
Gould was unsure the Knights would be making the right move.
“I really don’t know if I was out looking for a coach at the moment, who I would look to try and employ,” he said.
“I thought all the coaches were fairly settled at the moment to be honest.”
Adam O’Brien and Phil Gould. Nine/Getty
O’Brien’s time at the Knights has been a mixed bag, the side has had a habit of starting seasons poorly but finishing strong.
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Individuals like Phoenix Crossland, Leo Thompson and Bradman Best have developed into representative class players but the former Storm and Roosters assistant has struggled to surge into premiership contention at any stage of his tenure.
Newcastle will have Dylan Brown arriving next year on a 10-year $1.4 million a season contract.
