Overview

• Adam O’Brien will leave as head coach at the end of the 2025 season with his contract paid out, closing a chapter that brought four finals appearances in five years
• Defensive coach Brian McDermott has been highlighted as a leading internal candidate after turning Newcastle into one of the NRL’s top six defences
• Other names in contention include Josh Hannay, Willie Peters and Brad Arthur, all of whom bring NRL or Super League head-coaching experience
• The Knights sit 13th on the ladder with the competition’s lowest scoring rate of 14.7 points per game, a slide worsened by injuries to Kalyn Ponga, Fletcher Sharpe and Dylan Lucas
• Andrew Johns and Matthew Johns have called for a return to Newcastle’s traditional ‘DNA’ by prioritizing junior development and smart recruitment to rebuild long-term competitiveness