Newcastle Knights set to part ways with coach Adam O'Brien while superstar Kalyn Ponga eyes exit for rugby union
The Sydney Morning Herald reported the team's coach of six years, Adam O'Brien, could be paid out of the final two years on his contract, unless his side can reach a near top eight finish.
Newcastle powerbrokers have begun making internal plans to part ways with O'Brien at the end of year, despite the 47-year-old triggering a clause for a contract extension after his side finished in the top 12 in 2024.
A late season resurgence could be a step to far for Newcastle, as they deal with the injuries of star duo Kalyn Ponga and Fletcher Sharpe.
O'Brien has coached Newcastle since 2020 and has a 45 per cent win record.
He has coached his side to the top eight four times, but has never won a finals fixture.
Assistant and attacking coach Blake Green could be an in-house replacement unless the Knights look elsewhere.
Former Parramatta Eels coach Brad Arthur and Queensland Maroons and Cronulla Sharks assistant Josh Hannay are other candidates for the top job.
Meanwhile, star fullback Ponga has engaged the services of a New Zealand rugby union agent as he prepares to walk away from Newcastle at the end of this season.
The SMH revealed Ponga has opened up his options to explore other ventures, despite having two years left on his Knights contract.
'Sources with knowledge of the situation talking on the condition of anonymity due to the confidential nature of the discussions said Ponga is concerned about wasting the prime years of his career at the struggling Knights and is open to departing at the end of the season,' the masthead reported.
The 27-year-old's name has been tied to European rugby union and the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Ponga has previously indicated his desire to try his hand at playing union for the All Blacks.
'I think it's (The All Blacks) the pinnacle. Well, they are. They're the best sporting organisation in the world... so to put that jersey on would be pretty special,' he said in a 2018 TV interview.
The star fullback originally had a clause in his Knights contract to pursue a code switch, however, the clause was removed after he agreed to a lucrative extension - tying him to the club until the end of 2027.
Newcastle also recently signed Eels five-eighth Dylan Brown for a lucrative 10-year, $13 million deal which will see him play his career with the club from 2026 to 2035.
Depending on the decision Ponga makes moving forward, he may not line up beside the superstar New Zealand representative come next season.
The Knights currently sit 13th on the NRL ladder, sitting two points clear of last place with eight rounds remaining.
The side will face fourth placed Warriors in their Round 20 home fixture on Sunday July 20th.
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7NEWS
an hour ago
- 7NEWS
Newcastle Knights superstar Kalyn Ponga could rip up contract and walk out on club
A bombshell plot for Newcastle superstar Kalyn Ponga to rip up his contract two years early has emerged. Ponga has a lucrative contract that ends in 2027 but could possibly walk out on the embattled club as early as this year. It has been reported by the Sydney Morning Herald that the 27-year-old 'has engaged the services of a New Zealand rugby union agent'. Ponga reportedly feels he is wasting his prime years as a player at the Knights, who have endured another disappointing season with just six wins and 11 losses so far. The SMH also reports that key decision makers at the club are also hatching a plan 'to part ways with coach Adam O'Brien'. O'Brien, who hit a contract trigger last year, is also tied to the club until the end of 2027. Ponga was born in Australia but has New Zealand parents. And he has previously hinted that he would be keen to play with the All Blacks. In an interview last year he said his New Zealand roots were a 'very important' part of his heritage. 'It's who I am. It's the values and morals embedded in me through my uncles and my Dad,' he said. 'There's been a cloud over my head as to what I'm doing with my allegiance.' The Ponga camp, thus far, has made no official approach to the Knights about an early exit from the club. However, there is a suggestion that some people at the Knights would be open to a Ponga exit. Ponga's deal is estimated at $1.4 million a season. If he departed, the club could free up salary cap space and Fletcher Sharpe could play in his natural position at fullback. Sports journalist Brent Read said Ponga was also being shopped around to European rugby clubs. 'He's contracted with the Knights until the end of 2027. But, an agent, a New Zealand-based agent, rugby union agent, has been shopping Kalyn around Europe,' Reid said on NRL 360. 'Now, I've been in contact with the Ponga camp today and I didn't really get a straight answer out of them. 'But what I've gleaned from their text messages is if he's being shopped around Europe, it's being done without them giving the agent the green light. 'That's what's happening at the moment with Kalyn Ponga, he's being shopped, his name's been mentioned by this rebel rugby competition that's going on at the moment, so he is on the radar of rugby union clubs.' If Ponga was to cross codes, he would have a year to get ready for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
The Age
5 hours ago
- The Age
If Ponga wants to leave the Knights, is it time they show him the door?
Ponga's exit would give the Knights $1.4 million to spend on other key positions, including the organising halfback they so desperately want. On the flipside, the Ponga camp has realised the prospect of leading Newcastle to a premiership in the near future appears a pipedream. The club is entering what appears to be a rebuilding phase with changes in administration, coaching and the playing squad. Ponga is the captain of the club but is ready to put himself first by exploring whether the grass could be greener on the other side. Ponga is a player of enormous talent and he has been the face of the club since he joined the Knights from North Queensland in 2018. He has long held a desire to play for the All Blacks in rugby union. He has told people that his next move is not about money. Even if it was, it would be difficult – if not impossible – for Ponga to leave Newcastle at the end of the season and find another NRL team with the funds and salary cap space to make that happen. The Knights are also unlikely to let their star player walk into another NRL team. It's why a move to rugby union appears a more likely scenario with Newcastle previously showing a willingness to allow Ponga to chase his rugby dreams with a get-out clause in his last deal. It seems Ponga has two options if he wants to depart Newcastle at the end of the season: sign a contract with a New Zealand Super Rugby franchise in the hope of giving himself time to play for the All Blacks at the 2027 World Cup in Australia, or spend 18 months in either Japanese or French rugby before returning to the NRL when cashed-up expansion teams enter the competition in 2027 (Perth) and 2028 (Papua New Guinea). Newcastle, meanwhile, are at a crossroads as a football club. They've failed to take advantage of a thriving junior nursery for the best part of two decades. They are struggling to attract top players to the club without paying more than they should, and the team is struggling to inspire a footy-mad region. Coach Adam O'Brien is likely to pay the price for that at the end of this campaign, with the club already manoeuvring to change the coaching staff during the off-season. To be fair to O'Brien, his team has been decimated by injury yet again with Sharpe, Ponga and now Dylan Lucas all on the sidelines through injury. O'Brien has a decent record, leading the Knights to finals football on four occasions in the past five seasons. However, it looks like they will miss the top eight this season and patience is running out. Assistant coach Blake Green, who shares the same player agent (Isaac Moses) as O'Brien, has strong support internally. The club is impressed with his football nous, his man management and his connection with the players. Loading The negative for Green is his inexperience, and the fact he has overseen the team's struggling attack all season. Those who are pushing for his elevation into the head coaching role say he's just implementing the plans of the head coach and can't be blamed for the team's attacking woes. There is also a strong push from some sections of the club for Josh Hannay, the Cronulla and Queensland assistant coach who has a long-standing relationship with CEO-in-waiting Peter Parr from their time together at the Cowboys.
Sydney Morning Herald
5 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
If Ponga wants to leave the Knights, is it time they show him the door?
Ponga's exit would give the Knights $1.4 million to spend on other key positions, including the organising halfback they so desperately want. On the flipside, the Ponga camp has realised the prospect of leading Newcastle to a premiership in the near future appears a pipedream. The club is entering what appears to be a rebuilding phase with changes in administration, coaching and the playing squad. Ponga is the captain of the club but is ready to put himself first by exploring whether the grass could be greener on the other side. Ponga is a player of enormous talent and he has been the face of the club since he joined the Knights from North Queensland in 2018. He has long held a desire to play for the All Blacks in rugby union. He has told people that his next move is not about money. Even if it was, it would be difficult – if not impossible – for Ponga to leave Newcastle at the end of the season and find another NRL team with the funds and salary cap space to make that happen. The Knights are also unlikely to let their star player walk into another NRL team. It's why a move to rugby union appears a more likely scenario with Newcastle previously showing a willingness to allow Ponga to chase his rugby dreams with a get-out clause in his last deal. It seems Ponga has two options if he wants to depart Newcastle at the end of the season: sign a contract with a New Zealand Super Rugby franchise in the hope of giving himself time to play for the All Blacks at the 2027 World Cup in Australia, or spend 18 months in either Japanese or French rugby before returning to the NRL when cashed-up expansion teams enter the competition in 2027 (Perth) and 2028 (Papua New Guinea). Newcastle, meanwhile, are at a crossroads as a football club. They've failed to take advantage of a thriving junior nursery for the best part of two decades. They are struggling to attract top players to the club without paying more than they should, and the team is struggling to inspire a footy-mad region. Coach Adam O'Brien is likely to pay the price for that at the end of this campaign, with the club already manoeuvring to change the coaching staff during the off-season. To be fair to O'Brien, his team has been decimated by injury yet again with Sharpe, Ponga and now Dylan Lucas all on the sidelines through injury. O'Brien has a decent record, leading the Knights to finals football on four occasions in the past five seasons. However, it looks like they will miss the top eight this season and patience is running out. Assistant coach Blake Green, who shares the same player agent (Isaac Moses) as O'Brien, has strong support internally. The club is impressed with his football nous, his man management and his connection with the players. Loading The negative for Green is his inexperience, and the fact he has overseen the team's struggling attack all season. Those who are pushing for his elevation into the head coaching role say he's just implementing the plans of the head coach and can't be blamed for the team's attacking woes. There is also a strong push from some sections of the club for Josh Hannay, the Cronulla and Queensland assistant coach who has a long-standing relationship with CEO-in-waiting Peter Parr from their time together at the Cowboys.
