1 day Ago By Barry Toohey
Adam O'Brien can still attract a critic or two but his record as an NRL coach now speaks for itself. Login or signup to continue reading He's taken the Knights to four finals appearances in five years and at the same time, re-established the club's defensive DNA with a hard-nosed emphasis on work ethic, effort and meeting high standards. He clearly has a united playing group who is right behind him.
Record crowds and memberships have been a by-product of the success. But the question now is: How does O'Brien take his team to the next level and become a genuine title challenger? Some key roster recruitment decisions over the next few months will be crucial. So too will be O'Brien's mindset around his side's attack and not being satisfied to battle for a place in the bottom of the eight by playing a risk-free, ugly brand of footy that relies heavily on the attacking brilliance of Kalyn Ponga.
O'Brien needs to find a middle ground between the traits that have made his side tough and resilient defensively and an attacking game plan that is capable of consistently posing a threat to premiership heavyweights like Penrith and Melbourne. Therein lies his challenge. With Daniel Saifiti and Tom Jenkins moved on, and Enari Tuala and Krystian Mapapalangi also departing to open up roster spots, the door is now ajar for the Knights to re-sign popular local juniors Brodie Jones and Mat Croker after it was suggested they look elsewhere several weeks ago.
By our count, the Knights now have five top 30 spots left to fill. We're told the club was happy to keep Tuala but he was swayed by more security at the Dogs. Expect Kalyn Ponga to be a major player during the recruitment process when the Knights officially sit down with Melbourne halfback Jonah Pezet and his agent Braith Anasta come November 1.
Pezet, who has a year to run at the Storm, is the club's number one recruitment target and the opportunity to play alongside the game's biggest attacking threat in Ponga is certain to be a major attraction for the former Knights junior. The club would be mad not to get Ponga in a room with Pezet to share his thoughts and vision first hand during negotiations. If they manage to sign Pezet, we'd expect the Knights will try and get him out of Melbourne immediately.
That would necessitate Jackson Hastings being moved on during the off-season. If their new coach is anything to go by, toughness will be a strong pre-requisite for any player hoping to play in the Knights' Harold Matthews under 17s squad next season. In an inspiring decision by club officials, the team will be coached by former premiership-winning Kangaroos back-rower and Knights' Hall of Famer Steve Simpson, one of the toughest players to ever pull on the red and blue.
Knights recruitment boss Peter O'Sullivan believes newly signed Queensland Reds rugby recruit Taj Annan has the physique to play on the wing in the NRL despite his preference for flyhalf, centre and fullback in rugby. Standing 193cm and weighing 100kg, Annan a big body who also has another string to his bow. We hear he has a punt kick to rival that of Matt Burton.
Former Leeds Rhinos coach Rohan Smith has knocked back a job offer from the Knights to become the club's new head of pathways. A close mate of Peter O'Sullivan, Smith was sounded out about the position several weeks ago but has since declined. "He wants to keep coaching his own team and the job doesn't allow for that," a source told us.
The club will now look at some other candidates. With Jersey Flegg coach Michael Dobson promoted to the NSW Cup job and NRL transition coaching next season, Alex Moore jumps from Harold Matts to take over the Jersey Flegg job while S G Ball coach Matt Nichol now has a full-time position. He'll play a big role in junior development.
We're hearing the Knights have ended a behind-closed-doors investigation conducted over the past few months into the leaking of confidential team selection and injury information on a regular basis to social media outlets. Pointing to an inside job, all Knights staff at one point were officially warned of the consequences should the perpetrator be caught. It's understood club officials are confident they won't have any more issues.
Barry Toohey is a sports reporter for the Newcastle Herald. He covers the Newcastle Knights and hosts the Toohey's News Podcast. Barry Toohey is a sports reporter for the Newcastle Herald.
He covers the Newcastle Knights and hosts the Toohey's News Podcast. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update.
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