Adam O’Brien has admitted the constant speculation around his future was a “big distraction” for the Knights’ playing group — and that played a key part in his decision to step down from his role as head coach at season’s end.
He has also revealed he won’t be chasing another head coaching role in the NRL any time soon after a rollercoaster six years in Newcastle.
O’Brien held a press conference at Knights headquarters on Thursday morning with the club releasing a statement just moments before it begun to confirm the “mutual separation.”
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The 47-year-old, who was signed until the end of 2028, backed up reports that it was him who initiated the conversation about an early exit and revealed the results over the last month convinced him it was time.
“I approached the club… and I think they understood once I explained and they were probably in agreeance,” O’Brien said.
“This hasn’t been a rash decision but over the last four weeks, you can tell when you’re looking in your players’ eyes and they’ve given everything.
“After the last 20 minutes of last week and the Cowboys game I was thinking ‘I’m running out of speeches to try and keep them as energetic as I could.’
“It’s been a tough year and it’s taken its toll — some of that has had to do with personnel and lack of experience.”
Knights part ways with O’Brien | 03:19
The Knights haven’t won a game since Round 16 with injuries to key players and instability in the spine contributing to the form slump.
That has escalated the speculation around O’Brien’s future — something that has been lingering at different points over the last 18 months.
Sitting second last with two rounds to go, O’Brien sat back to reassess his position at the club and realised that his players desperately needed confidence but the headlines around him wasn’t going to help them get that.
“All coaches will reflect on their seasons when you get to the back end and you always start with asking yourself ‘am I the right person to get the most out of the squad?’” he said.
“For most part of the year I felt that was the case but I just felt that after the Warriors game (in Round 20), that took the gas out of the players and haven’t been the same team since.
“They just needed some confidence and the one thing that stood out to me was that I’m a big distraction in that.
“There’s no doubt that we’d have to win 10-15 games straight next year for there to be no speculation and if there’s one gift that I can give the playing group and the supporters that pack that stadium out every week it’s to remove that distraction, it’s the right thing to do.
“The ultimate prize I set out to do at the start was to win a comp and if I can’t do that then the way to help them now is to give them 12 months… obviously the new coach will be given time to work with the players coming and I think the club has done a great job with some of the signings.
“And with our injured group to come back, there’s some quality there too so I just think it’s a really important summer for them and it’s the right time to give someone else a go.
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O’Brien will finish out the season and in a clear sign of how amicable the split is, he’ll even attend the club’s end of season awards night.
Then when the time is right he’ll reflect on his six years at the helm and pinpoint where he went wrong.
“I didn’t deliver, I fell short on what people had hoped but it wasn’t through not having a passion for the joint or a lack of care — if anything I probably got in trouble a few times with that passion,” he said.
“I got plenty wrong. There’ll be time for me to reflect on things I got wrong and there’s no doubt there’s a heap.
“In order to grow as a person, a coach and leader and mentor for young men it’s important that I do acknowledge that. But I’m probably not prepared to air it now.
“But no doubt I got a heap wrong and let some people down, which I carry some guilt on. Hopefully they can see a guy that was really passionate about the club.”
O’Brien was in good spirits, saying the fallout is “made easier because both parties are in agreeance that it’s the right time.”
Now that his future has been settled, he’s ready to dive into the final two weeks of the season with his players, who have been very supportive during a challenging time.
“They understood, I think players will get over it pretty quickly,” he said.
“They’ve been great to me after the initial meeting, I’ve had a lot of messages, a lot of hugs.
“But I was really mindful we’ve got Sharks this week, we’re training today, we’ve got a job to do for the next couple of weeks.”
‘Why would you not come to work?’ | 10:11
While O’Brien guides the team through their final two games against the Sharks and Eels, the club’s powerbrokers will get stuck into finding a new head coach.
Roosters assistant Justin Holbrook is said to be in the mix, as is current Newcastle assistant Blake Green with O’Brien giving the latter a glowing endorsement.
“He’s been unbelievable for me,” he said.
“It’s really hard to single out individuals but what I will say is that I don’t think there’s a player at this club male or female from 15 to 30 that he doesn’t know.
“He’s got his fingerprints on the pathways, which is a really strong point for the club going forward.
“It’s going to be the niche of the club ot have a really strong plan, I’ve seen it and I believe in it and I believe the people here will execute it. He’s got his fingerprints on that which is important.”
As for what’s next for O’Brien? He’s looking forward to resting and spending some time with his family… and has not plans to dive into another head coaching role any time soon.
“There’s no doubt I need to get some energy levels back, but I know that will come because I’be still got a deep passion for the game,” he said.
“I don’t necessarily want to be the lead singer for a long time, I’ll do the back-up vocals for a while.
“Something will come along. I haevm’t lost my work ethic or my passion and I haven’t lost my care for the playing group, which is why I ultimately came to this decision.”
With the Knights’ final two games both away, O’Brien unfortunately won’t get to farewell McDonald Jones Stadium, which is a shame given a packed crowd on home soil is one of his highlights.
So too is the opportunity to hand out NRL debuts, the development of players like Dylan Lucas and Fletcher Sharpe, as well as watching his players grow up to become fathers.
His favourite on-field moment though as head coach? The two-point win over the Raiders in week one of finals in 2023 in front of a sold-out McDonald Jones Stadium.
O’Brien finished the press conference by individually shaking the hand of every journalist, photographer and camera operator in the room.