The Knights\u2019 coaching job shapes up as being one of the toughest gigs in the NRL according to club great Matty Johns, who has thrown up a couple of left field choices \u2014 including top NRLW coach John Strange.<\/p>\n
The job will be vacated after Newcastle\u2019s Round 27 clash against the Eels, which will be coach Adam O\u2019Brien\u2019s final match at the helm.<\/p>\n
FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer ><\/a><\/p>\n O\u2019Brien and the Knights have decided to mutually split, with a brand new coach set to lead the way in Newcastle from next season.<\/p>\n As it stands, former Titans coach Justin Holbrook is the favourite while Knights assistant Blake Green and Hull KR coach Willie Peters are also in the running. <\/p>\n Given the Knights are in a battle for the wooden spoon this season – a fall from grace after making the finals in 2024 – something had to give.<\/p>\n It did. O\u2019Brien is leaving, but it\u2019s going to be an almighty effort and likely plenty of time from whoever takes over to get the Knights back into top eight and premiership contention. <\/p>\n Former Knights premiership player Matty Johns believes there\u2019s certain questions the successful candidate must be able to answer given the issues currently facing Newcastle.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a huge job from the bottom up. This needs a lot of work,\u201d Johns said on Matty and Cronk.<\/p>\n \u201cThe questions you have to ask are applicable to the problems that are going to rise the next year, so for Newcastle, the obvious one is, \u2018we have Fletcher Sharpe, Kalyn Ponga and Dylan Brown. How are we going to solve that puzzle?\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cSecondly, we\u2019re short on middle forwards. What style of football are we going to play to allow us to get away with that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFrom my opinion, you\u2019d have to do some very good research because there\u2019s some gaps in their program from the top all the way through,\u201d multiple premiership winning halfback Cooper Cronk added.<\/p>\n \u201cThat includes the roster and playing ability. You\u2019d have to be supremely confident you can turn that around because there is a lot of work to do.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is a big job.\u201d<\/p>\n Broncos slam Walsh vid as ‘poor humour’ | 01:53<\/p>\n MORE NRL NEWS<\/p>\n CRAWLS: Ciraldo\u2019s awkward dilemma after legend\u2019s No.9 call; Teddy\u2019s Dally M threat<\/a><\/p>\n TEAM TIPS: Ivan\u2019s cryptic reply as resting furore set to reignite; Ciraldo\u2019s Dogs hint<\/a><\/p>\n