NRL 2023: Pressure on Knights coach Adam O’Brien as Justin Holbrook meets Newcastle officials

Adam O’Brien is under immense pressure to retain his job despite notching four successive wins – with Justin Holbrook the latest coach to meet the Knights.

Newcastle coach Adam O'Brien is under pressure. Picture: Getty

The Knights have met with sacked Gold Coast coach Justin Holbrook despite incumbent Adam O’Brien guiding Newcastle to four successive wins.

This masthead understands the meeting took place last week just days after Newcastle’s big 26-18 win over Melbourne.

Newcastle director of football Peter Parr wasn’t involved in the meeting.

It remains unknown whether Holbrook was being interviewed to be head coach or an assistant to O’Brien.

O’Brien has another year to run on his existing deal and has promoted Newcastle to ninth place on the NRL competition table.

Holbrook is being discussed at several rival clubs as an assistant, including Canterbury and Wests Tigers.

Other candidates being mentioned for the Newcastle job include John Morris, Paul McGregor, Josh Hannay and Michael Maguire.

Newcastle would need to pay out O’Brien in full should he be sacked.

Newcastle coach Adam O'Brien is under pressure. Picture: Getty

Axing O’Brien might be near impossible if he can push Newcastle into this year’s finals.

O’Brien is under immense pressure to continue coaching next year even if he does secure success over the remaining five rounds.

Well-informed Newcastle sources claim Holbrook was being interviewed to be head coach.

O’Brien’s assistant, Blake Green, has already been linked to Manly despite having another year to run on his Knights contract.

Perhaps fearing O’Brien may not survive, Green made contact with Manly coach Anthony Seibold.

If there was a new appointment, Newcastle would want to give their new coach a chance to select his own assistants.

O’Brien has coached under pressure this year, seemingly aware he was always fighting to keep his position for season.

That pressure may have eased after four successive wins, the latest being victory over Canberra on Saturday afternoon.

O’Brien’s players are clearly playing for him at present. Hannay and Parr are mates from their time together at North Queensland.

It is unlikely Newcastle would opt for Maguire if O’Brien was dumped.

Some Newcastle officials believe there are some players at the club being overpaid.

Newcastle play the Dolphins next Saturday in Perth.

Originally published as NRL 2023: Pressure on Knights coach Adam O’Brien as Justin Holbrook meets Newcastle officials