Leadership guru to help Newcastle Knights rebuild, captaincy call

WHAT’S THE BUZZ: A leadership guru has been recruited by Newcastle Knights to help guide their rebuild, including who will skipper the club.

Mitchell Pearce is in the running for the Knights captaincy.

THE leadership consultant who has engineered AFL premierships, netball gold medals and cricket dynasties has been recruited by Newcastle Knights to help guide their rebuild.

And that includes deciding whether Mitchell Pearce or Jamie Buhrer captains the club next year.

Ray McLean has worked with AFL clubs Sydney, Hawthorn and Adelaide to develop their premiership-winning leadership structures.

The Australian cricket team, Australian netball team, NBL’s Sydney Kings and NRL clubs Melbourne Storm and St George Illawarra have also employed him.

McLean is headed to the Knights this week.

WHAT’S THE BUZZ: Saint, Sinner and Shoosh

Mitchell Pearce is in the running for the Knights captaincy.

Over the next few months, with the tools and guidance of McLean’s leadership and management company, Leading Teams, Knights coach Nathan Brown will determine if Pearce is made captain.

Brown is a big fan of Buhrer, who led the side this year, and the respected forward may retain the C beside his name next season.

However, Pearce’s evolution as a player must include stepping up as a leader and a natural progression is the captaincy.

Ray McLean is headed to the Knights this week.

A major lure for the star halfback to join the Knights was his ability to use his experience of 238 NRL games to lead many of the young Knights players.

Recently, Pearce said: “I see myself at a point of my career where I am excited to take that leadership role.”

Over the next two months, we’re about to learn if that includes the captaincy.

* Phil “Buzz” Rothfield is on holidays

Originally published as Leadership guru to help Newcastle Knights rebuild, captaincy call