NRL 2023: Newcastle Knights mourn death of coach Adam O’Brien’s mother
The Newcastle Knights will wear black armbands this weekend to commemorate the passing of coach Adam O’Brien’s mother Maree.
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Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien is mourning the passing of his mum Maree who died on Thursday morning.
Privately O’Brien has been dealing with the family heartache since the start of the NRL season as he balanced caring for his mother while ensuring his Newcastle started the season strongly.
O’Brien stayed by Maree’s hospital bedside this week and did not travel with the Knights squad who left for Townsville on Thursday.
He will re-join the side on Saturday and take his place in the coaches’ box ahead of their clash against the Cowboys with the Newcastle side to wear black armbands in honour of his mother.
Maree was a mad rugby league fan who developed a soft spot for O’Brien’s former club Melbourne but turned into a Newcastle tragic and naturally a fierce supporter of O’Brien’s.
O’Brien along with his wife Sharyn, sister Lisa and brother in-law Ben were a constant at hospital.
Maree – who adored her grandchildren Lilly and Kai – had complications after being diagnosed with a brain tumour just before the start of the season. Her health slowly deteriorated in recent weeks but still fought with every last inch. O’Brien had his mother relocate with him to Newcastle but Maree’s worsening condition meant she was transferred to Royal North Shore Hospital in recent weeks.
O’Brien rushed between his coaching commitments and his mother’s hospital bedside travelling between Sydney and Newcastle almost daily. Last Saturday he gave what he thought was going to be his final farewell to Maree before returning to Newcastle to take charge of his team to play the Panthers. She watched the game alongside close family as the Knights produced one of their best performances in recent seasons before going down to the defending premiers in golden point. O’Brien returned to Sydney on Sunday and spent his mother’s last few days with her.
While the wider rugby league community knew of O’Brien’s personal battle he was determined to stay focused on the Knights.
He has maintained his Newcastle commitments with the playing group and coaching staff throwing their support behind the coach.
ANDRE REVEALS GIANT CONCERNS FOR KALYN
Andre Ponga concedes he wasn’t sure how things looked for his son Kalyn a month ago.
But before we cross that bridge, let’s go back to game one and the enduring memory that sticks with Andre as he prepares for his celebrated son to make his 100th appearance in first grade at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Saturday night.
“I’m a bit lost for words,” Andre tells Weekend Read.
“It feels like it has been a quick 100. The reason I am saying that is because I can easily remember game one. I can remember it clear as day.
“That run in the semi-final against the Broncos. Benny Hunt was the last tackler to just get him before the line. I think he may have got penalised because Cootesy (Lachlan Coote) ran a shepherd line.
“One of the messages I sent to him in a video message was that every game is a privilege. To get to 100, is amazing.”
Some journey it has had been. There have been dizzying highs and devastating lows. The run that Andre remembers was expected to kickstart one of the great careers as Ponga made one of the most anticipated debuts of the past decade.
Everyone had heard about the teenage whiz-kid with a devastating sidestep and the confident swagger. Ponga didn’t disappoint that night, his evening reaching its zenith in the 16th minute when he bamboozled a handful of Broncos players – Hunt among them – on a weaving run that almost ended in a try.
Ponga has had his moments since – not even a year ago, he was man of the match in the final game of the State of Origin series. Weeks later, his career was in jeopardy after another head knock.
We have barely seen him this year amid more concussion concerns but his latest return on Saturday night comes on familiar turf.
Ponga will bring up his century in the city where he made his debut, albeit in a Newcastle jersey.
Andre will be in Townsville on Saturday night. Will he be holding his breath when his son attempts his first tackle?
“We’re not sure what it looked like a month ago – that’s where our head space was,” Andre said.
“There were more important things. I guess I only just draw on how he feels. That is one thing I have learned with those athletes who are in that higher space, they don’t think anything different.
“He is confident and I have to be confident in how he feels, and just be supportive of that. I have thought about it but it hasn’t really crossed any mind.
“It will probably be a different story once that whistle goes.”
Andre and the Ponga family have been fortified by Kalyn’s recent visit to Canada. He went looking for answers and it appears he got them.
The Knights and one of the NRL’s experts – Professor Chris Levi – were at the centre of the decision to send Kalyn overseas.
Levi had been a shoulder for Kalyn to lean on last year when he went through his initial concussion concerns
“Doctor Levi is one of the best and we have him in our own backyard,” Andre said.
“Drawing on that experience and plan last year – the plan was to go away and enjoy life, we spent that in NZ – then he came back a month early and got himself mentally fit for pre-season.
“Even up until the point of the Tigers (game) I was comfortable with what we had put in place.
“Was there concern, yeah. But I was comfortable with what we had put in place.
“The reality is that there is not much clarity around it so you just have to trust the process and people you talk to. When you are going to somewhere like Canada … it is amazing mate.
“Well that is what it was to us, amazing. It wasn’t about what he couldn’t do, it was about what he could do …. even though there is that fear of concussion. It’s a different level over there.”
Ask Andre the greatest misconception about his son and he insists it is the view held by some that his easygoing demeanour is reflective of what he is like on the field. It has been a perception that has dogged Kalyn through his 100 games. That he doesn’t care enough. That he isn’t totally committed to his craft.
“His easygoing character doesn’t really reflect the competitor and will to win and the passion within him,” Andre said.
“It is totally opposite. It is like chalk and cheese. It is Jekyll and Hyde like. He is crazy determined to get Newcastle a premiership every year. The perception of his laid-back character doesn’t do justice to the way he wants to be as a competitor.
“Not to go deep into the whole concussion talk, but when he runs out on the weekend his mindset is no different than when he ran out in the first game.
“Obviously he has had injuries and he has had this issue hovering over the top of him, but the competitor inside says I am not going to change my game.
“I am still going to be Kalyn Ponga and still going to compete as hard as I can.”
Andre will watch Saturday night unfold through a prism of apprehension and pride. His son has been through the wringer in recent months, those close to him fearful his career was coming to a premature conclusion.
“I sent him a message and thanked him for sharing his journey with us as a family and how proud we have to been to support him too,” Andre said.
“We use the word proud but I will always say Kalyn the person … we are thankful we have son like him as a person. That only creates the athlete he is, hey. When we use the word proud, I don’t think we need to use it for the athlete. I am proud of him as a son and a brother. The rest speaks for itself.”
Originally published as NRL 2023: Newcastle Knights mourn death of coach Adam O’Brien’s mother
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