Who’s next? Favourites emerge for Newcastle Knights coaching job
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NSW and Sydney Roosters assistant coach Craig Fitzgibbon is the firm favourite to replace Nathan Brown as Newcastle coach from next season — but there could be a complication.
Brown agreed to leave the club on Monday after a high-powered meeting with Knights management.
The decision was said to be “mutual” and Brown told the players on Tuesday.
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The Daily Telegraph can now reveal:
● Newcastle believe Fitzgibbon could coach in a similar style to that of his current boss, Roosters coach Trent Robinson;
● There could be a significant sticking point in Newcastle’s plans because Fitzgibbon has verbally agreed to extend his tenure as an assistant coach at the Roosters and would need their approval to leave;
● Brown could head directly from Newcastle to the St Helens job vacated by Gold Coast-bound Justin Holbrook. Brown won the 2014 Super League grand final as St Helens coach.
● There is already speculation about how the decision will affect star fullback Kalyn Ponga, who Brown was instrumental in luring to Newcastle. The Knights are in contract extension talks with Ponga.
Brown will remain in charge for the remainder of this season and front a media conference in Newcastle at 9am on Wednesday.
Fitzgibbon, who could not be contacted, will head a list of candidates that will include fellow Roosters assistant Adam O’Brien and Melbourne Storm assistant Jason Ryles.
Wayne Bennett’s assistant coach at South Sydney, Jason Demetriou, is respected, as is Warriors assistant Todd Payten and Tonga coach Kristian Wolf.
Insiders claim Newcastle will opt for a rookie coach rather than a recycled veteran.
In Fitzgibbon’s favour is his relationship with halfback Mitchell Pearce from their time together at the Roosters.
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Newcastle football committee member Danny Buderus is also understood to have a massive opinion of Fitzgibbon. The pair worked together as Blues assistant coaches this year.
Likewise, Newcastle director of football and former Roosters CEO Brian Canavan has a healthy respect for Fitzgibbon after their time together at Bondi.
However, the Roosters may not allow Fitzgibbon to walk.
A new deal is set to be announced between the two parties but the contract extension might well include a clause allowing Fitzgibbon to leave if offered a job as head coach.
Brown’s unique year-by-year contract means Newcastle will not have to offer him a payout.
“Both parties have agreed to a mutual parting of the ways,” Brown’s manager George Mimis said.
“Nathan has been tireless in his work ethic in restructuring the club so that it is best placed for sustainable future success.”
Ponga, who is contracted to Newcastle until the end of 2021, is known to be close to Brown. Just last week, Brown said: “KP is a player who’s not only great for the club on the field but he’s a great marketing tool and a great kid.”
Brown endured a difficult time at Newcastle but did help to substantially rebuild the club’s playing roster.
The Knights collected successive wooden spoons in 2016 and 2017 under his watch but in the past two years Brown has attracted several big names to the club, including Pearce, Ponga, David Klemmer and Tim Glasby.
“My main job was to come here and put the club back together,” Brown said. “It’s been a tough but enjoyable job. I feel the club is far better off for me coming here.
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“The roster and salary cap issues have been resolved and there’s the potential of a team to have sustained success.
“A lot of the heavy lifting has been done and now I’m leaving it to the next group of club leaders to continue the job.”
Newcastle are 10th on the NRL ladder and can still mathematically reach the finals.
However, they lost six consecutive games between rounds 15 and 21.
Just last month, Knights CEO Phillip Gardner said: “We are 100 per cent behind him.”
Yesterday afternoon, Gardner confirmed Brown was leaving.
“Nathan will go down as one of the most important coaches in Knights history,” Gardner said.
“When he joined our club ahead of the 2016 season, it was at its lowest ebb.
“The sheer size and scale of the task he was faced with was monumental. It would have broken a lesser man.
“Put simply, it would be wrong to measure his contribution to the Knights in wins and losses alone.”
Originally published as Who’s next? Favourites emerge for Newcastle Knights coaching job