The secret dealings that left one very powerful rugby league figure feeling angry and betrayed
The sorry saga of Nathan Brown’s exit from the Newcastle Knights has exposed an ugly battle and created powerful enemies - PAUL CRAWLEY takes you behind the scenes.
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Trent Robinson has cleared the path for his Sydney Roosters assistant Adam O’Brien to take over from Nathan Brown at Newcastle. But the secret dealings have left one very powerful rugby league figure feeling angry and betrayed.
The Daily Telegraph understands the ugly fallout from Brown’s shock demise has intensified with powerful Sydney Roosters chairman Nick Politis now vowing not to again do business with leading player agent Isaac Moses.
Brown will not finish the current season at the club after agreeing to depart effective immediately despite the side still boasting finals aspirations.
It is understood Newcastle director of football Brian Canavan was also left questioning his ongoing role at the Knights after being left out of the loop.
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The Roosters believe that Newcastle recruitment chief Troy Pezet has also played an influential role in the negotiations with O’Brien that have been ongoing for some weeks now.
Pezet’s relationship with Brown is also believed to be a casualty of these negotiations.
Brown had been previously told by Wests Group chief executive Philip Gardner that his position would be reviewed at the end of the season.
But it is claimed Brown learned of rumours last week that Pezet had apparently met with O’Brien and his agent Moses, and that a deal was all but done that O’Brien would be coaching the Knights next season.
Brown was understandably hurt to find out via the rumour mill, which is why he fronted Gardner and told him that he would stand down.
Gardner could not be contacted yesterday or on several recent occasions, but it is believed he has privately denied having any meetings with O’Brien up until this point.
The feeling at the Roosters is that Pezet was acting with Gardner’s knowledge.
It is understood Brown will receive a significant payout despite the fact he had a performance based contract that could be terminated at any point.
Pezet’s rise to power within the Knights should not be underestimated.
What is also intriguing is his relationship with O’Brien’s agent Moses.
They worked together many years ago under leading player agent David Riolo at Titan Sports Management.
It is understood Pezet and Moses did not have the greatest relationship back then but have since resolved their differences.
Interestingly, one of Pezet’s early clients was a young David Klemmer, who spilt with Riolo to join Moses’ stable before leaving Canterbury for Newcastle.
Moses also manages Newcastle utility Kurt Mann along with fellow Knights recruits Tautau Moga and Hymel Hunt.
Some within the Knights have privately questioned why Mann was brought to the club to play hooker this year given he had little previous experience playing that position.
This is claimed to be one of the issues that has caused some concern about Moses’ growing influence at the Knights. Again, Gardner could not be contacted.
But the decision by Roosters assistant Craig Fitzgibbon and Storm assistant Jason Ryles to make themselves unavailable for the head coaching job now all but assures O’Brien will get the role.
Robinson told the media as much on Friday when he said he would not stand in the way of the former Melbourne Storm assistant who only joined the Roosters for the 2019 season.
“He is obviously ambitious and wants the role and I will support him in that,” Robinson said.
Most people understand that sometimes you have to do what you have to do to get to the top in this game and business is business.
But while no one would deny this is not an outstanding opportunity for an aspiring head coach, the Roosters are not happy with the way it has been handled and the potential impact it could have so close to the finals. Especially given O’Brien has not reached the end of the first year of a three-year contract.