Alex McKinnon to be Newcastle Knights’ new recruitment boss
Alex McKinnon’s rise at the Newcastle Knights continues with a new role while the man accused of secretly wooing new coach Adam O’Brien has quit the club.
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Alex McKinnon has been appointed as the Newcastle Knights’ head of recruitment, taking over from controversial player list manager Troy Pezet.
McKinnon had been working alongside Pezet in an advisory/recruitment role focused on junior talent, but will ascend to the new role under rookie coach Adam O’Brien.
The former Dragons and Knights second-rower has forged a wide network of contacts throughout the game.
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Pezet’s resignation comes at the end of a year in which he was involved in the messy departure of coach Nathan Brown.
Pezet was accused of meeting with O’Brien while he was an assistant at the Sydney Roosters and Brown was still in charge of the Knights.
Brown was understandably hurt to find out about the secret meeting via the rumour mill, which is why he fronted Gardner and told him that he would stand down.
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O’Brien was appointed as the new Knights coach last month and officially begins his role on Friday.
He has already been busy shaking up the football department, bringing in former Canberra Raiders coach and South Sydney assistant David Furner as his No.2. Furner last coached the Leeds Rhinos in the English Super League.
Former South Sydney assistant Willie Peters also joins the coaching staff.
Originally published as Alex McKinnon to be Newcastle Knights’ new recruitment boss