NRL Market Watch: Newcastle Knights set to offer Adam O’Brien historic extension

Just months ago Adam O’Brien seemed destined for the coaching scrap heap. Now the Knights coach set to be offered a deal which will see him become the longest serving Newcastle mentor in history.

Newcastle Knights coach Adam O'Brien. Picture: NRL Photos

Newcastle are planning to offer coach Adam O’Brien a bumper new deal which would make the Knights mentor the longest serving coach in the club’s history after producing one of the most remarkable turnarounds in recent memory.

It is understood that the Knights officials have privately agreed that O’Brien will be their long-term coach and intend to offer a two-year extension on top of his current deal which expires at the end of next year.

Newcastle’s management will sit down with O’Brien once their season comes to an end but they are hopeful they will be able to come to terms on a deal which will extend O’Brien’s stint at the club until at least seven seasons.

O’Brien has made the top eight in three of the four years he has been in charge with Sunday’s extra time win against the Raiders his first in finals football. Newcastle missed the top eight last year after they struggled to replace the surprise off-season departure of halfback Mitchell Pearce.

It has been a remarkable turnaround for not just Newcastle but for O’Brien too who seemed destined for the coaching scrap heap just weeks ago when his side slumped to 14th on the competition ladder in June.

People attached to the club started sounding out potential replacements for O’Brien after it seemed not only were the club’s finals hopes over but so too O’Brien’s time in charge. The likes of Des Hasler, Paul McGregor, Justin Holbrook and John Morris were linked to the Knights.

Despite the unwanted scrutiny and attention O’Brien and his Newcastle side have become one of the success stories of 2023 with the club now in the midst of a 10-game winning streak. A victory against the Warriors on Saturday will equal the club’s record of 11-consecutive matches they won between 2001-02 with their grand final success against Parramatta among those wins.

Michael Hagan led Newcastle to its second premiership. Picture: Matt Turner

Legendary Knights coach Malcolm Reilly.

Prior to O’Brien’s appointment in 2020, the Knights have been a revolving door of coaches.

Since their longest serving coach Michael Hagan left the club at the end of 2006, the Knights have had five full-time head coaches in Brian Smith, Rick Stone (two stints), Wayne Bennett, Nathan Brown and O’Brien.

Danny Buderus and Kristian Woolf also spent time in charge on an interim basis.

O’Brien, who has coached 95 games, will equal 1997 premiership winning coach Malcolm Reilly’s tally should the Knights advance to the grand final.

Hagan, the club’s only other premiership winning coach, is the only mentor in Newcastle’s history to coach at least 100 games. He sits on 155 matches with O’Brien set to beat that mark should he stay in charge until at least the end of 2026.

O’Brien’s winning percentage of 46.3 has O’Brien behind Reilly, Hagan and Warren Ryan.

Originally published as NRL Market Watch: Newcastle Knights set to offer Adam O’Brien historic extension