{"id":451013,"date":"2025-05-22T20:33:28","date_gmt":"2025-05-22T20:33:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=451013"},"modified":"2025-05-22T23:15:32","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T23:15:32","slug":"crazy-knights-call-grilled-as-coach-bats-away-2m-rumour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=451013","title":{"rendered":"'Crazy' Knights call grilled as coach bats away $2m rumour"},"content":{"rendered":"

A\ufeffdam O'Brien<\/a> has brushed aside speculation about his future at the Knights<\/a> as an enormous $2 million payout figure looms large.<\/p>\n

N\ufeffewcastle started their season reasonably well but have since gone on to lose seven of their past eight games, including a dire performance against Parramatta last week.<\/p>\n

The side are now languishing in 14th spot on the competition ladder, with pressure starting to mount on O'Brien and rumblings of the club moving in a new direction.<\/p>\n

EXCLUSIVE:<\/strong> Boxer's beautiful act after being touched by Selwood death<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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READ MORE:<\/strong> Cornes, Beveridge caught in ugly pre-game bust-up<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

That talk only heated up this week when Nine's Michael Chammas told 100% Footy<\/em> that a major part of the decision-making process centres around the fact Newcastle would need to pay out the remainder of the coach's contract if they sack him<\/a>.<\/p>\n

O'Brien is signed until the end of 2027, as it stands.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Speaking to media ahead of their clash against the Panthers, the 47-year-old was quizzed about the attention his contract was getting.<\/p>\n

"I've got good, strong support from the board," O'Brien said.<\/p>\n

"They understand the situation that we're in with our depth and the injuries.<\/p>\n

"Pressure and expectation comes with the job, I understand that. I'm used to it by now.<\/p>\n

"We want results and I understand our supporters and sponsors want results – but I can't get fixated on that narrative. I've just got to focus on getting today right and being really committed to fighting our way out with the players."<\/p>\n

Watch the 2025 NRL premiership live and free on Nine and<\/strong><\/em> 9Now<\/strong><\/em><\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

O'Brien took the reins at the Knights in 2020 and while they have made the finals on four occasions, things appear to have plateaued or even nosedived.<\/p>\n

League great Braith Anasta raised serious question marks over Newcastle's patience with O'Brien and admits there are grave concerns over where the club is headed.<\/p>\n

\"Knights<\/p>\n

"I don't even know how to help Newcastle," he said on BTFU's 180 Podcast<\/em>.<\/p>\n

"I'd hate to be in that inner sanctum now, the vibe would be like a funeral.<\/p>\n

"The whole thing around him is the $2 million payout. I don't think many other coaches, the way they're going and position they're in, would have survived as long as he has.<\/p>\n

"A lot of it has to do with the money he is owed with a payout there and you've got to question why they re-signed him, they weren't exactly flying \u2026 that was pretty crazy."<\/p>\n

\"Joey<\/p>\n

\ufeffO'Brien currently has a 45 per cent winning record as a head coach with the Knights, who haven't won a premiership in more than two decades.<\/p>\n

The pressure on the coach comes as the rumours about Kalyn Ponga<\/a> wanting out of the club refuse to go away as the fullback heads into State of Origin camp.\ufeff<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A\ufeffdam O'Brien has brushed aside speculation about his future at the Knights as an enormous $2 million payout figure looms large. N\ufeffewcastle started their season […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":451015,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/451013"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=451013"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/451013\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":451019,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/451013\/revisions\/451019"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/451015"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=451013"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=451013"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=451013"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}