TOOHEY'S NEWS | Pearce says no to handing over the captaincy as Knights turn their back on veteran winger
BARRY TOOHEY
Mitchell Pearce has strongly refuted growing speculation he is looking to off-load the captaincy of the Knights next season, claiming any talk of him relinquishing the role "isn't coming from me".
In the wake of the club's failed finals campaign and the controversial exit of former coach Nathan Brown, Pearce's leadership qualities have been called into question by some in the game who claim he is not the right man for the job.
"I don't know where it's come from but I suspect it's because of all the innuendo and bullshit that came out with Browny going and that we were somehow involved in it and it fell back on leadership and all that stuff," Pearce said. "I don't have ownership of the role and at the end of the day, you do what's best for the team but I'm definitely not walking away and giving it up. I enjoy the added responsibility.
"I've definitely got things I need to improve on and as a group, we need to mature and become better leaders across the board. That's what we are going to be doing."
It's understood the captaincy didn't come up when Pearce and new coach Adam O'Brien spoke on the phone earlier this week.
Hot property
David Furner has been labelled the most in-demand assistant coach in the NRL and is understood to be weighing up offers from a handful of clubs including the Knights for next season.
Incoming Knights coach Adam O'Brien, who has known Furner since they were young, wants him in Newcastle as his right-hand man with the former Canberra Raiders coach currently deciding on what's the best move for him and his family.
Hunt's new deal
Hymel Hunt has been one of the bargain buys of the season for the Knights and he is finally set to be rewarded with a new deal.
With Shaun Kenny-Dowall out of tomorrow's Penrith clash with a knee injury, Hunt will become the only Knights player to feature in all 24 games for the club this season. He told us earlier this week his management is close to finalising a two year extension with only the finer points of the contract to be sorted out.
"It's getting real close which is a big relief," he said.
Arrow interest
The Knights are one of several clubs who have Maroons Origin forward Jai Arrow as a 2020 target if he leaves the Titans. But reports suggesting the club has already offered Arrow a whopping $3.5 million deal is not true according to club officials. "We've told his management we are definitely interested but there's been absolutely no offer made because it hasn't got that far," a source said.
Levi limbo
There are at least three clubs - Bulldogs, Tigers and Warriors - in the market for a hooker for next season but it seems none are knocking Danny Levi's door down.
The Bulldogs were interested and actually interviewed Levi last month but have now gone cold on him even after losing their number one target Api Koroisau at the last minute to Penrith.
The Warriors are in contact with Levi's management but aren't talking the sort of money at this stage that will tempt him across the Tasman.
He has a $350,000 contract with the Knights for next season but the club remains quietly optimistic he'll find a new club with Sharks hooker Jayden Brailey on his way next season.
Brown's new gig
He might be out of a coaching job but it hasn't taken Nathan Brown long to pick up some work. The ex-Knights coach, who was spotted on Monday at Dixon Park beach training alongside ex-Knights legends Paul Harragon, Danny Buderus and Mark Hughes, is set to bob up on Fox Sports during the finals series in an analyst role during the week.
Brenno talk
One of the biggest rumours doing the rounds is that ex-Gold Coast coach and former Rosella Garth Brennan will take over from Matt Lantry as Wests coach in the Real NRL next season.
Wests boss Phil Gardner has heard the rumour too but told us no-one from the club has been in contact with Brenno.
Knights close door on SKD
Veteran winger Shaun Kenny-Dowall has played his final game for Newcastle and his 13-year NRL career is over with the Knights failing to offer him a new deal for 2020.
The 31-year-old former New Zealand international, who was desperately hoping to secure another Knights contract, is set to finish his career in England. It's understood he has agreed to a two year deal with Super League club Hull KR, although their fight to avoid relegation has muddied the waters a little.
They were due to play London Broncos overnight with a win likely to secure their Super League future for another season. Relegation would almost certainly see Kenny-Dowall looking for another club.
After playing the opening 23 rounds of the season, Kenny-Dowall is out of the Knights' final round clash against Penrith tomorrow because of a knee injury and he will have minor arthroscopic surgery next week.
His NRL career comes to an end after playing 277 NRL games with the Sydney Roosters [224] and Knights [53] and 21 Tests for New Zealand. A great clubman, SKD has not only poured his heart and soul into his performances on the field over the past three seasons, he has been a great mentor and influence for the club's young, up-and-coming players off the field.
After telling him several weeks ago he was still in the club's plans for next season, it's understood the Knights could not commit to a new deal because of the uncertain over where their salary cap sits.
Fittingly, Kenny-Dowall will present teenage debutant Starford To'a with his jersey before tomorrow's game in what is certain to be an emotional moment for both players.
Never dull
What a couple of weeks it has been for Knights interim coach Kristian Woolf.
After landing the St Helens head coaching job which is set to be made official on Monday, he was thrust into the head role at the Knights for the final two games of the season after Nathan Brown resigned.
If that wasn't enough, this week he was controversially sacked as Tongan coach along with the rest of his coaching staff with his players threatening to go on strike because of it.
