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Sack Adam O'Brien

Messages
11,674
Someone's getting desperate:


ADAM O'Brien has no doubt he is the right man to be coaching the Newcastle Knights but admits that he is "probably a target" because of his team's disappointing results.

O'Brien has another full season remaining on his contract, but his future has come under scrutiny after Saturday's 20-12 loss to a severely depleted Penrith, which left the Knights 14th on the ladder, three wins adrift of the top eight with nine games remaining.

Newcastle now need a miracle to avoid missing the finals for the second consecutive season, prompting speculation that O'Brien might follow Anthony Griffin (St George Illawarra) and Justin Holbrook (Gold Coast) out the back door ahead of schedule.

Already former NRL head coaches Michael Maguire, Paul McGregor and John Morris have been spruiked as possible alternatives.

"You can't ignore it, but I understand it at the same time ... we're in the business of winning footy games," O'Brien said on Monday.

"I understand that usually if you're not in the top eight, then it's hunting season for you.

"I've probably been separated from the herd a little bit even more now.

"I get that there's probably a target on me, but sitting around worrying about it all day is not going to help the footy team. It won't help the players.

"But you are aware of it. Your family is certainly aware of it.

"But I don't let it consume me, because I can't.

"I've just got to crack on with it, and fight our way out of it, and what will be, will be."

O'Brien steered Newcastle into the finals in his first two campaigns, but his team have won 11 of their past 39 games since the start of last season.

O'Brien career record (34 victories from 85 games) gives him a winning strike rate of 40.0 per cent, which is better than only one other coach in Newcastle's history - the man he replaced at the end of 2019, Nathan Brown (25.5 per cent).

The former Melbourne Storm and Sydney Roosters assistant coach appears to have unwavering faith in his own ability.

"I do believe I am the right man for the job," he said.

"I think the team has shown this year that they are responding to some of the stuff.

"We're still falling short, I get that.

"But I feel like I've had a few years here - we have managed to play finals in my time here - and I believe that we can still play finals again.

"I've got to believe that. If I don't believe in myself, why would the playing group?"

O'Brien said he was "frustrated" with results this season but felt performances had improved on last year, when the Knights suffered a number of blowout losses.

"I'm determined," he said.

"I don't run away from the fact that we're here to win footy games.

"That's our job.

"That's the responsibility that you take on when you do this sort of job, whether you're a player or staff member ... but sitting around wallowing in self-pity is not going to help us, so we just need to get on with it and try and find solutions each week."
 

Alex28

Coach
Messages
12,009
Where did I bring Parr into it?
Gardner has been full of promises and hasn't delivered.
He's not the be all and end all to the Knights or Wests. He's a CEO and that's all.
The Wests Group is NFP and membership based.
Come when he retires or if he passes what then do you expect to happen?
Time to take responsibility.
Gardner has control of the cash. He is THE CEO.

He’s going nowhere.
 

Alex28

Coach
Messages
12,009
As someone mentioned earlier, bit of luck hopefully Roosters keep sucking and sack Robinson before the year is out and we couod make a play for him
This is truly peak forum.

Time to wake up to yourselves.

Also, let’s face it - whoever the next coach is, there will be a “Sack the Coach” post 12 months after. Nothing is ever good enough.
 

Alex28

Coach
Messages
12,009
Finishing higher than 7th would be a start. There are grown adults who would not have a memory of such a thing.
I think he is probably done at the end of the year. He’ll end up at another club and probably do well.

If we end up with Holbrook, we’ll bitch and whinge about him as well. It’s the way this forum operates.
 

Spot On

Coach
Messages
13,902
I think he is probably done at the end of the year. He’ll end up at another club and probably do well.

What tips you into thinking he’ll do well at another club??? You tipping he’ll get another head coaching gig or do well as an assistant??
 

Yosh

Coach
Messages
11,942
So basically he finished 7th twice with a good squad assembled by Brown and only gone downhill from there. Clearly showing his lack of competence as time has gone on. Get rid asap.

Is John Morris the best option from the 3? He is a local right?
 

Apey

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
28,279
This is truly peak forum.

Time to wake up to yourselves.

Also, let’s face it - whoever the next coach is, there will be a “Sack the Coach” post 12 months after. Nothing is ever good enough.
Welcome back, this thread has become an echo chamber - we needed the only Knights fan in existence who sstill wants AOB to come back and balance it out :D
 

aqua_duck

Coach
Messages
18,636
I think he is probably done at the end of the year. He’ll end up at another club and probably do well.

If we end up with Holbrook, we’ll bitch and whinge about him as well. It’s the way this forum operates.
If AOB gets the punt here I severely doubt there will be many clubs lining up to appoint him given he has a worse winning percentage than guys like Paul McGregor, Brad Fittler, David Furner, Andrew McFadden, John Morris, Rick Stone and Jason Taylor.
It’s hard to believe Rick Stone who never really had the opportunity to build his own team nor did he have 1/10th the resources that AOB has enjoyed has a better winning percentage than AOB currently has.
 

Old dog

Bench
Messages
2,658
If AOB was to finish up end this season would be good for it to be announced early to see what names come up as interested. Lot of speculation with who we think/want but be nice to hear from those interested
 

perverse

Referee
Messages
26,700
Waiting until the end of the season means another disrupted preseason and a 2024 full of pre-baked excuses. There a reason why other clubs have already made their moves.

We're too dumb, passive and reactive to act early of course. The thing I dread the most is us getting pumped again this weekend and him still keeping his job, but I see it as a very real possibility.
 

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