Matty Johns has called for Newcastle to part ways with head coach Adam O’Brien at the end of the season, suggesting the time is right for a fresh voice in the dressing room.
The Knights have slumped to 13th on the ladder after a promising start to the year, managing just four wins since the opening two rounds. And while O’Brien has led Newcastle to finals in four of the last five seasons, Johns believes the current campaign marks the end of his cycle.
“If you look at the job that Adam has done, and he has actually achieved what they were after,” Johns said on SEN’s Morning Glory with Matty Johns.
“He stabilised the club. Let’s remember they three-peated with the wooden spoon, then the two years before he arrived, they were 11th and 11th. His job when he arrived (in 2020) was: stabilise the club, stabilise the team and turn us into a regular finals team.”
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“He has done that, but there’s a feeling he’s taken the side as far as he can, and that’s a fair call.”
Left-field option in the ranks?
With speculation swirling around O’Brien’s exit, attention has turned to who might succeed him.
While names like Brad Arthur and Josh Hannay are in the mix, Johns has urged the club to consider a lesser-known candidate already in the building.
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“The guy who is not being spoken about is an English guy called Brian McDermott,” he said. “Brian McDermott has been at the club for a couple of years. Until he arrived, their defence was horrendous, and I think he has turned them into the 5th or 6th best defensive side in the competition this year. Defensively, he has done remarkably well, but the problem is with the football; they’re toothless.”
“He’s really highly respected, Brian, amongst the players, his methods are pretty simple and let’s face it, in Newcastle history we’ve had a fair bit of success with an English coach (in Malcolm Reilly).”
The Knights next face the Warriors at home on Sunday afternoon.