With reports suggesting that Adam O'Brien will depart at the end of 2025, the Knights face a pivotal coaching vacancy.
Andrew Johns believes Newcastle must undergo a total reset - focusing on its identity and junior development.
"The big question isn't about who coaches next," said Johns on a recent episode of Immortal Behaviour.
"It's about what the next person does with the junior structure.
"I'd say that [getting sacked] will happen with Adam.
"There was always gonna be talk about him moving forward."
With several key players sidelined, Johns isn't predicting a return to form for the 2025 version of the Newcastle Knights.
"Apparently they are giving Adam until the end of the year," he said.
"With Fletcher Sharpe out, Kalyn out and now Dylan Lucas out, I can't see Newcastle winning another game."
For Johns, the short-term pain is only part of the problem. The club, he says, has lost its identity.
"I don't know what the DNA of the Knights is anymore," he said.
"What sort of team are we? What sort of club are we?"
The 51-year-old says the answer lies in going back to what's always worked - developing local juniors and plugging gaps with smart recruiting.
"Newcastle can not attract marquee players, plural," he said.
"We have always built from within, looked at our local juniors coming through and put so much work into them."
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He wants the new coach to redefine the club's style and enforce it across all junior levels.
"Say to the junior coaches - I don't give a rats if you win a comp in 17s or 19s or 21s, we are gonna judge you on producing first graders," he said.
"Find our DNA and coach these kids."