'I didn't want to be a distraction': O'Brien to depart Knights

Adam O’Brien will seek an assistant coach’s role after revealing he first began to realise his time in Newcastle may be up after Warriors forward Leka Halasima snatched victory in the final minute of their Round 20 clash.

The 20-15 defeat at Go Media Stadium deflated O’Brien and the Knights players, and he admitted he hasn’t been able to pump them up again as they crashed to heavy losses against the Raiders, Panthers, Cowboys and Broncos.

“This hasn’t been a rash decision but over the last four weeks, you can tell when you’re looking in your players’ eyes and they’ve given everything,” O’Brien said.

After the last 20 minutes of last week [against the Broncos] and the Cowboys game [in Round 24] I was thinking, ‘I’m running out of speeches to try and keep them as energetic as I could.’

"It’s been a tough year and it’s taken its toll.”

O’Brien, who fronted a press conference on Thursday to announce his departure, said he had approached the Knights about bringing his tenure to an end, despite being contracted for another two seasons.

"I think that's the right thing to do ... it's the right time to give someone else a go," he said.

“I just felt that after the Warriors game, that took the gas out of the players and haven’t been the same team since.

“I approached the club... and I think they understood once I explained and they were probably in agreeance.”

With the Knights set to star their 2026 premiership campaign in Vegas against the Cowboys and Kiwis playmaker Dylan Brown to join the club, there is a lot to look forward to.

Superstar fullback Kalyn Ponga and boom rookie Fletcher Sharpe will also be back on deck and O’Brien said the Knights deserved a fresh start under a new coach.

"The one thing that stood out to me is I am a big distraction," O'Brien said. "We would have to win 10 or 15 games straight next year for there to be no speculation.

"If there is one gift that I can give the playing group and supporters that pack that stadium every week, it's to remove that distraction.

“The ultimate prize I set out to do at the start was to win a comp and if I can’t do that then the way to help them now is to give them 12 months [grace].

"Obviously, the new coach will be given time to work with the players coming and I think the club has done a great job with some of the signings.

“And with our injured group to come back, there’s some quality there too so I just think it’s a really important summer for them and it’s the right time to give someone else a go.”

However, O’Brien said he wanted to continue coaching and would look for an assistant’s job after completing his commitments in Newcastle for the last two matches.

"There is no doubt I need to get some energy levels back, but I know that will come because I still have a deep passion for the game," he said.

I don't necessarily want to be the lead singer for a long time, I'll do the back-up vocals for a while.

"Something will come along. I haven't lost my work ethic and passion. I haven't lost my care for the playing group, which is why I have ultimately come to this decision."