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‘Not Out of It Yet’: O’Brien Puts Brakes on Knights’ Emergence from ‘Tough Times’ — Big Hits
By Lucas Rennick | Big Hits | June 18, 2025
NEWCASTLE — For a brief moment, the light at the end of the tunnel looked a little brighter for the Newcastle Knights. After a spirited 26-12 victory over the Warriors last weekend, fans were buzzing, social media was ablaze with optimism, and whispers of a potential turnaround began to spread like wildfire.
But inside the press room at McDonald Jones Stadium, head coach Adam O’Brien wasn’t quite ready to declare the dark days over.
“We’re not out of it yet,” O’Brien said bluntly, cutting through the post-game euphoria like a hot knife through butter. “We’ve got a long way to go. One win doesn’t fix a season. It doesn’t erase the tough times we’ve been through.”
It was classic O’Brien — honest, grounded, and unwilling to let sentimentality cloud judgment.
The Knights, languishing in 13th place on the ladder just two weeks ago, have strung together back-to-back wins for the first time since Round 5. While fans are clinging to this rare glimpse of momentum, O’Brien is pumping the brakes on the idea that the club is finally turning the corner.
Hard Lessons and Harder Truths
It’s been a brutal 18 months for Newcastle. The team’s form has fluctuated wildly, plagued by injuries, off-field drama, and a rotating cast in the halves. Questions have been asked of O’Brien’s future, and more than once, calls for a coaching shake-up rang out from frustrated fans and pundits alike.
“There were times last year when we didn’t know which direction we were going,” club captain Jayden Brailey said. “We’d show up to training with effort, but it just wasn’t translating on the field. It’s been tough mentally.”
O’Brien admitted the last season and a half had tested not just the squad but his own resilience as a coach.
“Everyone sees the results on a Friday night,” he said. “But they don’t see the 6:00 a.m. video reviews, the long nights figuring out why a set piece keeps falling apart, or trying to rebuild confidence in a 21-year-old who’s just had his third poor game in a row.”
The coach paused, then added with a half-smile, “This isn’t Netflix. There’s no three-episode arc where everything’s resolved by the end.”
Green Shoots Amid the Grit
Despite O’Brien’s cautious tone, there are signs of genuine progress.
Kalyn Ponga has rediscovered his spark, racking up five try assists in the last two games and looking every bit the marquee player he’s paid to be. The forward pack, led by the tireless Tyson Frizell and emerging powerhouse Leo Thompson, has been laying a solid platform, while youngster Fletcher Sharpe has become a fan favourite after a breakout performance at fullback two weeks ago.
And perhaps most importantly, the team is starting to show something that’s been sorely missing: defensive grit.
“We’re sticking in the grind more,” said Frizell after the Warriors win. “Earlier in the season, if we gave up two tries, heads would drop. Now, we’re rallying. There’s pride coming back into that red-and-blue jersey.”
Still, O’Brien remains adamant that resilience doesn’t equal results — not yet, anyway.
“Resilience is the bare minimum in this league,” he said. “The challenge is to turn resilience into consistency. Do it when we’re sore. Do it on a five-day turnaround. Do it in front of a hostile crowd in Melbourne. That’s when you know you’re a team on the rise.”
The Road Ahead
The next month could be make-or-break for Newcastle’s finals hopes. They face the Storm away, followed by a crucial home clash against the Raiders, and then a short turnaround into the high-flying Sharks.
O’Brien is clear-eyed about what it will take.
“Three games. Nine points up for grabs. If we want to be taken seriously, we have to come out of that stretch with at least two wins,” he said. “And not just scrappy wins — convincing, 80-minute performances.”
In a telling move, O’Brien has brought in sports psychologist Dr. Mia Levington to work more closely with the squad over the next few weeks. Levington, who helped guide the Panthers through their 2022 and 2023 premiership seasons, is known for her work in mental stamina and team cohesion.
“Confidence isn’t a switch you flick,” Levington said. “It’s earned through hard work and belief. The Knights are rebuilding that belief now — brick by brick.”
Fans Dare to Dream (Cautiously)
Around Newcastle, where rugby league is stitched into the city’s identity, fans are daring to hope. But many share O’Brien’s caution.
“I want to believe,” said lifelong supporter Cheryl McMahon, who hasn’t missed a home game since 1995. “But I’ve been hurt too many times in the last few seasons. I’ll believe we’re back when we’re playing in September again.”
Social media has been equally guarded. One comment on the Knights’ official Instagram summed it up best: “Love the energy, boys. But don’t make it another false dawn.”
O’Brien’s Long Game
For now, O’Brien remains focused on the long game. As speculation continues to swirl around his future — with his contract set to expire at the end of the year — the coach knows results will speak louder than press conferences.
“I don’t coach to keep a job,” he said. “I coach to build something that lasts. If I’m the guy to see that through, great. If not, I’ll walk away knowing I gave everything.”
And with that, he stood up, nodded once to the reporters, and walked off — just as no-nonsense and understated as his team’s recent resurgence.
Because in Newcastle, it’s not about the press room soundbites. It’s about what happens next Saturday, next month, next year.
As O’Brien said — they’re not out of it yet.
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