Why Knights coach Adam O’Brien apologised AFTER his team beat the Dolphins – as fullback Kalyn Ponga denies he wants to leave the NRL club

Adam O’Brien has guided the Knights to back to NRL wins this season – but it didn’t stop him from apologising following Newcastle’s victory over the Dolphins on Thursday night.

Earlier this week, the coach was in no mood to field questions from journalists after Eels star Dylan Brown confirmed he was joining the Knights on a reported $13million, 10-year deal from 2026.

‘I know I’m copping a little bit about not talking about Dylan Brown….but my number one job [on Wednesday] was to not talk about next year when these guys are 24 hours out from playing,’ O’Brien said.

‘I apologise if the media felt disrespected. I don’t want to make your job harder – I know it is your job to report and it is newsworthy, I get it.

‘The last thing Parramatta want me doing during the [10-day] cooling off period is talking about how we are going to play their player.

‘And I [also] know the red and blue army, they would be really disappointed in me if I was in there talking about next year when we had a game [Dolphins] to focus on. 

Adam O’Brien has guided the Knights to back to NRL wins this season – but it didn’t stop him from apologising following Newcastle’s victory over the Dolphins on Thursday night

Earlier this week, O’Brien refused to address Dylan Brown’s reported $13million, 10-year deal at the Knights from 2026 

O’Brien also addressed ongoing rumours marquee star Kalyn Ponga may seek opportunities elsewhere

‘They want to win now and so do we, and I want to make sure we are doing our best.

‘We are 12 months away from [Brown] happening.’

O’Brien also addressed ongoing rumours marquee star Kalyn Ponga may seek opportunities elsewhere – despite being under contract until the end of the 2027 season.

The fullback was brilliant in front of the home fans on Thursday – he toyed with the Dolphins in the first half, who had no answers.

Ponga had a hand in four tries leading into the break, and was labelled ‘mesmerising’ in commentary by Fox League’s Greg Alexander.

‘The hardest thing for Kalyn [to deal with] is the constant speculation that he’s not happy here,’ O’Brien said. 

‘His performances aren’t showing that whatsoever.’

The Queensland Origin star then asked reporters ‘if he looks happy out there’ before declaring inaccurate comments are ‘part of the game.’

‘I’m used to it now,’ he said. ‘It’s not something I worry about because it’s not going to make me a better player.’