Are Newcastle in danger of imploding due to salary cap squeeze?

The Newcastle Knights are fastly approaching a salary cap crunch for the 2025 season as a number of high-profile players have reportedly been tapped on the shoulder and asked to find other clubs for next season.

Newcastle entered the 2024 season with a rare sense of optimism following a 5th placed finish and elimination final win in 2023 on the back of a 10-game winning streak.

However, the Knights have underperformed significantly this season which has forced the club to engage in a massive roster overhaul.

“The salary cap is really tight for next year at the Knights,” Newcastle Herald’s Barry Toohey told SEN 1170.

“Peter O’Sullivan has been the head of recruitment for the last three weeks. He’s had a look at the roster and made some decisions around that.

“It’s common knowledge that they’re shopping front rower Daniel Saifiti who still has two years left to run on his contract. He’s on about $850,000 next year.

“He has spoken to the Dragons and it hasn’t gone any further than that. If the Knights want to offload Saifiti, they will need to fork out $300,000 over the next two seasons.

“Jayden Brailey is another player that has been spoken about and has been told that if he wants a longer term deal, he will have to look elsewhere.

“Jack Hetherington has been spoken about but he’s come out and said he’s going nowhere. He’s on $550,000 for next year.

“O’Sullivan is just trying to balance up the roster. There has been some talk that it’s caused angst amongst the playing group. I don’t think it’s made a whole lot of difference.

“There’s been talk that maybe the players are off the coach; it's not true. I’ve spoken with a few of the players.

“The playing group would be a bit disappointed that Saifiti may be leaving but as far as them being off the coach, I think it’s a bit of a fantasy.”

Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien was under significant pressure to keep his job last season but earnt a contract off the back of last year’s winning streak which will see him remain at the club until 2027.

Toohey dismissed the rumours that O’Brien’s future is in doubt due to the poor 2024 season.

“Every coach is under the pump when their team isn’t winning,” Toohey added.

“He signed a new four-year deal at the end of last year. Wests Group that owns the club gave him those four years and I think it will be 2026 before O’Brien comes under any real pressure.

“No one is happy this year because there were talks of a top four finish if the improvement continued. They haven’t got there because their performances have been pretty average.

“They’ve lost their mojo in attack (but) no; O’Brien is not under pressure.” Newcastle have their final bye in Round 21 before travelling to Penrith in Round 22 to take on the Panthers.