LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
Knights coach Adam O'Brien has faced criticism for his unexpected decision to sign Jake Arthur from Manly as part of a swap deal that sends prop Paul Bryan to the Sea Eagles.
The deal, which nearly fell through before the June 30 deadline, will see Arthur join Newcastle immediately, reuniting him with his younger brother, Matthew.
Jake, the son of former Parramatta coach Brad Arthur, has only appeared in seven NRL games since joining Manly in 2023 and has struggled to make an impact when filling in for Daly Cherry-Evans during State of Origin periods.
Commentators such as Andrew Voss and veteran reporter David Riccio have expressed confusion over O'Brien's decision, especially given his ongoing struggles to find a consistent halves combination.
Recently, Fletcher Sharpe appeared to solidify his role as Newcastle's long-term No.
6 after an impressive season, despite suffering a severe injury last week that likely sidelines him for the rest of the year.
The Knights have also secured Eels playmaker Dylan Brown on a substantial 10-year, $13 million contract for the upcoming season, positioning him alongside Sharpe in the halves pairing for 2026.
Additionally, the Knights have options in current No.
7 Jack Cogger and Phoenix Crossland.
Amidst these developments, O'Brien has even reintroduced Jackson Hastings into the starting lineup, despite previous statements indicating he would not remain with the club next season.
Voss, discussing the situation on SEN radio, questioned the logic behind adding Arthur, who has faced challenges at the NRL level.
He asked, "Why do Newcastle need Jake Arthur in their roster?"