Roosters assistant coach Adam O’Brien has a get-out clause that will allow him to become the next head coach of the Knights – but his imminent departure is causing major headaches for the defending premiers.

On Monday, Knights coach Nathan Brown shocked the NRL when he told his club he would quit at the end of the season, even though his side is still within touching distance of the NRL's top eight.

Adam O'Brien has been an assistant coach at both the Roosters and Storm. Credit:AAP

The catalyst was Brown’s belief that Knights list manager Troy Pezet had secretly met in Sydney last week with O’Brien and his manager, Isaac Moses.

O’Brien and Moses vehemently denied that any meeting took place, while Pezet did not return the Herald's calls, but even speculation about it has caused a major upheaval at the Knights and now the Roosters.