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It's always been a philosophy of mine that if you don't take a risk, you run the risk of always getting the same result. It's true Adam O'Brien is a rookie coach. It's also true he has never been in charge of his own team. But while there will be those who may argue the Knights are taking a risk by appointing him, my instincts tell me he is going to be an inspired choice as our new coach over the next three years. I don't personally know a lot about Adam. We ran into each other a few years ago for the first time when I was doing a course that he was also at. We had a chat back then and have caught up a few times since, mainly though text messaging. When I was looking at getting out of the Roosters before coming up here to the Knights, he and Cameron Smith were talking to me and texting about possibly going down to Melbourne even though they probably knew at the time they didn't have the cap space. Read more: Adam O'Brien has never coached his own team but the new Knights head coach can break the club's finals drought Our most recent chat was on Tuesday, when I rang him to touch base briefly and congratulate him on getting the job. Why are my instincts telling me he will be great for our club? I guess it's a combination of what I've heard about him from a lot of people but also knowing where he has come from and what he has been through. Tim Glasby loves him. Copper Cronk gushes over him. Anyone who has had anything to do with him gives him a massive wrap. The Roosters boys I've spoken to can't speak highly enough of what he has brought to their club just in the space of this season. They obviously won the comp last year but I think their attack this season has gone to another level and he's the guy that has been running that. Their whole attacking game to me looks a whole lot more expansive now. That in itself is exciting for me knowing there will be some subtle changes to the way we play that may help us. From what I hear, Adam is hard-nosed, thorough, leaves absolutely nothing to chance and is big on helping individuals improve their game. The biggest thing for me though and something all our fans should take a lot of confident from is the simple fact of where he has come from and how long he has done his apprenticeship. Prior to this season at the Roosters, he was in Melbourne for 11 years when they made a heap of grandfinals. Read more: Newcastle Knights Their stats have pretty much been the best in attack and defence or right up there for the past 10 years. I know Craig Bellamy is the head coach and drives all that but Adam was a big part of it. You speak to anyone down there and they'll say that. He knows what he is doing. The Melbourne way is ingrained in him. Because he was there for such a long time, it's all he knows. It's the only way he has seen footy - their culture, the way Bellamy and Cameron Smith operate - he knows it all first hand because he has lived it. He's a winner who knows what works and now, he's also had the benefit of a season at the Roosters to maybe get a slightly different perspective in another great system that is also used to winning. I honestly believe for us, that in itself is massive. Read more: Tim Sheens keen on new coaching role at the Knights but final decision will rest with new head coach Adam O'Brien Under Browny, Kristian Woolf and James Shepherd, we took some big strides this season. Say what you like about the way it fell away at the back end of the season but this group has come a long way and is a lot further advanced than we were last season. I can really sense some exciting times ahead for us and I know the club and our fans will be desperately hoping we can take our game to another level under our new coach which as a playing group, is obviously going to be our aim. # There's no finals footy at stake but we need to make sure we are right up for Sunday's clash with the Panthers. It will be a big day for Jimmy Maloney in his final NRL game but I'd like to think we can spoil his going away party before wishing him all the best for the future. While you're with us, did you know Newcastle Herald offers breaking news alerts, daily email newsletters and more? Keep up to date with all the local news - sign up here. IN NEWS TODAY:

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