Mooney to join Knights after club agrees to interesting coach clause
August 13, 2025
Trey Mooney has signed a three-year deal with the Newcastle Knights that will see him paid around $1.5 million through to 2028, but pen on paper doesn’t quite mean the signing will 100% happen, thanks to a critical clause.
The young gun Raider has asked for – and the Knights agreed to – a coaching clause where Mooney can scrap the whole deal should Newcastle make sweeping changes before the 2026 season’s training camp.
Win $500 Cash In Our Free Giveaway Here
Whether that’s a good call or not remains to be seen, with many considering Adam O’Brien a must-sack coach, and any barrier to making a call there (not least losing a breakout young forward) is probably not the wisest decision. That said, The Sporting Base understands it was Mooney’s biggest sticking point, and Newcastle needed it to get the deal done.
Should no changes be made, or Mooney decides to join anyway, he’ll be a Knight from next year.
That will mean Canberra letting him leave the final two years of his deal early, which they’d already agreed.
Win $500 Cash In Our Free Giveaway Here
Mooney, an under-19s NSW Blues representative and a former Australian Schoolboy star, is expected to slot straight into the Knights forward rotations next season, especially considering Leo Thompson is leaving to join the Canterbury Bulldogs.
That promise of a starting role and more game time was the whole reason the Raiders let him leave. “It’s more of a compassionate thing for Trey. He’s here for another two years,” Ricky Stuart told The Canberra Times some weeks ago.
“As a coach, I also have to do the right thing for Trey as a person. He needs to be playing NRL. He hasn’t been able to crack it here this year, but it’s not to say he won’t play. But I don’t want to do the wrong thing by Trey as a young footballer who needs to be playing. The easiest thing for me is to be greedy and keep Trey, and if he plays four or five games next year, great for us.”
But, Stuart explained, “It’s not good for Trey. As a person, I don’t feel comfortable with that.”
December 30, 2025
Kickoffs, squads, penalty zone: NRL musing 4 major rule changes for next season
The NRL's top stakeholders are thrashing out key details for as many as four rule changes heading into the 2026 season, including expanded matchday squads, a huge kickoff change, and a readjustment Read MoreDecember 30, 2025
Roosters to make play for Jorgensen after 2027 Rugby World Cup ends
The Sydney Roosters are starting early proceedings to bring Wallabies and NSW Waratahs star Max Jorgensen to the NRL after the 2027 World Cup wraps up in the club's latest recruitment move to target Read MoreDecember 27, 2025
Late Christmas pressie: Koloamatangi tells Dragons he'll join for half-decade
Keaon Koloamatangi has told the St George Illawarra Dragons he'll join the club from 2027 on a half-decade deal that will see him earn $1 million each year, with the Australian star turning down Read More
Tell Us What You Think Below