SYDNEY - Outgoing Newcastle coach Brian Smith will see out the season with the Knights as he focuses on taking the club as deep as he can into the NRL finals.
Speaking for the first time about his decision to walk out on the final year of his deal with the Knights to take up a four-year contract with the Sydney Roosters, Smith rejected talk he would step down from his role immediately.
And he was adamant the upheaval surrounding his impending departure would not affect the Knights in the run into the finals.
"There's a pretty stable group there, there's a lot of desire, there's a lot of confidence, the boys as a group are pretty close to each other and the connections between the players, management and coaches are pretty strong," Smith said.
"I don't think any of us will let it split us."
The Knights are fifth on the ladder and eyeing their first taste of finals football since Smith took over in 2007.
Smith said he would not start thinking about his new task with the Roosters until his commitments with the Knights were completely taken care of.
Meanwhile, Gold Coast mentor John Cartwright has criticised the Roosters over their handling of coach Brad Fittler's sacking.
Cartwright, an assistant coach at the Roosters from 2003-05 and close friend of Fittler's, said his axing "could have been handled a lot better".
News that Fittler would be replaced by Smith after this season was leaked late on Saturday, a day before the Roosters' 30-24 loss to the Warriors at the Sydney Football Stadium.
- AAP
NRL: Smith's eye on Knights success
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