Ex-Knights coach joins Bulldogs in Ciraldo support staff shake-up — Off-season Central

The Bulldogs have signed ex-Knights coach Adam O’Brien as an assistant coach in a shake-up of Cameron Ciraldo’s support staff heading into 2026.

The 48-year-old coached the Knights to 62 wins, 81 losses and two draws in his 145 games from 2020 to 2025, before agreeing to step down as coach after Newcastle won the wooden spoon last season.

O’Brien has been an assistant coach to Craig Bellamy at the Storm and Trent Robinson at the Roosters and is a massive coup for the Bulldogs as they aim to build on their top four finish in 2025.

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“The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are pleased to confirm the appointment of Adam O’Brien as an NRL Assistant Coach for the upcoming season,” the Bulldogs said in a statement.

O’Brien has history with former Roosters and Knights players including Sitili Tupouniua, Kurt Mann, Enari Tuala and Leo Thompson.

The Bulldogs also announced some further changes to their football department with former Souths physio Trent Elkin returning to the club.

“The club has also bolstered its football staff with two new additions,” the statement continued.

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“Trent Elkin has joined as Athletic Performance and Rehabilitation Lead and Michael Kulen will step into an Attack Analyst role.”

Elkin arrives to Belmore with over two decades worth of experience in high performance programs.

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Elkin started his career at the Bulldogs in the 1990s and returns after stints with the Sharks, Eels, NRL referees and Rabbitohs.

Kulen has spent the last eight years with the Sea Eagles as an analyst and has also worked with the New Zealand Kiwis.

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