The nib Newcastle Knights have appointed highly respected rugby league administrator Peter Parr as the club’s new Director of Football, commencing Monday 1 August 2022.
The newly created role will see Parr assume full control of the Club’s football operations, reporting to Newcastle Knights and Wests Group Australia Chief Executive Officer Mr. Philip Gardner.
Parr’s career in rugby league spans 25 years, the last 20 of which have been primarily focused on the North Queensland Cowboys in such diverse roles as Director, CEO, General Manager of Football and Football Manager. All up Parr has been involved in four Grand Finals, one with the Brisbane Broncos in 2000, and three with the Cowboys in 2005, 2015 and 2017.
For the past four years he has also held the role of Representative Pathways Manager for the New South Wales Rugby League in addition to continuing to serve as a Non-Executive Director of the Cowboys and Chair of the club’s Football Committee.
“This is a great opportunity for me to continue my career at a club I have always respected, with the added bonus of returning to the town where I grew up,” Parr said.
Born in Newcastle, where he played senior football and won two premierships for Souths Newcastle, Parr’s role will lead the elite and pathways programs for both men and women, from operations and coaching to recruitment, high performance and medical, with all current senior staff to report into him.
“Peter is one of the most respected people in the game, and he will bring a new level of experience and football IQ to our football operations,” Mr. Gardner said.
“He was the key architect of the Cowboys becoming a consistent force in the National Rugby League including playing their first charge towards a Grand Final appearance in 2005 and ultimately winning the title in 2015.
“He’s seen everything rugby league throws at you in his time in the game, we know his experience and nous will be invaluable in providing our team, and the team behind the team, with the support it needs to get better and grow into the future.”
Parr’s link with the Knights has both professional and deeply personal dimensions, seeing him return to the city he grew up in.
“This is a great opportunity for me to continue my career at a club I have always respected, with the added bonus of returning to the town where I grew up,” Parr said.
“The Knights have all the ingredients to be successful.
“They are a one team town with extraordinary community support, have a big catchment area of juniors, passionate supporters, and a strong membership and corporate base, and a team that played finals football less than 12 months ago.
“I look forward to working with Philip Gardner and the Board, along with Adam O'Brien, Danny Buderus and the rest of the football department and the Club as a whole to ensure we provide NRL, NRLW and pathways teams that the community can be proud of well into the future.”
