You can take the boy out of Stockton, but you can’t take Stockton out of the boy.

And, that adage certainly rings true for Peter Parr.

In fact, it’s his connection to his hometown – and the Hunter in general – that gives you a sureness that the newly-appointed CEO is the right man to lead the Newcastle Knights moving forward.

After a disastrous campaign in 2025, in which the NRL organisation captured the unwanted wooden spoon, several changes occurred through the place both on and off the field.

Long-time chief executive officer Phil Gardner made way for Parr, via a succession plan, while coach Adam O’Brien departed to allow the arrival of Justin Holbrook.

A few big signings – in the shape of Dylan Brown, Sandon Smith and Trey Mooney – look set to make a huge difference, too.

But, most eyes will be focused on the lad from across Newcastle Harbour.

The highly-respected rugby league administrator stepped into his latest role on 1 November, a move which heralds an exciting era for the Knights.

It also allows him to recouple with the area he loves so much.

“When I talk about Stockton, it always brings a smile to my face,” Parr said.

“Every time I come here to see my friends, it generates a lot of fabulous childhood memories.

“It was a wonderful place to grow up… and surround myself with great mates.

“However, I guess that’s the same for most people, dependent on where they lived.

“There are blokes [here] that I’ve been friends with for more than 50 years.

“So, that to me is very special.

“The majority of them still live in Stockton, so to be able to catch-up and share stories about our youth… it’s always a lot of fun, particularly now I’m back in Newcastle.”

The 2295 postcode was the catalyst for Parr’s interest in sport as well.

“My love of it really came from growing up in Stockton,” he said.

“I was part of a family that was right into sport, especially athletics.

“My sister, Linda, represented Australia in long jump at the 1984 Olympic Games.

“So, she was very, very good.

“My dad was involved in numerous sports, too, athletics, netball, cricket etc.

“So, it was a natural fit for me.

“Like most kids, I played rugby league in the winter and cricket in the summer.

“Then there was the beach; and being outdoors with my family and friends.

“Even in my adult life, I played cricket for Stockton.

“So, it was a wonderful little community to be involved in.”

It’s little wonder to know Parr wasn’t bad at footy either, winning two titles with the South Newcastle Lions in Newcastle Rugby League.

He often frequents Townson Oval to watch a match when time allows him to.

“Yeah, we won back-to-back grand finals in 1988 and 1989,” he said.

“That was a lot of fun.

“Again, for me, I’ve always been involved in team sports.

“And, that side, particularly over that period in the late 80s, we had some very good players.

“But, more importantly, they were really great blokes.

“We’ve been able to stay friends over a long period as well, so it was a special time in my life.

“Not only because I enjoyed my football and we won a lot of games; I just loved the camaraderie of that group of fellas.

“That wasn’t just the guys I played with in the premiership team, but the whole club.

“We had so many champion individuals, led by our coach Paul Merlo and captain Richard Jones.

“They were just a terrific bunch of blokes… and it was a great time in my life.”

Things transformed for Parr soon after, which eventually led him on his current path.

Oddly enough, that took place far from Newcastle – in Western Australia.

“I went to Perth for a couple of different reasons,” he explained.

“At the time, I was working for Telstra and got transferred over there through my job.

“Anyway, a very long story cut short, I ended up overseeing the Western Reds’ reserve grade team in the 90s.

“However, I quickly discovered that I wasn’t a great coach.

“But, I was very good at keeping blokes who came back from firsts into seconds happy.

“I found the man management aspect easier to deal with.

“I was good at that; however, I was doing the younger players a disservice because I didn’t have the ability to teach them the skills or get them to the next level.

“So, I knew early on I wasn’t going to be a long-term coach.

Our younger players like Dylan Lucas, Fletcher Sharpe, Jermaine McEwen and Cody Hopwood, for example, will be better for what they went through last season.

Peter Parr

“Plus, at that stage, I was managing a lineyard for Telstra and had several staff underneath me.

“It was then I realised I had an ability to man-manage.

“I also got an opportunity to do more admin work with the Reds… and everything flowed from there.

“Again, long story short, I ended up at the Brisbane Broncos in 1999 for three years with Wayne Bennett before moving to the North Queensland Cowboys.

“It was all through News Limited, during the Super League, who was heavily involved in the game.

“They’re still the majority shareholder of the Broncos but they also had the Cowboys at the time.

“To be honest, it was a bit surreal because it just flowed quickly.

“One minute, I was in Perth, the next in Brisbane and then all-of-a-sudden I was in Townsville.

“I hadn’t given too much thought to an actual career.

“I was just doing the jobs I was asked to do.”

Parr ended up spending two decades with North Queensland, setting up the organisation’s system and helping steer the Cowboys towards glory.

During that period, the club won the 2015 NRL crown – its maiden title – and contested the 2005 and 2017 grand finals.

“It was fantastic to be part of that and, again, it featured a great playing group, a terrific bunch of guys and a really well-run club,” he told the Newcastle Weekly.

“To be able to do that for the people of North Queensland was something very special, something I’ll never forget.

“I look back at that era, and I’ve talked to many players about it, and we probably left a couple of premierships on the shelf.

“We had a good enough team to win two or three titles.

“However, to get the one and the way we did it, it’s something that can never get taken away from any of us, we’ll always be the first.

“It was a wonderful time for the Cowboys.

“And, I’m eternally grateful for having the chance to play a role with that club and those players.”

But, the desire to return “home” was always in Parr’s mind.

He even flirted with the idea once or twice.

“After North Queensland won the premiership, I had a couple of conversations with Matt Gidley,” he said.

“However, it just didn’t sort of marry up with what I was doing and what I wanted to do at the time.

“I’d previously had a few talks with Phil Gardner about it, too.

“Again, the timing wasn’t right.

“That all changed half-way through 2022.

“I was in Perth in a State of Origin camp and I received a phone call from a mutual friend of Phil and mine asking if I could meet with him.

“So, we arranged it around my schedule and Phil’s… and we caught up in Brisbane.

“This time, everything fell into place.

“We were able to come to an agreement fairly quickly to be honest.”

Now, following a brief stint as director of football, Parr has stepped into the chief executive officer’s shoes.

And, after a few months in the position, he’s confident the Knights are heading in the right direction.

“It’s going to take a lot of hard work,” he said.

“But, I chose to accept this role because I believe so much in the club and understand what the club means to the community.

“I could be doing something different.

“It wasn’t like I was bereft of opportunity to do other things.

“However, I decided this is what I wanted to do and where I wanted to be.

“The reason for that is I’ve got great confidence in where we can take the club.

“I think an understanding of the local region, and the importance of the Knights to the Hunter, helps.

“You’ve only got to watch a match on TV – or see the huge crowds we attract – to get a grasp on that.

“But, it’s ingrained in me.

“I have a lot of people come up to me, who I don’t know, and they want to talk about the Knights.

“So, you get a real sense of feeling and what it means to them.

“They’re passionate… and I want the club to be the best it can be, too.

“That’s what we’re aiming to do.”

Already, Newcastle is concentrating on its junior development and pathways, which has been a bone of contention in the past.

The Knights now have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in place with the Upper Hunter and Mid-North Coast, as well as Hunter Junior Rugby League in Newcastle.

It all bodes well for the future.

“We’re doing a lot of work in that space and there are some challenges,” Parr said.

“However, I’ve always found in my life that challenge usually disguises opportunity.

“So, yes, it’ll take a bit of time but not as much as some people think.

“I’m really confident with what we’re doing underneath with our pathways.

“The board and Phil (Gardner); they’ve been awesome in the fact that they want us to be a development club.

“And, I’m of the firm belief that those organisations win competitions.

“So, we want to be the best development club in the NRL.

“We’re starting to build those blocks and I’m super confident that over the next year or two, we’ll start to see the fruits of our labour come to the fore.

“I’m very optimistic about where the club’s heading, particularly in the long-term.”

As a family, we’ve always said that while there’s some sacrifices around what people like me do, the game’s also given us a lot.

Peter Parr

Parr’s positivity stems from the arrival of Holbrook as well.

“We had to make some changes, and have some difficult conversations, at the end of last season,” he said.

“Most people are of the view that what we’ve put in place gives us cause for optimism.

“As for Justin, he couldn’t be more impressive, neither can any of the coaching and high-performance staff.

“They give me great confidence that they’re here for the long haul… and they’ll do a great job.

“Of course, we’ve also improved the roster.

“Our younger players like Dylan Lucas, Fletcher Sharpe, Jermaine McEwen and Cody Hopwood, for example, will be better for what they went through last season.

“Then you add Sandon, Trey and Dylan to the ranks, who are complimented by our guns Kalyn Ponga and Bradman Best, who spent most of 2025 injured.

“There are good signs ahead, not only for 2026, but beyond that.

“I get a strong sense of the positivity around the town – and it’s well-placed.

“There’s no doubt we’ll be better this year.

“But, we must be.

“I never want this club to ever go back to where we were the last few rounds of 2025.”

One thing, which won’t change, is the support of Parr’s wife, Kirrily.

“I owe her a lot,” he said.

“Her positivity – she can find the good in any situation.

“That’s vital in professional sport, with all the various emotions, but Kirrily’s stood by my side, as well as the children.

“They’re adults now but they’ve all lived it, too.

“As a family, we’ve always said that while there’s some sacrifices around what people like me do, the game’s also given us a lot.

“So, we’re very grateful for the life rugby league has afforded us and everyone we’ve met.

“However, you can’t get a more supportive person than Kirrily.

“For me, to have someone like her, to talk through things, is incredible.

“I’ve always said to her, what I do is a rollercoaster but it’s way more fun than a merry-go-round.”

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