Newcastle Knights deny interest in signing Manly playmaker Kieran Foran as Mitchell Pearce's replacement

Foran has been touted in the Sydney media as a potential Newcastle target following Pearce's release to join English Super League club Catalan Dragons.

But Knights recruitment boss Clint Zammit told the Newcastle Herald there is no truth to the speculation.

"We haven't even spoken about Kieran Foran - his name's never been mentioned by us in the wake of Junior leaving," Zammit said.

"I can assure you we won't be going down that path."

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The Knights are playing a waiting game in relation to finding a possible replacement for Pearce with Zammit declaring there will be no knee-jerk reaction to filling the void.

There has been plenty of speculation surrounding the future of Wests Tigers halfback Luke Brooks, another player heavily linked to the Knights in recent weeks. But the Tigers are currently holding firm about not releasing him from the final two years of his contract.

Zammit said the club has plenty of faith in the Knights' existing halfback stocks to get the job done next season even without a replacement for Pearce.

"We've got some strong options already at the club in Adam Clune and young Phoenix Crossland who have been training really well and Cliff [Jake Clifford] and Kurt [Mann] are there as well," he said.

"Obviously having Joey [Andrew Johns] there now [on the coaching staff] is really going to help us in that department as well."

Knights coach Adam O'Brien indicated changes to the way the side attacks next season will help alleviate the loss of a dominant halfback like Pearce.

"We'll be changing things up and giving more responsibility to other players in that regard," he said.

O'Brien will have his senior players back on deck for the first time at pre-season training today.

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