Former Western Reds coach Peter Mulholland will join Wayne Bennett at Newcastle next season, after being appointed as the NRL coach's recruitment manager.

Mulholland has been serving as Canterbury's recruitment boss since 2008, but will link with the Knights for the beginning of the pre-season.

The respected rugby league mind was a brilliant schoolboy's coach with St Gregory's at Campbelltown before taking on roles at Paris Saint-Germain and the inaugural top job at short-lived expansion team the Reds.

Mulholland will work alongside another respected recruitment man, Keith Onslow.

"After four years with the Bulldogs it was a big decision to leave the club," said Mulholland, who also worked for Penrith through the period when they won the competition in 2003.

"This opportunity and challenge to come to Newcastle under the new Hunter Sports Group regime and Wayne Bennett, was simply an offer I couldn't refuse."

Mulholland will oversee all player recruitment from Toyota Cup through to NRL, and Knights chief executive Matthew Gidley said it was a great acquisition for the club.

"In line with the Hunter Sports Group philosophy to inject further resources into the Club, the Newcastle Knights welcome the addition of Peter Mulholland as our External Recruitment Manager," Gidley said in a statement.

"This is part of a restructure to our recruitment department and we envisage it will ensure we secure the best rugby league talent at the Knights.

"Peter will ... work alongside High Performance Unit Manager, Keith Onslow.

"Together they will ensure the Newcastle Knights capitalise on the Hunter Valley's rich rugby league nursery whilst scouting for the best talent from outside our region."

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