Under contract to Newcastle for season 2016, Houston has been absent from pre-season training after a recent meeting with Brown, at which the 30-year-old back-rower was advised to explore other alternatives.

"Chris has had a conversation with Nathan, and it was all very honest and transparent and respectful," Knights chief executive Matt Gidley said. "Chris is weighing up a number of options as we speak."

Asked what the likely outcome would be if Houston insisted on honouring his contract, Gidley replied: "He's a contracted player with us next year, and if that's the way it goes, we'll be fulfilling all the entitlements in his contract."

Gidley denied any other players were being ushered towards the back door, but it is understood some are on notice and the Knights are willing to release them if other clubs are interested.

Brown has known Houston for 10 years, since coaching him in St George Illawarra's champion Jersey Flegg side of 2005, but the coach said when he was first appointed: "Sometimes you've got to make some hard calls to move forward."

Two factors appear to have counted against Houston, who has played in 160 top-grade games for Newcastle, 22 of them last season, since joining the club in 2008.

First, the Knights are clearly desperate to free up salary cap space to allow them to make some strategic signings, and also his age.

Brown has ranked Tariq Sims, Robbie Rochow and Joseph Tapine ahead of Houston in the pecking order and is eager to provide opportunities for up-and-comers Lachlan Fitzgibbon and brothers Daniel and Jacob Saifiti.

If Houston leaves, he would be the third senior back-rower to part company with Newcastle since the end of last season, joining Beau Scott (Parramatta) and Clint Newton (retired).

In addition, 32-year-old Todd Lowrie signed to play for the Knights next year but has opted to hang up the boots and coach the club's under-20s.

Between them, Houston, Scott, Newton and Lowrie boast more than 700 games' NRL experience. 

Newcastle Herald