Mullen admitted a News Corp report that he would be moved on in part of a $2 million clean-out had been an unwelcome distraction before the clash with Penrith at Hunter Stadium, which Newcastle lost 42-6.

The 29-year-old, who is contracted to the Knights until the end of 2018, said he sat down with Brown on Monday to discuss the issue and was assured that it was "all crap".

"Brownie has always been up front with me, and he told me it was a load of rubbish," Mullen told Fairfax Media. "He said: 'I've never approached you and I've never approached your manager [to discuss a possible release]', which is true.

"Whenever the papers start talking about clubs and their salary caps, they always seem to focus on the high earners. But as Brownie said, it's just paper talk and it's all crap, basically."

Mullen said he did not read the report on Sunday but friends had texted him, so he was aware of what had been written. "It sort of messed with my head a bit," he said.

"I was probably guilty of letting it get to me before the game, which probably didn't help my performance.

"I'm a bit dirty on myself for that, because I should have known that there was nothing in it or Brownie would have told me to my face."

Knights chief executive Matt Gidley and Mullen's agent, Steve Gillis, also denied any substance to the report.

Mullen, who made his top-grade debut for the Knights as an 18-year-old schoolboy in 2005, has played in 208 games for his home-town club and said he would be happy to remain in red and blue for the rest of his career.

"I definitely don't want to go anywhere," he said.

"I wouldn't want people saying I'm jumping off a sinking ship or whatever.

"I love Newcastle, and even though times are tough, I want to be here to help with rebuilding the club.

"If the club ever wanted to move in another direction, I suppose I could understand that, but at this stage I'm still here and I want to play my part in turning things around."

After Sunday's loss to Penrith – their 15th in as many games – Brown declared some of his players "gave up" during their second-half capitulation.

But Mullen said his teammates were still determined to "finish the season strong" and hopefully win some of their three remaining games, starting with Gold Coast at Hunter Stadium on Saturday, when he is expected to mark Titans superstar Jarryd Hayne.

The Knights will be hoping their leading tryscorer, energetic winger Nathan Ross, is available to return from a strained hamstring.