The Auckland-based NRL club announced a raft of back-office changes on Thursday, including the departure of football manager after a two-year tenure.

Conditioning coach Alex Corvo and Canterbury Cup coach Nathan Cayless have also moved on.

Brown has been contracted in a specialist role, with his pre-season priority to develop the club's relatively youthful hookers. CEO Cameron George said Brown's role during the regular season has yet to be finalised but he won't be with the Warriors on a full-time basis.

"Nathan has terrific credentials with his background as a coach and former player," George said in a statement.

"He'll work with the squad over the summer and will be used from time to time during the course of the season."

George defended the record of another veteran coach, Smith, whose exit had been predicted for several weeks before being confirmed on Thursday.

"He came in to do a role and he has implemented a number of key elements, notably the new Future Warriors program," Cameron said.

"The benefits of this will be great for us long-term."

Former Melbourne and Newcastle hooker Slade Griffin will take up a development role in Auckland after his injury-enforced retirement.

Former Parramatta and Warriors prop Justin Morgan will take charge of the Canterbury Cup team.

Brown's four-year reign at Newcastle ended prematurely in August when he tendered his resignation two weeks before the end of a disappointing campaign.

The 46-year-old's first NRL head coach role was from 2003-8 with the club he served as a player, St George Illawarra.

He had Super League stints with Huddersfield and St Helens before joining Newcastle in 2016.