Roosters legend Luke Keary has rejected a coaching role with the Newcastle Knights to return to club he won two premierships for in 2026.

Channel 9 reported Keary rejected an offer to join former Roosters assistant Justin Holbrook’s rebuild at the Knights to return to the club he played 168 games for from 2017 to 2024.

“I’m going to go back to the Roosters and have a small role with them,” Keary told Channel 9 News. “I can’t wait. That is my home.”

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However, Keary denied he would use his role coaching Roosters halves and emerging players as a stepping stone to a career as a head coach.

“Definitely not,” Keary laughed.

“I want to stay involved, definitely in coaching.

“I want to do a little bit with the younger guys and pass a bit of knowledge on.”

Keary is also interested in exploring the corporate side of the Roosters business in the future.

“I’m really interested in the corporate side, too,” Keary said.

“I’ve obviously done a bit of university stuff, so I’m interested in the business and finance side of things.”

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Luke Keary rejected a coaching role with the Knights to return to the Roosters in 2025.Source: News Corp Australia

Keary scored six tries in 27 games for Catalans in his one and only Super League season in 2025 after coming out of retirement to take up an offer with the Dragons.

But after scoring 48 tries in 231 NRL games for the Rabbitohs and Roosters, including three premiership wins with Souths in 2014 and the Roosters in 2018 and 2019, as well as one Origin for NSW and five Tests for the Kangaroos and Ireland, Keary is more than content with what he got out of his professional rugby league career.

“If you told me that when I came out of school and had no contract, knocking around in Burleigh, I would have said you were silly,” Keary said.

“I was really, not upset but sad leaving the Roosters last year. It is cool to look back and see how far I came.

“All the people that played a role in my career, I am really grateful for.”

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