Super League-winning head coach Justin Holbrook has been confirmed as the new head coach for NRL outfit Newcastle Knights, with Holbrook beating out a number of candidates.

Holbrook coached St Helens between 2017 and 2019, winning the Grand Final in his final year to kick off a run of four straight Super League titles for the Red Vee.

He’d leave the club to coach Gold Coast Titans where he was sacked amid surprise midway through the 2023 campaign, before taking on a role as assistant coach at Sydney Roosters.

Reports from the Sydney Morning Herald have suggested that former Australia Rugby Union head coach Michael Cheika will replace Holbrook at the Roosters.

The Knights finished at the foot of the NRL table in 2025 and a number of high-profile names were linked to the vacant role following Adam O’Brien’s sacking.

Hull KR coach Willie Peters was among those but declined to interview, whilst Newcastle assistants Brian McDermott and Blake Green were also reportedly contenders.

Former St Helens coach Justin Holbrook lands NRL head coaching gig

The decision to appoint Holbrook looks a very smart one though given his credentials and the obvious rebuild that the Knights face, with his appointment being announced by the NRL outfit.

A club statement read: “The nib Newcastle Knights Board of Directors has this evening endorsed the recommendation of their five-delegate subcommittee, appointing Justin Holbrook as Head Coach for the next three seasons.

“Holbrook, a Newcastle Knights Old Boy (127), brings over 20 years of coaching experience in his return to the Club, including 169 NRL and Super League matches as Head Coach.”

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It’s unclear what Holbrook’s coaching staff will look like but he faces a major task to turn Newcastle back into a play-off contending side, with the Knights finishing at the foot of the NRL this season after only winning six games.

The statement also confirmed that after a ‘thorough’ selection process, Holbrook was ‘unanimously chosen as the best candidate’ with the Knights now set for a new era under the 49-year-old’s coaching.

A new era starts now ✍️⚔️#defendthekingdom pic.twitter.com/3YbRUgtyZR

— Newcastle Knights (@NRLKnights) September 15, 2025