A former Super League coach has been tipped to become the next head coach of NRL side Newcastle Knights by one of the game’s greatest ever players.
Justin Holbrook left the UK after the 2019 season, following a successful Grand Final winning campaign with St Helens.
A move to the Gold Coast Titans followed, with the Australian returning home to pick up the first NRL coaching job of his career.
After three and a half seasons that saw him finish 9th, 8th and then 13th, the Titans decided to part ways with the 49-year-old in 2023, with Des Hasler named as his successor.
Since then, the former Saints man has worked with the Papua New Guinean national team, whilst taking up an assistant job at Sydney Roosters under Trent Robinson.
However, Australian rugby league legend and former Kangaroos coach, Mal Meninga, believes that Holbrook is ready for another crack at the helm, after tipping him to become the next head coach of Newcastle Knights.
After months of speculation, the Knights sacked Adam O’Brien this week, following their eighth consecutive loss. Names such as Brad Arthur, Willie Peters and current Knights assistant Brian McDermott have been linked with the role.
Australian rugby league legend backs esteemed ex-Super League coach for Knights role
Speaking to Nine’s Wide World of Sports, Meninga thinks that Holbrook has done enough in his coaching career so far to warrant such a huge opportunity.
“I think Justin is more than qualified to take on a head coaching role in any club,” said the former Kangaroos coach.
“He has great technical knowledge, he understands the nuances of being a head coach and his demeanour is well suited to the role.
“Having experienced the ups and downs of coaching in recent times has him primed for that next main man position.”
O’Brien has been head coach of Newcastle since 2020, and is the second NRL coach to be sacked this week, with Hasler, the man who took over from Holbrook at the Titans, also now on the job hunt after exiting Gold Coast.
