NRL news: Justin Holbrook to join Roosters as Nick Politis trumps Phil Gould

Nick Politis was plunged into a high-stakes battle with Bulldogs football boss Phil Gould — and the Roosters supremo won out.

Justin Holbrook will join the Roosters as an assistant coach. Picture: NRL Imagery

Billionaire Roosters supremo Nick Politis has trumped Bulldogs football boss Phil Gould in a high-powered poaching war for Justin Holbrook.

This masthead can reveal sacked Titans coach Justin Holbrook will join the Roosters and reject Gould’s Bulldogs in a major recruitment win for the Roosters and chairman Politis.

Politis and Gould were plunged into a high-stakes battle for Holbrook’s signature after this masthead exclusively revealed on Thursday night the former Titans mentor had knocked back a lucrative offer from Warrington.

Now Holbrook’s stay in the NRL is complete, with the 47-year-old to return to the Roosters club where he formerly served as an assistant to premiership coach Trent Robinson.

Holbrook has agreed terms on a three-year deal and will be one of Robinson’s trusted deputies in the Roosters’ quest to hit back as a premiership force next season.

Justin Holbrook has agreed terms on a three-year deal with the Roosters. Picture: NRL Imagery

Gould was so keen to land Holbrook he held a series of talks with his management, including a trip to the Gold Coast last Friday, but the St Helens premiership winner has chosen Bondi over Belmore.

Warrington chiefs were confident they had their man after a rich pitch to secure Holbrook and speculation out of England suggested Wolves players had been privately informed of his signature.

The Wolves sacked head coach Daryl Powell last Monday and Holbrook was viewed as the perfect successor after his brilliant three-year tenure at St Helens where he won silverware and posted an 80 per cent success rate.

But Holbrook has opted against calling the shots at Warrington, with the former Titans mentor and father of four reluctant to relocate his family back to the UK.

Both the Bulldogs and Roosters had offered three-year packages.

Holbrook has previously worked at both clubs as an assistant coach or with lower-grade teams.

The Warrington deal was for an immediate switch and for at least another two years in 2024-25, with rich bonuses if Holbrook can deliver titles.

The Wolves remain in the finals hunt in a team which includes ex-NRL players Matt Dufty, Paul Vaughan and George Williams.

The side has capitulated despite winning their opening eight matches of the season, having lost six in a row — triggering the sacking of Powell.

Holbrook’s decision to knock back the Wolves’ overtures comes just days after Bulldogs football boss Phil Gould flew to the Gold Coast in his pursuit of the premiership winner.

Bulldogs football boss Phil Gould was keen to bring Justin Holbrook to Canterbury. Picture: Julian Andrews

Gould and Ciraldo held preliminary talks with Holbrook in Sydney a fortnight ago and the Canterbury supremo upped the ante by crossing the Queensland border to bolster his Belmore football program.

Gould is a fan of Holbrook’s man-management style and had hoped he would form a potent alliance with Ciraldo.

“Justin has coached a number of teams,” Gould said on Channel 9’s 100% Footy last Monday night.

“He coached junior rep teams at the Dragons and the Bulldogs, he went over to England and coached a team (St Helens) there … he has had success across his coaching career.

“Guys who have coached their own teams have a better understanding of what it takes to be a coach (in the NRL) and an understanding of what it takes to deal with a group of players of all ages and all stages of their career.

“And then to be able to support a head coach. Justin Holbrook would make a great assistant coach, even though he is a head coach in his own right today, because he has actually coached his own teams.”

The Cowboys also sounded out Holbrook, but he believes he can help Robinson win more titles at the Roosters in a bid to eventually return as an NRL head coach.

Originally published as NRL news: Justin Holbrook to join Roosters as Nick Politis trumps Phil Gould