‘What I’m p*ssed off about’: Holbrook’s emotional tirade at Titans amid brutal axing

A devastated Justin Holbrook has broken his silence on his shock mid-season axing from the Gold Coast Titans in an emotional tirade.

Justin Holbrook and Des Hasler

A devastated Justin Holbrook has broken his silence on his shock mid-season axing from the Titans in an emotional tirade at the club’s brutal decision to replace him with Des Hasler.

The Courier Mail reported Holbrook was bitterly disappointed with the club for not allowing him the chance to make the finals with his best players on the park

“I just can’t believe it, I feel awful. Totally gutted,” Holbrook told The Courier Mail.

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“I did not see this coming at all, that’s what I am pissed off about.

“I could understand if they said, ‘Look you have three games or whatever time period to do something’, but to be moved on like this, I’m still coming to terms with it.

“If they were a bit more open about the way things were heading, I would have been able to digest this, but it’s hit me out of the blue.”

Holbrook revealed he tried to state his case with club management after being totally blindsided by the club’s decision.

“I had no inkling at all,” he said.

“Steve (CEO Steve Mitchell) just called me in this morning and said, ‘Have you got a minute’.

“I went in for a meeting and he said, ‘We are going to terminate you as of right now’.

“I said, ‘Shivers, on what ... performance?’ I said, ‘Mate, I thought you would have given me a chance of getting the guys to the finals with our best players back’.

“Anyway, it was a waste of time talking. It wasn’t a negotiation. They had made up their mind.”

Justin Holbrook is filthy with the Titans over his axing.

Holbrook was frustrated he wasn’t given the chance to finish the 2023 season with the team still a chance to play finals with a strong finish to 2023.

“I don’t know if I was king hit. But I think it’s unfair with the opportunity we had at the back end of the year to make the finals,” Holbrook said.

“Would they have punted me if we were sitting second?

“Des Hasler hasn’t been coaching so there didn’t have to be any great urgency with him.

“I was looking forward to coaching against the Broncos on Sunday and why can’t I be given an opportunity with my best team to see how we go against Brisbane?

“Give me a chance.

“I have been sacked after a win.”

The Titans dropped the bombshell announcing Justin Holbrook will depart the club immediately with Des Hasler signing on as head coach for the 2024 season and beyond.

Gold Coast made the shock announcement on Thursday morning, explaining the club wants to “move in a new direction”.

The Titans dropped a bombshell announcing Justin Holbrook will depart the Titans immediately with Des Hasler signing on as head coach for the 2024 season and beyond.

Gold Coast made the shock announcement on Thursday morning, explaining the club wants to “move in a new direction”.

“We are grateful to Justin for his contribution to the club over the past four seasons,” Titans chief executive Steve Mitchell said.

“We are here to bring success to the Gold Coast and in order to do so we feel that this is the change necessary to deliver on our promise which is to win premierships.”

According to Nine’s Danny Weidler, Holbrook revealed the brutal way in which Holbrook was told his time was up.

“Justin Holbrook was told at 9.30am he was no longer head coach,” Weidler tweeted.

“Brutal game. I believe it was a 10 day negotiation done on the quiet.”

LATEST: Congratulations to Des Hasler - and the @GCTitans
They are serious about trying to win a comp.
Justin Holbrook was told at 9.30am he was no longer head coach. Brutal game. I believe it was a 10 day negotiation done on the quiet. @9NewsSyd@NRLonNine

— Danny Weidler (@Danny_Weidler) June 22, 2023

Hasler will now take over for the rest of the season and beyond, having been out of the game since his sacking in the wake of the Sea Eagles pride jersey saga.

It remains unclear how long the premiership-winning coach has signed on for.

“I’m looking forward to joining the Titans and to the 2024 season,” Hasler said in a statement.

“The club has a strong playing roster, the region is blessed with emerging talent and the organisation is firmly embedded in the community.

“I’m confident we can deliver success to the region in the coming seasons.”

Originally published as ‘What I’m p*ssed off about’: Holbrook’s emotional tirade at Titans amid brutal axing