Gold Coast Titans certain Justin Holbrook is the man to turn their NRL fortunes around

Titans powerbrokers have openly admitted the club has reached its “last stand” and they simply must make no mistake with the fourth coach in their history. Here’s why they are certain Justin Holbrook, untested as an NRL head coach, is the man to lead them out of the doldrums.

GOLD Coast have openly admitted the NRL club has reached its “last stand” and they simply must make no mistake with the fourth coach in their history.

Justin Holbrook is odds-on to be that man entrusted with steering the Titans out of the doldrums and into a long-awaited period of success.

Unlike other potential candidates floated, such as Kevin Walters, his name is one known by few – other than league diehards – until recent weeks.

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Given what’s on the line, the lack of an NRL head coaching position on his resume is a weakness in some people’s eyes. Isn’t that the same risk we’ve just been down with Garth Brennan, they might ask.

Here’s why the Titans think otherwise.

St Helens coach Justin Holbrook. Picture: Getty Images

For a start, he’s on a path they believe is parallel to respected NRL coaches Trent Robinson and Michael Maguire, who have overseen three of the past six premiership-winning teams between them.

Holbrook won two NSW Cup titles at Canterbury before moving up the NRL chain with assistant posts including at the Roosters, for which he is understood to have been sought out by Robinson.

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He then headed abroad to take the reins of powerhouse English club St Helens in 2017 and has won a remarkable 62 of 78 games since then.

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The Super League is not considered on par with the NRL from a quality of play perspective but it is viewed as an ideal breeding ground for coaches, given their increased influence over their club’s recruitment, development, salary cap management and other areas.

“It’s almost like you can develop and refine your skills away from the intense pressure and media scrutiny of the NRL,” one source said.

Holbrook playing for the Roosters in 2002. Picture: Roy Haverkamp

Former Panthers and Cowboys fullback Lachlan Coote has sung Holbrook’s praises, regarding him as the “greatest coach I’ve had”, above the likes of Ivan Cleary and Paul Green.

“Justin is a great communicator and he respects you as an individual, he cares about your welfare and doesn’t try to make you something you’re not,” Coote told News Corp recently.

Further rounding his CV is his background as NSW state business manager for Coca Cola Amatil, a stint as Junior Kangaroos coach – through which he worked with Titans second-rower Sam Stone in 2017 and centre Brian Kelly the year before – and four years as a fringe NRL player himself.

Illawara Rugby League 2006 grand final preview photo with Aaron Beath of Thirroul and Justin Holbrook of Dapto at WIN Stadium.

Grassroots footy is a priority for Gold Coast’s administration; it was little more than a decade ago that Holbrook was captain-coaching Dapto to an Illawarra Rugby League premiership.

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The 43-year-old was a contender to replace Shane Flanagan at the Sharks this year before losing out to John Morris. That could well be Cronulla’s loss.

Extensive background checks satisfied the Titans board, who met on Monday. They had found the ideal candidate to dig them out of a hole: A well-respected coach renowned as a people person who leaves clubs in a better state than when he joined them.

A deal, possibly spanning three years from 2020 to 2022, will formally be announced any day now.

Holbrook will see out the Super League season but is hoped to be back in Australia in time for the start of the 2020 Titans pre-season on November 4.