Titans coach Justin Holbrook leaving player roster management to club recruitment team
TITANS coach Justin Holbrook says management of the club’s playing roster is an ongoing assignment but is leaving decisions on potential changes to the Gold Coast recruitment team.
NRL
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TITANS coach Justin Holbrook says management of the club’s playing roster is an ongoing assignment but is leaving decisions on potential changes to the Gold Coast recruitment team.
Tasked with transforming this year’s wooden spooners into a top-eight side next season, Holbrook has already been dragged into the NRL player transfer circus in his first six weeks at the club.
Last month, he was forced to deny speculation the club was trying to offload big-money prop Shannon Boyd, while rumours surrounding the futures of hooker Nathan Peats and utility Tyrone Peachey have also surfaced.
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Off contract at the end of 2020, Origin forward Jai Arrow is now at the centre of a tug of war between the Titans and South Sydney, with his possible departure opening the door for the club to make a play for wantaway Roosters star Latrell Mitchell.
But while Holbrook is involved in discussions regarding the roster, the 43-year-old said he was leaving those decisions to recruitment manager Ezra Howe and culture and performance chief Mal Meninga.
“It’s always ongoing, the roster, but I don’t think we’re deficient in any area. I’m not sitting here going ‘we have to get a halfback, we have to get a back-rower’,” Holbrook said.
“You don’t want to be in that position. We’ve got a few spots to fill, as have a lot of clubs, and there’s always movement.
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“It seems weird but there always seems to be movement going on. I’ll leave that up to (the recruitment team), I’ve got to worry about coaching the guys every day.
“I’m included in those talks but our recruitment team are the ones dealing with player managers constantly and they’ll keep me up to speed on it. It will be ongoing.”
Holbrook arrived on the Coast early last month fresh off winning the Super League crown with St Helens and one of his first priorities was to address the player unrest that developed last season.
Peachey’s future was a constant source of conjecture throughout the year but Holbrook said the entire squad was now moving in the same direction.
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“I’ve spoke to a lot of them (the players) individually and they’re all in a good spot. They’re all happy here,” he said.
“They don’t need to be reminded they run last (this year), they all know it. What we’re looking for is a fresh start and we want to see them do something about it.
“They’re all on the right track there and all happy and that’s good to hear as a coach.”
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