Justin Holbrook knocks back Warrington, race now down to Roosters and Bulldogs

Justin Holbrook is staying in the NRL after knocking back Warrington with the race for the sacked coach now down to the Roosters and Bulldogs.

Phil Gould (left) is keen on Justin Holbrook.

Sacked Titans coach Justin Holbrook is staying in the NRL after knocking back a lucrative offer from English Super League club Warrington.

Holbrook advised Wolves officials on Thursday night that he will remain in Australia for family reasons in a major blow for Warrington officials.

That leaves the Bulldogs and Roosters as the final clubs in the race for Holbrook, who is mulling over three-year deals as an assistant coach in the wake of his shock decision to reject a Super League return.

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.

The 47-year-old will finalise his future over the next 24 hours as Holbrook decides whether to work under Roosters coach Trent Robinson or Canterbury mentor Cameron Ciraldo.

Both clubs have offered three-year packages to lure Holbrook to Bondi or Belmore until the end of 2026.

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

Justin Holbrook has knocked back Warrington.

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.

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.

Despite Canterbury’s lowly position, Ciraldo has the total backing of Gould, who believes Holbrook can perfectly complement one of the NRL’s leading emerging coaches.

Justin Holbrook is set to join the Roosters or Bulldogs. Picture: Getty

Gould flies to Gold Coast for Holbrook poaching mission

-Peter Badel and Phil Rothfield

Bulldogs football boss Phil Gould has ramped-up his poaching bid for Justin Holbrook by embarking on a trip to the Gold Coast in his pursuit of the sacked Titans coach.

This masthead can reveal Gould flew to the Glitter Strip last Friday for talks with the management of Holbrook, who was also formally interviewed by English Super League club Warrington on Tuesday night.

A month after his termination at the Titans, Holbrook has become the most sought-after coach in rugby league, with four NRL clubs and two British outfits, led by the Wolves, targeting the unemployed mentor.

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

Despite Canterbury’s lowly position, Ciraldo has the total backing of Gould, who believes Holbrook can perfectly complement one of the NRL’s leading emerging coaches.

Holbrook is expected to finalise his future over the next week and the Bulldogs are red-hot contenders, with his agent Chris Orr confirming the meeting with Gould.

Phil Gould is keen on Justin Holbrook. Picture: Julian Andrews

“The Bulldogs are definitely an option,” Orr said.

“He had a positive meeting with ‘Gus’ (Gould) and Cameron, so there is interest there and he has some great connections to the Bulldogs.

“He coached their reserve grade team to two grand finals when he started off in his coaching, so he has good memories of his time at the Bulldogs.”

A return to England is also an option for Holbrook.

Warrington sacked coach Daryl Powell on Monday and have held talks with Holbrook, who is highly regarded in the UK after his brilliant stint at St Helens, where he won a premiership and 70 of 87 games for a superb 80 per cent success rate between 2017-19.

But Holbrook’s preference is to remain in Australia, opening the door for Gould, who has lauded the former Titans coach’s man-management style.

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

Justin Holbrook was recently sacked by the Titans. Picture: Getty

“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.”

Ciraldo is impressed with Holbrook’s man-management style. The Titans’ two Origin stars, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and David Fifita, inserted get-out clauses into their deals if Holbrook was sacked, underlining his popularity with the playing group.

Orr said the 47-year-old Holbrook is weighing up if he would be satisfied taking a back-seat role as an assistant.

“Justin has numerous options and will make a decision on his future very shortly with NRL and Super League both options,” he said.

“The simple question for Justin is what role does he want to play in rugby league moving forward. Does he join a club as an assistant and help the head coach drive culture and success, or does he look for his own ship to steer, which may be overseas?”

Originally published as Justin Holbrook knocks back Warrington, race now down to Roosters and Bulldogs