Holbrook unveils plan to turn around spooners after returning to his Newcastle roots

As a halfback in Newcastle at the turn of the century, first-grade opportunities were scarce for Justin Holbrook.

“I only played a couple of games, it was mainly reserve grade. Joey was the halfback,” Holbrook recalled of his time as the understudy to Andrew Johns.

Now Holbrook has the opportunity to make a greater mark on the Knights after being installed as the replacement for outgoing coach Adam O’Brien.

The first order of business for Holbrook will be deciding whether to hand the No.7 jersey that Johns made famous to the biggest investment the club has ever made: $13 million recruit Dylan Brown.

“I don’t want to say things are definite because I want to get up there and meet everyone first,” said Holbrook in his first interview since he beat the likes of Blake Green, Dean Young and Brian McDermott to the post.

“We’ve got to nut that out pretty early on. I want to get in there first.”

While many critics feel the club has grossly overspent on the former Eel Brown, Holbrook believes he has at his disposal an elite talent that will only get better.

“He’s already there, he’s still only 24 now and he’s been one of the class halves of our competition for a few years now,” Holbrook said.

“That’s my main job when I get up there, getting in with all those boys and putting all the pieces together.

“Dylan is a big part of that. He’s a very exciting recruit to join the club. I’m excited to work with him.”

Holbrook managed just five first-grade appearances for the Knights as a player, but he believes the experience of living and playing for the club has given him an understanding of the city’s unique rugby league culture. It may have also been a determining factor that allowed him to pip several well-credentialed candidates.

“Everyone knows that it’s a hard-working area and everyone wants that represented in their rugby league side,” he said.

“It’s about hard work, the blue-collar guys. That’s the way the team should be representing the town and that’s my job now. It’s a collective approach and one thing we need is everyone working together.

“It’s a community club, the steel city. It’s really important. That’s our job as coaches and players to deliver on that, that’s what the fans want. That’s what we want to do.”

This is Holbrook’s second coming as an NRL head coach. After guiding St Helens to a premiership in the Super League, he was in charge of the Gold Coast Titans for almost four seasons. The 49-year-old believes that experience, coupled with a second stint as an assistant to Trent Robinson at the Roosters, has made him a better coach.

“Whatever experience you gain, you’re going to be better from it,” Holbrook said.

“I learnt a lot and the last two years at the Roosters have been terrific. They are such a successful club and do everything right. Unfortunately we didn’t finish the way we wanted to this year, which is disappointing, but it’s a great environment.

“That’s now what I want to create at the Knights. It’s a hard-working environment, but one you enjoy being a part of, love coming to work every day. That’s what I want to take up there.”

Given the Knights earned the wooden spoon, it is arguably the toughest job in rugby league. They averaged just 14 points per game, almost four points less than the next-worst attack, that of South Sydney.

However, Holbrook felt a squad that includes superstar Kalyn Ponga was capable of more in 2026.

“He is right at the centre of it,” Holbrook said. “It’s exciting to know Dylan is coming, you’ve got Kalyn there and you’ve got Fletcher Sharpe and Sandon Smith has signed as well.

“You’ve got a lot of exciting players to play and fit in.”

Holbrook acknowledged the club’s best eras were built on steely defence and the promotion of junior talent.

“Everyone in the Hunter region grows up wanting to play for the Knights and we have to give them the best opportunity to do that,” Holbrook said.

“That works hand in hand with the community aspect of it, the emotional attachment of the players who already want to play for Newcastle.

“A lot of inroads have already been made to ensure that’s a priority. I just want to add to that.”

One of the unsuccessful candidates for the Knights job, former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika, is poised to replace Holbrook as an assistant at the Roosters. It is a post that Cheika, the coach of the Lebanon national rugby league team, has previously held.

NRL is Live and Free on Channel 9 & 9Now