The Newcastle Knights have appointed Roosters assistant Justin Holbrook as their new head coach.
The decision was be rubber-stamped at a board meeting on Monday afternoon.
“The nib Newcastle Knights Board of Directors has this evening endorsed the recommendation of their five-delegate subcommittee, appointing Justin Holbrook as Head Coach for the next three seasons,” the club said in a statement.
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“Holbrook, a Newcastle Knights Old Boy (127), brings over 20 years of coaching experience in his return to the club, including 169 NRL and Super League matches as Head Coach.
“Following a thorough selection process, Justin was unanimously chosen as the best candidate to lead the club into a new era.
“We congratulate Justin on his appointment and look forward to his commencement as Knights Head Coach once his current commitments are fulfilled.”
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A committee made up of CEO Peter Parr, general manager Chris James, Knights legend Michael Hagan, director Tony Price and chairman Geoff Coburn led the search for a new coach.
And Holbrook — who was given permission to interview for the job by the Roosters — was the preferred choice over Dean Young and Blake Green.
He will replace Adam O’Brien, who after six seasons at the club, agreed to a “mutual separation”.
It won’t be Holbrook’s first gig as a head coach in the NRL with the 49-year-old previously spending three-and-a-half seasons at the helm of the Gold Coast Titans.
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Holbrook’s time at the Titans came to an abrupt end in mid-2023 when he and the club agreed to part ways immediately.
He then joined the Roosters as an NRL assistant — a position that will now need to be filled by the Tricolours.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika is the favourite to take that spot. It will be a reunion of sorts for Cheika, who has previously worked with the club as a consultant.
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