Holbrook..... Good Knight

[SamKerrSimp]

He picked them up as wooden spooners and returned them to the finals in his second season, I'd hardly say he was a flop.

I can't imagine a more undesirable head coaching job in the comp at the moment, even the Tigers seems to have somewhat turned their administration around.

Also worth nothing that the Titans form sunk as soon as they sacked him they were on the cusp of the top 8 midway through 2023 when they sacked him and ended up finishing 14th or 15th and they have gown down hill at a rate of knots since signing Hasler it was a move reminiscent of when they signed Jarryd Hayne and killed their team.

[Bates]

Ryles has done a great job at the Eels. I enjoy watching their new brand of footy. They should make the top 8 next season imo.

It's like the majority of the team can ballplay. Very entertaining!

[SamKerrSimp]

Was Cheika ever our assistant coach previously?

I believe it was the 2019/20 off season that he was on the coaching staff until he took a rugby union job overseas. I do recall reading that Robinson and Cheika would work together when they were both coaching in their respective sports in France and resumed the relationship with Cheika's appointment at the Wallabies where I think there was hybrid Roosters v Wallabies match that gets mentioned every time the Kangaroos v All Blacks match gets brought up.

I'd like to see Cheika get a gig in the NRL at some point it would be very interesting to see and I thought he did well with Lebanon a few years ago.

[Rooster_6]

2020 - 9th /16 teams
2021 - 8th /16 teams
2022 -13th/ 16 teams
2023 - 14th /17 teams. Sacked mid season.

Would you employ him as your head coach if you were the CEO?

Depends which club I was running, if I was the Newcastle Knights I would certainly be considering him.

80% win rate across 3 years in the super league, plays a good attacking brand of footy, the players who he's lead often speak very highly of him, took a very average Titans squad from last to finals within 2 years. Returned to the Roosters and increased our attacking output significantly.

Also important to note that in 2023 they were 8th coming out of the bye when he was sacked. Saying they finished 14th is a little misleading.

There's nothing about the Titans squad over the last decade that's said to me that they should be competing for the top 8 but he had them there 3 out of his 4 seasons all whilst dealing with some really poor roster decisions that he inherited.

[Rooster_6]

Also worth nothing that the Titans form sunk as soon as they sacked him they were on the cusp of the top 8 midway through 2023 when they sacked him and ended up finishing 14th or 15th and they have gown down hill at a rate of knots since signing Hasler it was a move reminiscent of when they signed Jarryd Hayne and killed their team.

Yeh there's been a plethora of terrible business decisions at that club. None more so than watching them stockpiling 3 expensive fullbacks in their salary cap and trying to force two of to play different positions.

[Tennessee Tornado]

Does anyone think JWH will return in some kind of coaching role next season?

[Steakface]

Newcastle would be an awful place to coach, probably the only worse place would be the Tigers.

Newcastle behind the scenes is the ultimate old boys club. You just know the Johns boys etc would constantly be sticking their nose in, and getting way too much airtime with management and the board than they deserve.

And there is a bit of a vibe that, if you aren't from Newcastle or the Hunter, 'you just don't understand us'.

The place never recovered from Tinkler.

[Rooster90]

Newcastle would be an awful place to coach, probably the only worse place would be the Tigers.

Newcastle behind the scenes is the ultimate old boys club. You just know the Johns boys etc would constantly be sticking their nose in, and getting way too much airtime with management and the board than they deserve.

And there is a bit of a vibe that, if you aren't from Newcastle or the Hunter, 'you just don't understand us'.

The place never recovered from Tinkler.

Probably helps that Justin is a 90s "old boy" in that regard then....

[Inflictor]

I can see them getting the spoon again next year.
Losing two of their best forwards and gaining Brown and Sandon.
Their roster is crap.
I feel for Holbrook because he wants to coach again and there is nothing else on the horizon really. Maybe Cowboys.
I wish him well. He did a lot for our attack this year. I hope we get a good replacement.

[Bates]

Depends which club I was running, if I was the Newcastle Knights I would certainly be considering him.

80% win rate across 3 years in the super league, plays a good attacking brand of footy, the players who he's lead often speak very highly of him, took a very average Titans squad from last to finals within 2 years. Returned to the Roosters and increased our attacking output significantly.

Also important to note that in 2023 they were 8th coming out of the bye when he was sacked. Saying they finished 14th is a little misleading.

There's nothing about the Titans squad over the last decade that's said to me that they should be competing for the top 8 but he had them there 3 out of his 4 seasons all whilst dealing with some really poor roster decisions that he inherited.

Cease and desist with your accusations already

Q. Where did the Titans finish back in 2023?
A. 14th.

I'm surprised that you'd employ Holbrook as your head coach. I thought your standards were higher. Silly me.

Holbrook is Vanilla. Batesy can't do Vanilla! I'd give a dynamic, young and hungry applicant a chance before Mr Vanilla bean.

[Mickie Lane]

I hope Holbrook is successful at the Knights
IMO the NRL is better when the Knights are a top side like when the Broncos, Dogs, Roosters & our arch enemies Souths are all powerhouses it just makes the whole experience better.

[SamKerrSimp]

Yeh there's been a plethora of terrible business decisions at that club. None more so than watching them stockpiling 3 expensive fullbacks in their salary cap and trying to force two of to play different positions.

And then watching players like Jamal Fogarty leave their club and excel elsewhere in a position and role they have been desperately crying out for since Scott Prince retired. I do wish that Holbrook went to another team because the Knights are just as poorly managed as the Titans are so he's going sideways in his head coaching career here

[ism22]

Newcastle would be an awful place to coach, probably the only worse place would be the Tigers.

Newcastle behind the scenes is the ultimate old boys club. You just know the Johns boys etc would constantly be sticking their nose in, and getting way too much airtime with management and the board than they deserve.

And there is a bit of a vibe that, if you aren't from Newcastle or the Hunter, 'you just don't understand us'.

The place never recovered from Tinkler.

IMO part of the deal would be that if you wanna be a head coach, you'll take any job. There's 17 jobs in the men's game (excluding rep roles), pay's probably pretty darn sweet (e.g. 4 years on $1m even if you fark up badly) and you're doing your dream job.

Unless you're Bennett, Cleary, Bellamy, Robbo, Hasler or Sticky then there's probably not all that many clubs that are gonna be interested in hiring you and the jobs only come up when teams are battling. Somebody's gotta coach these teams and there seems to be a pecking order (e.g. the Walker brothers can't crack it as they're too unconventional).

Are there any assistant coaches who wouldn't accept 'a coaching job... any head coach job'? Again, it's the best job in the world if you're that way inclined and your retirement plan will get a massive top-up given the sorta dosh they're on.

[Hawkeye]

Is Cheka just a short term assistant coach to fill in till DCE supposedly takes up coaching role with us after he plays one last year ?

[Michael Jones]

There seems to be a dearth of head coaches, as the FOX NRL shows were saying, as sacked head coaches are being recycled into new head coach roles, some after taking on an assistant coach role to resurrect their head coach careers.

Surely there must be younger coaches who can be given an opportunity to be a head coach after serving an apprenticeship as an assistant coach who have no so-called baggage in being sacked to take on these roles.