Holbrook..... Good Knight

[MKCS]

I like Holbrook a lot so I wish him the best, as long as he isn't beating us...

[Steakface]

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.

NRL clubs are highly risk averse. I can't blame some of them as fan pressure is enourmous. Heck, how many times have people on the Chook Pen in teh past wanted Robbo drawn and quartered after just a couple of losses?

Granted, it is getting slightly better now. We are seeing some fresh blood coming through like Ciraldo and Ryles.

But..yeah. Lots of really shit coaches who kept getting gigs in the past just because 'experience' and probably had some mates in there too.

Anthony Griffin, Nathan Brown, Anthony Seibold, Trent Barrett, even Brian Smith (great strategist, but shit player manager) were/are journeymen who got multiple roles at the highest level, despite being absolute shite coaches.

[gragra]

I like Holbrook a lot so I wish him the best, as long as he isn't beating us...

I wonder how much of Trent's methodology Holbrook has learnt off Trent the past 2 years and how much better as a coach he will be this time around? Justin certainly seemed to improve our attack, so he may well be a good choice for the Knight's.

[theGman]

I wonder how much of Trent's methodology Holbrook has learnt off Trent the past 2 years and how much better as a coach he will be this time around? Justin certainly seemed to improve our attack, so he may well be a good choice for the Knight's.

That said, i dont have enough confidence in Cheika's offensive abilities.....in defence yes, but not in attack.
Im reading between the lines and suspect DCE will be heavily involved in our attacking strategies.

[B2B]

We should check out if the prodigal son wants to return as an assistant - Adam O’Brien

[Vasco]

We should check out if the prodigal son wants to return as an assistant - Adam O’Brien

Judging by Robbo's response at a recent presser about assistants moving on to senior coaching roles, O'Brien ain't coming back.

[fletch]

Holbrook is going to be a big loss he has been instrumental in the attacking structures over the last two seasons where they ranked 1st in scoring in 2024 and 5th in 2025 even though Walker missed the first 16 weeks.

[Mr Whippet]

That said, i dont have enough confidence in Cheika's offensive abilities.....in defence yes, but not in attack.
Im reading between the lines and suspect DCE will be heavily involved in our attacking strategies.

Hmm maybe a sweetener to Union talent out there.
Astute signing very impressive.

[caz]

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.

all depends on ponga's fitness. ponga is to the knights what tommy turbo is to the eagles

[theGman]

Hmm maybe a sweetener to Union talent out there.
Astute signing very impressive.

Ive been a big fan of Cheika's nephew Adam Doueihi since he debuted for Souffs.

I know he re-signed recently for a further 2 years but, if the planets aligned i would welcome him in RWB.

[Thirteen]

New ideas, fresh eyes, great union connections and no rugby league baggage. I think it’s an excellent appointment.

[Rooster90]

Ive been a big fan of Cheika's nephew Adam Doueihi since he debuted for Souffs.

I know he re-signed recently for a further 2 years but, if the planets aligned i would welcome him in RWB.

We tried to sign him a few years ago before he joined the Tigers, but Robbo only saw him as a centre and he wanted to prove himself as a half.

I wonder if that has changed seeing what he has done at both #13 & #7 this year....

[theGman]

We tried to sign him a few years ago before he joined the Tigers, but Robbo only saw him as a centre and he wanted to prove himself as a half.

I wonder if that has changed seeing what he has done at both #13 & #7 this year....

Doueihi will probably end up as a lock.

[HunchoRooster]

Holbrook is a very good coach and I saw our attack improve under him as the games went by. A loss but I’m sure we will be able to replace him.

Knights are a basket case at the moment and I wouldn’t want that gig. I thought Holbrook actually did ok at the Titans all things considered. Got them into the 8, which I think has only happened a couple of times.

[Michael Jones]

I think Newcastle Knights have more upside to them than the Gold Coast Titans do, being a rusted on Rugby League area.