Hyperbolic click-bait ‘journalism’ incoming.
Gold Coast have found a photogenic manager that plays attractive rugby league and has taken them one level above awful, and suddenly every meter maid and her dog thinks he’s the next big thing.
As with all trends, I’m going to jump on the bandwagon a few weeks too late. But unlike some Gold Coast fans I want to put forward some old-world viewpoints to back up the idea that Holbrook may be on a similar career trajectory to Trent Robinson.
We’re all aware of Trent Robinson’s impact on the Roosters, and if you’re a Bunny like me, painfully so. He took a side that finished 13th in 2012 to four titles and three premierships in seven seasons.
Now not for one moment am I suggesting Holbrook will turn the Titans into the next NRL dynasty. There’s some crazy stuff on the internet, but that would just about take the biscuit. However, I can definitely see comparisons between his current project and a previous Trent Robinson gig.
With a playing history in the south of France, Robinson took the reins of the newish Catalan Dragons at the end of the 2010 season. They had finished rock bottom and were only spared relegation thanks to yet another one of the northern game’s idiosyncratic restructurings, which paints Australian politics as a picture of longevity and calmness.
He took over the side that had the previous season managed to finish below even London, whose fan-base invented the idea of physical distancing. In two seasons he took them to two play-offs, including a fourth-place finish with just one loss in Perpignan all season, and a Challenge Cup quarter-final run.
He may not have won the Super League grand final, but then only four sides ever have. More to the point, the Moore Park hot seat beckoned, and the rest, as they say, is very annoying history.
(Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Justin Holbrook has similar Super League pedigree. He took over a St Helens side languishing at the wrong end of the table in 2017, taking them on a surprise play-off run, and subsequently winning back-to-back league titles.
They made a Challenge Cup final only to embarrass themselves in front of the onlooking Prince Harry (how the tables have turned), but found redemption with a comfortable grand final victory. For a club used to dining at the posh end of the high table, it was very much mission accomplished.
He’s proved his managerial nous on both sides of the world. But rather than think of St Helens and Holbrook in the same way as Robinson’s pre-Chooks stint in France, it is perhaps more accurate to compare his Catalans stint to Holbrook’s current tenure in Queensland.
Could the Gold Coast be the audition for Holbrook to progress onto bigger and better things? Granted, the comparison is not pinpoint – especially with Robinson’s prior history in the east and the fact that there is no hemispheric jump to make.
But there’s no doubt that Holbrook was taking over a Gold Coast club of not much more than Super League standard. They have enough wooden spoons to earn a Greta Thunberg rebuke about deforestation, and to claim false comparison by suggesting Gold Coast were somehow streaks ahead of Super League quality would be comedic if it weren’t so utterly ludicrous.
(Photo by Dave Howarth/PA Images via Getty Images)
I have no time for anyone who would take Greg Leleisiuao, as good as he is, over Tommy Makinson.
I don’t think the good people of Robina will be rolling out the ticker tape any time soon. But if given backing by the bigwigs upstairs, possibly reunited with some of his St Helens favourites like Regan Grace or Jonny Lomax, they can definitely make a run in the play-offs in the coming years.
The fact that Luke Thompson may head to the Gold Coast for career improvement speaks volumes of the work already done by Holbrook.
Just as Robinson’s promising French showing spring-boarded him to an NRL powerhouse and subsequent era-creating form, so too can Holbrook’s promise put him on the radar of the game’s giants.
When Wayne Bennett eventually leaves South Sydney after one press conference too many that finally breaks him, or premiers Annastacia Palaszczuk and Daniel Andrews starve Craig Bellamy of more Queensland talent, why wouldn’t the higher-ups at Redfern or Melbourne not at least consider a proven winner with a knack of getting more than the best out of his players?
And to any Gold Coast fans despairing that this represents the height of your club’s ambition, I’ll give you some consolation. Six seasons after Robinson left Catalans, they triumphed at Wembley in the Challenge Cup final, the first non-domestic side to win the competition. That gives hope to the Warriors too, but even my optimism has its limits.
MORDAC
Guest
Gold Coast have infinitely more upside than Souffs. If early indications are anything to go by, possibly as early as next year Gold Coast will be a superior team and the year after that, financially more successful if not already. They just needed a chance to recruit some top talent. Both wanted both Fifita and Haas but Broncos have until now always had the first choice. Now they have a chance to build a team which young players want to join rather than the Broncos. Souffs will be no chance at all.
Landcruiser79
Guest
How would you buy it ? A car dispenser ?
Nat
Roar Rookie
No, without car manufacturers I'd be walking. Without salesman, I'd have a more pleasurable time buying a car.
Landcruiser79
Guest
“car salesman no less” Without car salesmen, you’d be walking.
Contego
Roar Rookie
Who else that Fogerty could have been the captain recently? Ryan James, Jai Arrow and Anthony Don are injured and Kevin Proctor was out. It was either Fogerty or Hipgrave and whilst Hipgrave would have been interesting I don't think it was hard decision
Contego
Roar Rookie
The Frizelle's have made plenty of money from car sales but not as much as Uncle Nick. That is a significant difference.
Rossi
Roar Rookie
I daresay any half decent coach could be the next Robbo if they had Uncle Nick's brown paper bags buying them a ridiculous roster...
Landcruiser79
Guest
This all gets quite tedious. There have been quite a few teams caught cheating the cap with little success on the field , so success isn’t necessarily a product of cheating the cap. None of the Roosters detractors have one ounce of proof of cheating allegations, but they continue to vomit the same old bile year in year out . Just face it , The Roosters are an exceptionally well run club with the modern eras best coach who maximises the potential of his players, yet at the same time doesn’t get involved in bidding wars once they been developed. Because he always has potential replacements waiting in the wings. The Roosters paid a mill for Cronk. The Dragons paid a mill for Hunt. The Titans get Ash Taylor for similar money. Sou ffs punted Keary down the road . Robbo turns him into the games number one 5/8. The list goes on n on.
Greg
Roar Pro
Yep, And the new owners (I think the Frizell's). Things have steadily improved since they took ownership
Ja ja klazo
Guest
He's got a similar calm demeanor
mushi
Roar Guru
I think you finally found a way to make the Gold Coast care about the titans! Each week run an ad saying the opposition compared them to Blackpool.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
I think he would be a fine option until they find a development player. The difference between his best and worst is huge but Holbrook may find the key to him.
Nat
Roar Rookie
I wonder how Peachy would go at hooker. He'd need to drop 5kg but he has/had nouse for an opportunity when presented.
Nat
Roar Rookie
It is fair to acknowledge it is just the start of something. They still need a good, creative hooker. I am talking 2-3yrs for recognisable success but this year coach had to find his way and the players that suit that style but I can see a real improved style in their game. A lot of that can be as simple as a decent #7. Holbrook still made the call to bring him up when he had $1m half and a few young guns (Boyd and Brimson) he could have tried to develop into the role.
Rob9
Roar Guru
I hope they’re able to hold onto Proctor. With the trajectory of Fotuaika and the arrivals of Fafita and Fa’asuamaleaui, an older, experienced head will be invaluable for leading around one of the most exciting packs in the competition. To really be a threat there’s still obviously some question marks over the halves. Fogarty is playing some decent footy but Taylor will never live up to his marquee price tag. It was nice to hear that he said he’d be prepared to take a cut to allow the Titans to go after some talent to fill some more gaps. I liked the chat of targeting Mbye. As a utility, I think he covers some areas where the Titans are a bit skinny, being the halves and the centres. If they’ve got a few more $ to sling around I’d like to see them have a crack at a young up and coming back like Xavier Coates or Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow. Holding onto Proctor and throwing Mbye and one of them into their list of 2021 signings and they’re starting to look like top 4 contenders.
Nat
Roar Rookie
I get frustrated watching Joliffe. A big guy that moves well and hits-n-sticks then drops one cold. I reckon Taylor is minding the spot for young Boyd and learning from Fogarty is priceless re dedication, structure and perserverance.
Chuck
Guest
"...an excellent pick up." Understatement of the year so far?
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
Yes Uncle Nick the Magican. Just look how he magically got SBW for $150K and Sally Cap still has heaps leftover.
Paul
Roar Guru
and how much of that supposed improvement is down to the coach?
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Spot on , you would need blinkers on not to see the improvement in a lot of their players. It's fairly obvious.