Justin Holbrook set for Gold Coast interview – reports

James Messenger

St Helens Head Coach Justin Holbrook is set to be interviewed for the vacant Gold Coast Head Coach role, according to reports in Australia

The Titans have been without a permanent coach since Garth Brennan was dismissed from his position earlier this month.

They have won just four games in 2019 and are bottom of the NRL ladder, eight points adrift of the play-off spots.

Holbrook has been tipped as the permanent successor to Brennan, given he is out of contract with the Saints at the end of the year and is yet to agree new terms at the club.

Assistant Coaches Craig Hodges and Luke Burt have been placed in temporary charge of the Australian side until the end of the current campaign.

The Sydney Morning Herald report that Holbrook is one of Gold Coast’s main targets alongside Queensland Head Coach Kevin Walters, who appeared to rule himself out of the running for the role earlier this week.

They also report that Holbrook is keeping an eye on the managerial situation at the Canterbury Bulldogs. Their Head Coach, Dean Pay, has been under pressure in recent weeks, but two wins in their last three seem to have alleviated any threat of an imminent departure.

Other coaches said to have applied for the Titans job include Ben and Shane Walker, co-coaches of Queensland Cup side Ipswich Jets, and Geoff Toovey, formerly of the Manly Sea Eagles.

Hodges, one of the Titans’ current interim coaches, admitted that ‘every coach would love to coach NRL’, but said that he was focused on trying to revive their current slump in form.

Gold Coach are expected to begin their interview process early next week.