Gold Coast have committed to give Justin Holbrook the time required to transform the Titans into an NRL powerhouse.
Holbrook has accepted an offer to become the Titans coach and will be announced later this week once the finer details of his contract have been finalised.
The 43-year-old has won 62 of 78 games during the past two seasons in charge of English Super League club St Helens and was quickly identified as the man the Titans believe can finally deliver sporting success to Australia’s sixth-largest city.
Since foundation coach John Cartwright’s departure in 2014, the Titans have sacked Neil Henry and Garth Brennan while there has been just one finals appearance since 2009.
Titans chief executive Steve Mitchell wouldn’t confirm Holbrook’s appointment on Monday, saying only the ex-Newcastle, Penrith and Sydney Roosters halfback “brings a lot” to the role.
Mitchell said the new coach would be given several years to turn around the club’s on-field performance, with a playing roster rebuild unlikely to be completed until at least the 2023 NRL season.
“There’s a genuine understanding, desire and intent from the club to have a long-term coach,” Mitchell said.
“A coach that can set culture and build a squad over a three-to-five year period.”
With several underperforming high-earners on long contracts at the Titans, a clearout at the end of 2019 is unlikely with Mitchell saying the club was not in favour of paying part-contracts to allow players to move.
Holbrook’s impending appointment continues the trend of Australian coaches proving themselves in England before landing an NRL role.
Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson and Wests Tigers mentor Michael Maguire have both won premierships since returning from stints in the UK.
Nathan Brown won a Super League grand final at St Helens before securing the NRL cooaching job at Newcastle in 2016.
Holbrook has been a wanted man in the NRL for a while.
Since ending his playing career, he has held coaching positions at Canterbury, St George Illawarra and Parramatta before working as Robinson’s right-hand man with the Roosters from 2014 until he left for St Helens in 2017.
He won last year’s minor premiership with the Saints and they are 10 points clear on the competition ladder nearing the end of the 2019 Super League campaign.
Holbrook has previously been linked with head coaching positions at the Knights and Cronulla while the Bulldogs were understood to be looking at him as a potential replacement for coach Dean Pay.
“He brings a lot, what he’s done and where he’s come from at St Helens,” Mitchell said of Holbrook.
“Winning culture is fundamental to what we want.
“We need that culture through the high performance system to complement everything else we’re doing in the community.”
Queensland State of Origin coach Kevin Walters was the favourite to secure the Titans position when Brennan was sacked earlier this month.
But the 51-year-old Walters said he would not be applying for the role and it’s understood the Titans did not seek him out, preferring to deal with applicants only.
The complication of finalising negotiations with parties on either side of the world is likely to mean an announcement confirming Holbrook’s appointment is unlikely until Wednesday at the earliest.
JUSTIN HOLBROOK’S RUGBY LEAGUE CAREER
Playing career
Clubs: Newcastle, Penrith, Sydney Roosters
Position: Halfback
Games: 17 (1999-2002)
Coaching career
St Helens (2017-19)
Games: 72 (57 wins, 15 defeats)
* Won 2018 Super League minor premiership
* Has held coaching positions at Canterbury, St George Illawarra, Parramatta and Sydney Roosters.
