For Holbrook, it is another chance to become a head coach, a job he last held at the Gold Coast Titans. The latest gig, given the Knights just earned the wooden spoon, is arguably the toughest in rugby league. Any success is likely to hinge on whether he can get value out of the club’s $13 million, 10-year investment in Dylan Brown.
Dylan Brown shares a joke with his future Newcastle teammates.Credit: Getty Images
While many critics feel the club has overspent on the former Eel, Holbrook believes he has an elite talent that will only get better.
“He’s already there, he’s still only 24 now and been one of the class halves of our competition for a few years now,” Holbrook said.
“That’s my main job when I get up there, getting in with all those boys and putting all the pieces together.
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“Dylan is a big part of that. He’s a very exciting recruit to join the club. I’m excited to work with him.”
As to whether he will have the famous Newcastle No.7 on his back, Holbrook said: “I don’t want to say things are definite because I want to get up there and meet everyone first.
“We’ve got to nut that out pretty early on. I want to get in there first.”
The Knights struggled to score points in 2025, a category in which they came. However, Holbrook acknowledged the club’s best eras were built on steely defence.
“Everyone knows that it’s a hard-working area and everyone wants that represented in their rugby league side,” he said.
“It’s about hard work, the blue-collar guys. That’s the way the team should be representing the town, and that’s my job now. It’s a collective approach, and one thing we need is everyone working together. I’m looking forward to working with the playing group and getting on with it.”
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