Justin Holbrook appointed as Papua New Guinea head coach ahead of Pacific Championships.
Former Gold Coast Titans mentor Justin Holbrook has been appointed as Papua New Guinea’s head coach ahead of the recently announced Pacific Championships at the end of the year.
The 47-year-old will replace Stanley Tepend as boss, following the Kumuls’ somewhat disappointing World Cup campaign last year which saw the side exit at the quarter final stage of the tournament.
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Since his shock departure from the Titans midway through the season, Holbrook became a hot commodity and has been headhunted by a number of clubs and national side Panthers captain Nathan Cleary defends ‘villain’ Jarome Luai
Amongst the plethora of NRL clubs who chased his services, Samoa also reportedly held discussions with him after Matt Parish’s decade-long tenure at the beaten World Cup finalists ended earlier this month.
“Justin has been highly sought after as a coach in recent times and so his decision to take on the head coach’s role with the Kumuls is a major vote of confidence in the plans we have in place for rugby league in this country,” Kumuls chairman Wapu Sonk said.
“Having someone of the calibre of Justin coaching the Kumuls is a major boost for rugby league in the country.”
Holbrook will take the reins later this month ahead of a Test series against Fiji and the Cook Islands, which begins in October.
“You only have to speak to anyone associated with the game in PNG to see the passion they have for rugby league,” Holbrook said.
“They are a country that are looking to the future and building a structure that will support the development of the game in this country for years to come.
“I am looking forward to working closely with the players to continue their development and to build on the great work that has been done before me.”
Holbrook’s appointment as PNG head coach has been attributed to his success with developing young talent throughout his career, with the nation still hoping to secure a place in the NRL through expansion.
“He has shown that wherever he has coached he has built a reputation for developing younger players and creating a winning culture and that is something that we are looking to create with our international teams,” Sonk added.
Holbrook’s appointment as Kumuls coach coincides with his return to the Sydney Roosters where he will work alongside Trent Robinson once again as an assistant coach from 2024.
But the move from PNG’s national side represents how highly regarded Holbrook still is within the game despite his spell with the Titans coming to an abrupt end after the club decided Des Hasler would be better equipped to take them forward in the future.
