Kumuls coup: In-demand Holbrook to coach Papua New Guinea

Justin Holbrook has been appointed as coach of the Kumuls in a massive coup for Papua New Guinea ahead of the upcoming Pacific Championships.

The former Titans coach, who took St Helens to the 2019 Super League premiership, has been in high demand from clubs in Australia and England, as well as internationally, since his shock mid-season departure from the Gold Coast.

Holbrook, who will join Sydney Roosters as an assistant coach next season, had been linked to the vacant Samoa job as well as roles with Warrington, Canterbury and Wests Tigers.

“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,” PNG LNG Kumuls Chairman, Wapu Sonk, said.

Holbrook said he was excited by the opportunity to help develop playing talent in Papua New Guinea.

“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.

There is an enormous talent base of players in PNG and a real desire to compete against the best.

“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 has added significance as PNG continues its strategic approach to creating an internal pathways system as part of its bid to join the NRL.

He will take up his new role this month to allow lead-in time to the four-week Pacific Championship Tri-Series against Fiji and the Cook Islands, which kicks off in Port Moresby on October 14-15.

The Kumuls qualified for the quarter-finals of last year's World Cup with a squad that boasted the likes of Alex Johnston, Justin Olam, Xavier Coates, Lachlan Lam, Edwin Ipape, Dan Russell and Jacob Allck.

PNG will host four matches of the Pacific Championships, including the Pacific Bowl final on the weekend of November 4-5.

Holbrook boasts an impressive coaching resume. Having gained experience on the coaching staff of a number of NRL clubs, he took charge of St Helens in 2017 and steered the club to the 2019 Challenge Cup final and Super League premiership.

Holbrook returned to Australia in 2020 to coach the Titans and turned around the fortunes of the 2019 wooden-spooners by leading them to a credible 9th position.

The Titans made the finals the following year for the first time in five seasons but after failing to repeat the feat last season Holbrook parted ways with the club in June in a move which stunned many in the game, including his players.

Such is the esteem Holbrook is held by those he has coached that Queensland Origin forwards Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and David Fifita had clauses in their contracts making them free agents if he was no longer coach. 

Both have since re-signed on upgraded and extended deals, with Fa'asuamaleaui signing for 10 years.

“Having someone of the calibre of Justin coaching the Kumuls is a major boost for rugby league in the country," Sonk said.

“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.”

PNGRFL CEO, Stanley Hondina, also announced the re-appointment of Ben Jefferies, who is currently the Cowboys NRLW head coach, to the position of Santos Orchids head coach.

The PNGRFL also announced that the Junior Kumuls will be coached by Joe Grima and the Junior Orchids will be coached by Solomon Kuluniasi.