Newcastle Knights coaching success

Newcastle Knights head coach Justin Holbrook has been cited as a leading candidate for the NRL Coach of the Year following the team’s successful ascent from the bottom of the ladder to the finals. Despite season-ending injuries to players Dylan Brown and Dylan Lucas, the team maintained momentum under Holbrook, who has been credited with improving the performance of players such as Fletcher Sharpe, Dom Young, and Greg Marzhew.

Reflecting on the season’s success, Holbrook revealed that the coaching staff utilized a unique living arrangement during the 2026 pre-season to build team culture. Holbrook, along with assistant coaches Brett White and Steve Hales, shared a three-bedroom Airbnb in Merewether from October until the Christmas break. This arrangement was intended to help the trio, who had worked together separately in the past, align their coaching philosophy and build a cohesive approach that ultimately helped transform the Knights into the league’s biggest improver.