Titans coach in fight to keep job
TITANS boss Steve Mitchell has declared Justin Holbrook will not be sacked immediately as pressure builds on the besieged coach to avoid a wooden-spoon collapse this season.
Gold Coast hierarchy have broken their silence on Holbrook’s future, with Mitchell saying he wants the former St Helens premiership winner on deck next season to preside over the Titans’ revival.
But Holbrook faces a perform-or-perish scenario, with the next month to be a critical barometer of whether the Titans can be resurrected on his watch – starting on Sunday against the Bulldogs at CommBank Stadium.
A series of heavy defeats will put Holbrook under extreme pressure.
After the Titans’ woeful loss to Newcastle two weeks ago, Holbrook was buffeted by speculation he could be sacked before their next game against Brisbane, but the 46-year-old was still in charge for the Queensland derby.
Speaking for the first time about the coaching saga, Mitchell said the Titans’ gutsy 16-12 loss to the Broncos proved there was no dressingroom revolt against Holbrook.
Asked if Holbrook would be Titans coach in 2023, the Gold Coast chief executive was unequivocal.
“Absolutely, we are completely supportive of Justin,” Mitchell said.
“I think Justin needs time and patience. It’s the mark of a good organisation that is under pressure to actually have the patience to allow the environment to evolve and improve and not to be reactive.
“We are supporting Justin through this process.
“It’s a tough time. We are under pressure as a club and deservedly so. We will wear the criticism, but it’s important we fight out of this period together and I believe Justin can turn this around.”
Holbrook is contracted until the end of 2024, but the Titans have the protection of clauses that would minimise an expensive payout should they sever ties with the coach.
While Holbrook took the Titans to the finals last season, his overall success rate as Gold Coast coach has plummeted to 35.4 per cent. Their derby loss to the Broncos was Holbrook’s 40th defeat from 62 games at the Titans.
Only Garth Brennan (30 per cent) has an inferior record as Titans mentor, but Mitchell says Holbrook is not solely to blame for Gold Coast’s freefall.