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St Helens have begun the search for a new head coach following confirmation that Justin Holbrook will join Gold Coast Titans at the end of the season.
Holbrook, 43, who has transformed the fortunes of Saints since joining them in May 2017, is out of contract and rejected the club's offer of a new deal in order to return to the NRL, where he was assistant coach at Sydney Roosters.
Titans announced on Wednesday that Holbrook had been offered and agreed a two-year contract to succeed fellow Australian Garth Brennan, who was sacked earlier this month with the team bottom of the table.
The club can confirm that Head Coach Justin Holbrook will return home at the end of the current season to take up a contract with the @GCTitans.https://t.co/NMu7qlg8o2 — St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) July 31, 2019
"It has been an extremely tough decision to leave such a great club in St Helens," Holbrook told Saints' official website.
"Since I arrived here in 2017, everyone at the club and the fans have been brilliant to myself and my family and we have loved our time here.
"Eamonn McManus (chairman), Mike Rush (CEO) and the board wanted me to stay and did everything they could, which I greatly appreciated, but an opportunity to return home to the NRL is what I feel I need to do.
CONFIRMED: Justin Holbrook has been announced as the new Gold Coast Titans Head Coach from 2020. 📰➡️ https://t.co/pvrSTowenB pic.twitter.com/3dyCrsS6RJ — Gold Coast Titans (@GCTitans) July 31, 2019
"It is very difficult as the only time I would get an opportunity like that is when we are winning and doing well as a club, which makes the decision even harder for me.
"I want to pay a huge thank you to my staff, who are all excellent at what they do, and especially the players who make coming to work enjoyable every day. The main thing for me is that I know the club is in a great position moving forward."
St Helens chairman McManus added: "From a St Helens perspective, we are clearly disappointed that Justin has ultimately decided not to enter into a new contract with us.
"We did everything practical to persuade him to stay, but we must respect his decision to join the Gold Coast Titans and to return to Australia with his young family. We wish him every success and more in his career and life ahead.
"We will leave the real thank you's and goodbyes until the end of the season. There are jobs to do and titles to be won, before then at Wembley and at Old Trafford and all focus must and will be on those. Justin and the entire club are now interested in that and that alone."
