Gold Coast Titans sack coach Justin Holbrook, Hasler incoming
Gold Coast Titans have sacked coach Justin Holbrook, with Des Hasler announced as his replacement for the 2024 season.
The Titans have won six games from 13 outings, but have won just one out of their last four matches to fall to ninth on the NRL ladder.
Holbrook, 47, took over the Titans’ top job in 2020 after a successful stint in charge of Super League club St Helens, where he guided them to 70 wins from 87 starts, including the 2019 League Leaders Shield and eventually the premiership.
“We are grateful to Justin for his contribution to the club over the past four seasons,” Titans CEO Steve Mitchell said.
“We are here to bring success to the Gold Coast and in order to do so we feel that this is the change necessary to deliver on our promise which is to win premierships.”
The Gold Coast has wasted little time naming a replacement for Holbrook, with former Manly mentor Hasler joining the Titans.
Hasler was dismissed by the Sea Eagles following his response to the NRL’s Pride Round last year, which saw several players refuse to wear the guernsey, and ultimately saw them lose seven games in succession.
While Hasler is embroiled in an unfair dismissal case against the Sea Eagles, he is renowned as a player’s coach and could be the tonic to breath life into the flagging fortunes of the Titans.
The Titans have yet to announce who will coach the club for the remainder of the season, but Hasler is bullish on their prospects for next season.
He brings significant experience having coached 458 NRL games, reaching five grand finals and winning two premierships.
“I’m looking forward to joining the Titans and to the 2024 season,” Hasler said.
“The club has a strong playing roster, the region is blessed with emerging talent and the organisation is firmly embedded in the community.
“I’m confident we can deliver success to the region in the coming seasons.”
The decision to sack Holbrook comes just three days out from the Titans blockbuster clash with arch-rivals the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The Titans head into the encounter as $3.25 outsiders with NRL bookmakers, with the top-of-the-ladder Broncos long odds-on favourites at $1.35.
