Justin Holbrook discussion

Can’t say I’ve seen a lot of the SEN interviews in the past but this wasn’t too bad.

Interestingly, from the ones i have seen Fletch has always been very negative on the Knights (not that he’s without cause) but his tone with Holbrook is completely different and at the end he tips them for the 8.

Could be wrong but seems like Holbrook is just a generally more well-liked person, obviously well regarded at the Roosters and certainly more than AOB. Wouldn’t be surprised if that results in that more favourable media coverage in general
 
You could always tell Robbo in particular was very down on the Knights and filthy on AOB because of how he left, and so much of the media is basically just the Trent Robinson & Nick Politis publishing arm.

I hate saying this because it's a reflection of how weak the club has been, but a friendly relationship between us and the Chooks may actually be good lol.

And yeah you'd love it if the players could just adopt a siege mentality, but I think the amount of water-carrying the media does for a head coach who's widely liked vs the way they're vultures about the ones who don't have the mates, I do think that's helpful too. I think it's helped Ricky's Raiders (TM).
 
Newygirl said:
Can’t say I’ve seen a lot of the SEN interviews in the past but this wasn’t too bad.

Interestingly, from the ones i have seen Fletch has always been very negative on the Knights (not that he’s without cause) but his tone with Holbrook is completely different and at the end he tips them for the 8.

Could be wrong but seems like Holbrook is just a generally more well-liked person, obviously well regarded at the Roosters and certainly more than AOB. Wouldn’t be surprised if that results in that more favourable media coverage in general
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Entirely anecdotal but I have strangely come into contact with quite a few people over the last fortnight who have met and interacted with Holbrook at various levels of the game (former teammates, players he's coached at various levels, people involved at an administrative/grassroots level etc) and every single one has endorsed his character to a high level.

Doesn't necessarily mean he'll be a successful coach but based on this media coverage and those personal anecdotes I'm quite confident Holbrook has a strong ability to develop and manage relationships with people from all backgrounds.
 
HarVeeGee13 said:
You could always tell Robbo in particular was very down on the Knights and filthy on AOB because of how he left, and so much of the media is basically just the Trent Robinson & Nick Politis publishing arm.

I hate saying this because it's a reflection of how weak the club has been, but a friendly relationship between us and the Chooks may actually be good lol.

And yeah you'd love it if the players could just adopt a siege mentality, but I think the amount of water-carrying the media does for a head coach who's widely liked vs the way they're vultures about the ones who don't have the mates, I do think that's helpful too. I think it's helped Ricky's Raiders (TM).
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Sadly yes this seems to be true unfortunately. At least until Politis shuffles off for good.

Yeah don’t think AOB did himself any favours with the way he exited. Should’ve been more upfront with Robbo about it and burned some bridges.

In a sport as insular and incestuous as the NRL, maintaining positive relationships with key figures and everyone for the matter is essential

Further to that, I don’t think the Raiders would even exist if they didn’t get Ricky back. He is the Raiders.
 
Newygirl said:
Can’t say I’ve seen a lot of the SEN interviews in the past but this wasn’t too bad.

Interestingly, from the ones i have seen Fletch has always been very negative on the Knights (not that he’s without cause) but his tone with Holbrook is completely different and at the end he tips them for the 8.

Could be wrong but seems like Holbrook is just a generally more well-liked person, obviously well regarded at the Roosters and certainly more than AOB. Wouldn’t be surprised if that results in that more favourable media coverage in general
Click to expand...
I think AOB has a bit of a hard exterior which rubs people up the wrong way. However I have been present at the club previously and watched AOB clean up after the players and shake everyone’s hand at the club. That was 2022 I thought the players were entitled and he was left to clean up after them at the cafe.
 
I’ve heard some pretty hairy stories about him too (not reported ones). People are complicated, my read on AOB is mostly just that the stress of the job was taking a huge toll on him and has been for longer than he’s acknowledged. It also doesn’t necessarily mean someone is a bad dude if a lot of footy blokes don’t like them. A lot of people really, really like Isaac Moses. That’s how he gets away with it.
 
HarVeeGee13 said:
You could always tell Robbo in particular was very down on the Knights and filthy on AOB because of how he left, and so much of the media is basically just the Trent Robinson & Nick Politis publishing arm.

I hate saying this because it's a reflection of how weak the club has been, but a friendly relationship between us and the Chooks may actually be good lol.

And yeah you'd love it if the players could just adopt a siege mentality, but I think the amount of water-carrying the media does for a head coach who's widely liked vs the way they're vultures about the ones who don't have the mates, I do think that's helpful too. I think it's helped Ricky's Raiders (TM).
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How did he leave on bad terms? I’ve always thought that they’d endorsed him for the head coaching job and released him to take it up.
 
He signed for 3 years at the Roosters with the understanding he wouldn't try to leave early, and then midway through the first year the Knights job came up and he pursued it. They let him go but it wasn't on good terms.

Holbrook talks about how that process works at 0:54 in the SEN interview posted above.
 
Yep and AOB basically secured the Knights job for himself via Moses *then* fronted up to Robbo/the Chooks.

Not a big Robbo fan but definitely AOB and Holbrook didn’t go about it the same way.
 
Hey had a discussion with Robbo when he signed on as assistant if a head coaching job come up he could apply. So I guess it was part of his contract. He signed 3 years.
 
mullenmagic said:
He signed for 3 years at the Roosters with the understanding he wouldn't try to leave early, and then midway through the first year the Knights job came up and he pursued it. They let him go but it wasn't on good terms.
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With the way the NRL is and its cut throat and demanding business with coaches, Every assistant coach who even has some chance of being a potential head coach in waiting should really just be a year to year basis or at least of the understanding they can interview for head coaching roles when they come up if the other team looking is interested. Considering new coaches usually like to bring in their staff anyway and clean out who's there a lot of the time.

The Roosters just want to have their cake and eat it too.

And let's not pretend that they are the first team that has happened to, or on the flip side "AHEM!" taken advantage of a player wanting out or used their agent to weasel their way out of somewhere either "AHEM!" sorry got a bit of a tickle.
 
HarVeeGee13 said:
Only guy in the world who can maintain a siege mentality while most people are praising him.
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And the only guy who can tell a cameraman to f*** off on live air and then have the camera man's employer apologise to him publicly.
 
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