Departing St Helens coach Justin Holbrook calls for World Club Challenge grand finale
Holbrook will be beginning a new career in charge of Gold Coast Titans when Saints face Australian NRL Grand Final winners Sydney Roosters next February. And, after seeing his current team’s two-year domination of Super League rewarded with their first major trophy since 2014, Hobrook admitted that is his only regret.
“I would love the World Club Challenge to be next week,” said Holbrook.
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Hide Ad“I think it would be great if the two (Grand Finals) were played on the same weekend and the (World Club) the next week, because then you’d have the same sides.
“Wigan put up a great fight against the Roosters this year, but they didn’t have John Bateman and Sam Tomkins and it’ll be the same next year.
“The Roosters won’t have Cooper Cronk and all that, but it is hard to fit in with the international schedule.
“I won’t be coaching them, but I am just so happy they’ve earned the right to play for that World Club Challenge.”
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Hide AdSalford’s goal next year will be to prove finishing third on the league ladder and qualifying for their first major final of the summer era wasn’t a flash in the pan.
“It’s amazing,” coach Ian Watson said of this season’s progress.
“It is bigger than just getting to a Grand Final, it’s like the boys have got people to fall in love with their rugby team again.
“Hopefully we can keep some of the supporters who got behind us towards the back end of the year.
“We are a club that has to rely a lot on local businesses and its supporters to fund us going forward.”