Justin Holbrook backed by Gold Coast Titans executive Dennis Watt amid Shane Flanagan links, Sam Verrills transfer rumours
Gold Coast Titans executive Dennis Watt has publicly backed under-fire coach Justin Holbrook, saying the club is focused on getting him more help.
Holbrook has come under pressure this season with the Titans slipping from eighth on the ladder last year to being currently at the bottom of the table with just three wins in 19 matches in 2022.
Amid links to former Sharks coach Shane Flanagan, Watt suggested the veteran coach would come on to a staff with Holbrook if he is to join the Titans, rather than outright replacing the current head coach.
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“If you’re going to put a list together of the most capable and celebrated in the game, (Flanagan) would certainly be on that list,” he told 4BC.
“Our focus now is giving Justin Holbrook what he needs to succeed. The previous two seasons under Justin we finished strongly and certainly there was plenty of hope around the future. We just want to support him as best we can.”
Watt noted that his side had a “really young core” and is aiming to supplement it with some veterans, starting with Kiwi halfback Kieran Foran, who has already committed to joining the club on a two-year deal.
The Titans executive noted that he’d like to bring a hooker to the club, saying Roosters No.9 Sam Verrills is “a player who would be attractive to us for sure”.
“We’ve got a remarkable emerging young leader in Tino (Fa’asuamaleaui). We’ve certainly got some experience coming next year in terms of Kieran Foran,” he said.
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“We tried and failed this year to attract a No.9, but hopefully we’ll be able to announce something on that front soon just to round that spine out and give it some balance.”
Despite his optimism on the club’s future, Watt admitted the club had fallen “a long way short” of its aspirations for the 2022 season and cited the importance of finishing off the season with some momentum.
The Titans will look to record their fourth win of the season when they travel to AAMI Park to take on the Melbourne Storm on Friday night.
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