A devastated Justin Holbrook has broken his silence on his shock mid-season axing from the Titans in an emotional tirade at the club’s brutal decision to replace him with Des Hasler.
The Courier Mail reported Holbrook was bitterly disappointed with the club for not allowing him the chance to make the finals with his best players on the pitch.
“I just can’t believe it; I feel awful. Totally gutted,” Holbrook told The Courier Mail.
“I did not see this coming at all; that’s what I am pissed off about.
“I could understand if they said, ‘Look, you have three games or whatever time period to do something’, but to be moved on like this, I’m still coming to terms with it.
“If they were a bit more open about the way things were heading, I would have been able to digest this, but it’s hit me out of the blue.”
Holbrook revealed that he tried to state his case with club management after being totally blindsided by the club’s decision.
“I had no inkling at all,” he said.
“Steve just called me this morning and said, ‘Have you got a minute’.
“I went in for a meeting, and he said, ‘We are going to terminate you as of right now’.
“I said, ‘Shivers, on what performance?’ I said, ‘Mate, I thought you would have given me a chance of getting the guys to the finals with our best players back’.
“Anyway, it was a waste of time talking. It wasn’t a negotiation. They had made up their minds.”
Holbrook was frustrated that he wasn’t given the chance to finish the 2023 season with the team still having a chance to play in the finals with a strong finish in 2023.
“I don’t know if I was king-hit. But I think it’s unfair with the opportunity we had at the back end of the year to make the finals,” Holbrook said.
“Would they have punted me if we were sitting second?
“Des Hasler hasn’t been coaching, so there didn’t have to be any great urgency with him.
“I was looking forward to coaching against the Broncos on Sunday, and why can’t I be given an opportunity with my best team to see how we go against Brisbane?
“Give me a chance.
“I have been sacked after a win.”
The Titans dropped the bombshell, announcing Justin Holbrook would depart the club immediately, with Des Hasler signing on as head coach for the 2024 season and beyond.
Gold Coast made the shock announcement on Thursday morning, explaining the club wants to “move in a new direction.”.
The Titans have dropped a bombshell, announcing Justin Holbrook will depart the Titans immediately, with Des Hasler signing on as head coach for the 2024 season and beyond.
Gold Coast made the shock announcement on Thursday morning, explaining the club wants to “move in a new direction.”.
“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.”
According to Nine’s Danny Weidler, Holbrook revealed the brutal way in which Holbrook was told his time was up.
“Justin Holbrook was told at 9.30am he was no longer head coach,” Weidler tweeted.
“Brutal game. I believe it was a 10-day negotiation done in the quiet.
Hasler will now take over for the rest of the season and beyond, having been out of the game since his sacking in the wake of the Sea Eagles pride jersey saga.
It remains unclear how long the premiership-winning coach has signed on for.
“I’m looking forward to joining the Titans and to the 2024 season,” Hasler said in a statement.
“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.”
