Written by Stuart McLennan
Preparing for a season decider is not unfamiliar territory for Newcastle Knights coach Justin Holbrook. After all, he captain-coached the Dapto Canaries to a premiership in 2006 and coached St Helens to an English Super League title in 2019.
Long term Canberra local competition (Canberra Raiders Cup) followers will remember another team Holbrook took to a grand final, at a club based on the northside of Australia's capital.
The Gungahlin Bulls had a pretty good season in 2008 after missing the finals in 2007, winning the under 18s premiership, the club championship and appearing in a first-grade decider for the first time since 2001 with Holbrook named Canberra Raiders Cup Coach of the Year.
Bulls life member Tony ‘Pablo’ Sanz has positive memories of Holbrook’s 2008 season with the club.
“I read in Rugby League Review magazine that he had moved to Canberra in 2007 for his job with Schweppes after finishing up at Dapto,” Sanz recalled.
“I mentioned it to our President Andy Sell and another Bulls official Steve ‘Boomer’ Keir and they said we are already ahead of you with Justin."
“Holbrook wasn't sure if he wanted to continue as a coach at that time but they eventually signed him on as captain-coach. Being a relatively small club he was actually above our pay level but a couple of our supporters who remained anonymous for a long time chipped in to make up the difference. He never played a game for us in the end as he thought he might have something as a coach and wanted to concentrate solely on that.
“He was absolutely brilliant, very club orientated. From the first session he got senior players from reserve grade, who probably weren't likely to be in first grade, involved in different decision-making areas. Across the board, the club improved dramatically.”
The Bulls didn't manage to get the chocolates at Seiffert Oval on the big day going down 46-18 to the Queanbeyan Blues after a string of key injuries hampered them in the lead up. Holbrook told the Canberra Times before the game that the team was “probably missing the three best players in the competition.” The coach blooded a couple of 18 year old players who went onto impressive NRL careers with Paul Vaughan and Mark Nicholls named on the bench.
“We sort of limped to the Grand Final with our third captain named in the four weeks.” Sanz said.
The captain thrown into the cauldron on the big day was a young backrower named Josh Ayers who hung up the boots recently after winning the 2026 premiership with Queanbeyan Kangaroos.
“I remember Justin came up to me when everyone was out (injured). I was a bit hesitant to do it. I was only a young fella then. I would have been 21, and he said that I was his first pick, and he knew I wasn't going to let him down, and that was all I need to hear,” Ayers said.
“As a coach he didn't yell. He didn't scream. He didn't say much. But when he did everyone listened. He's a perfect man manager and an even better bloke.
“We were just lucky enough to get him for the 12 months we did. For him to go and do what he's done, he's won Super League comps, and for him to have a chance of winning it (NRL Grand Final), you couldn't find a better bloke for it to happen to.”
“It's been nearly 20 years now since Justin was at the club but he is always willing to help us out with congratulatory videos, signed jerseys and stuff like that, “ Sanz added.
Holbrook will coach the Newcastle Knights against the Sydney Roosters at the NRL Grand Final this Sunday. There will be more than a few old Bulls hoping he lifts the trophy at fulltime this time around
