Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson has reflected on his long-term relationship with former colleague turned rival NRL coach Justin Holbrook ahead of the Grand Final.
Holbrook was called upon for a two-season stint in Bondi under Robinson as the club's attack coach following his parting ways with the Gold Coast Titans.
It wasn't his first time within the four walls of Moore Park, and he previously spent three seasons in Roosters colours during 2015 and 2017.
The Knights summoned Holbrook to take on head coaching duties after a lacklustre 2025 season saw them collect the wooden spoon.
The club desperately needed a new attacking angle after the lows of last season, and now the Knights own one of the most unique and exciting brands of footy in the entire NRL.
Holbrook's immediate attacking effect, which was developed from his time at the tri-colours, has watched the club go from averaging 14.1 points per game to 25.4 in 2026.
It has now led to Holbrook coming face-to-face with Robinson for the 2026 premiership trophy, with the three-time title-winning coach full of praise for his ex-assistant.
“I really believed in Justin and his coaching,” Robinson said on SEN's Kick Off.
“It was either 2014 or 2015 I hired Justin the first time before he went to St Helens and then when he got moved on from Gold Coast. I sort of met him a couple of weeks after that and came back again, so we've been friends for a long time and knew he's a great coach.
“It's sort of a balance between being super focused on us, my job is to win on Sunday for the Roosters and being really super proud of a guy that's done an amazing job this year.”
Despite Holbrook's previous experience within the Roosters' elite system, Robinson remains confident the Knights coach isn't heading into the battle with an increased advantage over him.
“There are parts of it that help, and he's been in our environment for a long time as well,” he said.
“So, there are parts of that, but to say that there's an advantage means that you don't know the other coaches.
“If you don't know the other coaches, even if you haven't spent time with them, you're missing your role. So even if I haven't spent a minute with a coach or a team, my job throughout the year is to know them intimately, so we can beat them on the weekend.”
On Sunday, Robinson has the chance to win his first four NRL Grand Finals he's been a part of.
The 2026 decider kicks off at 7:30pm on Sunday night, with one of two incredible records set to be smashed.
Either the first time in the NRL era a team outside the top four will win the competition (Knights), or an NRL side will win the title for the first time after conceding 50 points during the regular season (Roosters).
