The Newcastle Knights enter the 2026 NRL season with a new coach and a marquee signing, sparking hopes of a turnaround after a disastrous 2025 campaign. Justin Holbrook takes over as head coach, while former Parramatta Eels half Dylan Brown joins on a 10-year deal. The club has also seen a host of other new staff and recruits, creating a fresh atmosphere at Broadmeadow.
Hooker Phoenix Crossland noted the transformation upon returning for pre-season training, saying, 'I walked in and it felt like I was at a new club.' However, the Knights are coming off a wooden spoon season in 2025, with only six wins in 24 games, nine consecutive losses to end the year, and a humiliating 66-10 defeat in the final round.
The team's struggles were compounded by injuries and suspensions, with key players like Kalyn Ponga, Fletcher Sharpe, Dylan Lucas, Adam Elliott, Bradman Best, and Jacob Saifiti spending significant time on the sidelines. The lack of depth in the roster was exposed, forcing the club to debut eight players, some earlier than expected.
Former coach Adam O'Brien resigned with two games left in the season, ending his six-year tenure. Holbrook, who played 17 first-grade matches for the Knights in 1999-2000, brings head coaching experience from St Helens (2017-19) and the Gold Coast Titans (2020-23). He won a Super League premiership with St Helens, boasting an 80% win rate, but managed only a 37% win rate at the Titans.
Despite the optimism, the Knights face a significant challenge. They have not finished in the top four since 2006, and their best regular-season finish in the past two decades was fifth in 2023 under O'Brien. Whether Holbrook can revive the club's fortunes remains to be seen.
