It has all the ingredients for a hit reality television show.
Three rugby league coaches, living together for more than two months, in a three-bedroom Airbnb on Newcastle’s Bar Beach last summer.
It is here, in a share house in Merewether, that the Knights took the first steps in ridding themselves of the wooden spoon and commencing a storied run that has taken them into the finals. The first big call Newcastle coach Justin Holbrook made after succeeding Adam O’Brien was arranging accommodation and inviting assistant Brett White and Steve Hales to live with him.
It resulted in a trio who had never worked together before spending every waking moment together from the start of pre-season last October until the Christmas break. In doing so, they formed a strong bond that helped them identify their coaching philosophy and the culture they wanted to instil into a side that became the NRL’s biggest improver in 2026.
“It was the best thing for us,” said Holbrook, whose team takes on South Sydney in an elimination final on Friday night. “I’d worked with both of them over the years separately, but they had never met each other.
“With us starting straight away, none of our families had moved up. They put us all in together and it worked out as the best thing that could have happened.
“We were together every day, would come home from work and go out and have dinner. We were always communicating and connecting. It was a really enjoyable time.”
It quickly became evident that the housemates had very different personalities. Holbrook and White would be in bed by 8pm most nights, in order to train early the next day. Hales was a night owl who had little interest in exercise. Or cleaning.
“When Halesy worked out we had to do the dishes, he wanted to put a stop to that,” Holbrook chuckled. “He’s not very well domesticated.
“When Whitey’s young bloke come down to stay, we thought he was a five-star Michelin chef, he made some great dinners for us.
“We had the cheap eat nights at Newcastle, we’d rotate through the different pubs and steak nights. We did a lot of that, not a lot of cooking.”
Despite their differences, they quickly formed strong bonds. They would swim at the beach every day after work, play wall tennis with the locals and take training sessions out into the community.
During a pre-season staff development day, as is custom at the club, the newbies are required to lead a singalong on the bus. When it was Hales’ turn, he chose What about me?
He had barely got through the first verse when a colleague handed him a mobile phone. On the Facetime call was Shannon Noll.
“Someone tells me you might need some help with this song,” Noll said, before accompanying Hales on the tune.
“There was always something going on, it was always upbeat,” Holbrook said.
Such is the turnaround at Newcastle this season that Holbrook is one of the leading contenders for the Dally M coach of the year award. Regardless of whether he wins it, the former Titans mentor is thankful to again be working at the Knights, where he made his NRL playing debut as the understudy to Immortal halfback Andrew Johns.
“I always hoped one day to coach Newcastle and the fact I’m doing it now, I’m grateful for that opportunity,” he said.
“I love coaching, I’m excited coming to work every day and that always helps. I enjoy who I’m working with – that makes my job easier.”
Asked if he believed the Knights could make the finals in those early days in the Merewether sharehouse, Holbrook said: “Yeah, we did. It began with us coaches coming in and putting some good plans and principles in place.
“Once the players come back to pre-season training, they are the ones who gave me confidence through their work ethic.
“We had a lot of work to do as players and coaches, but we all gelled together and we’re enjoying what we’re doing. When you’re enjoying it you work harder, because you don’t see it as work.
“The players delivered in that area. We were confident right from the start.”
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