CHATS with former bosses Daniel Anderson and Nathan Brown re-assured new head coach Justin Holbrook that he was making the right move coming to Saints.

Holbrook, who left his assistant coach role at Sydney Roosters to take up a two-and-a-half-year contract at Saints, spoke of how excited he is to take charge of the club.

Although he said the move was not planned, saying he only became aware of the job the when CEO Mike Rush flew out to Australia with a target list following the departure of Keiron Cunningham.

Holbrook said: "If you are a coach you know how big a club and how special St Helens is.

"It is a club with a big history and that was appealing to a lot of coaches back there.

"I am very pleased and excited to be fortunate enough to be that coach."

The 41-year-old, who will be joined by his family in the coming weeks, received plenty of advice and re-assurance.

“I had a couple of chats with Nathan Brown and Daniel Anderson, because they both head coached here.

“They spoke very highly of St Helens as a club and what was great set up, staff and management they have at the place,” he said.

“I also spoke a lot with Trent Robinson to see if he was ok with me moving forward because leaving mid-season is not great. Trent was fine about it and said it was a great opportunity – and he was ok that it took the job."

The move to Super League had not been part of his masterplan - but was too good an opportunity to turn down.

Holbrook added: “It is hard to get timings right as a coach because you don’t know when jobs are going to come up and when they do they happen suddenly. It is generally hard to plan.

“I don’t see this job as a stepping stone, I see it as a great opportunity.

"And the only things in the future will be if first and foremost I do a good job at St Helens."