HE has only been here a week, but new Saints coach Justin Holbrook has already put a smile back on the players’ faces and a sent a buzz of anticipation through a beleaguered fan base.

A thumping big win against Hull FC at Newcastle’s Magic has been followed up by the signing of NRL superstar Ben Barba to send a real crackle through the town.

It is early days yet, but Holbrook’s arrival has restored hope to a campaign that was looking forlorn and sent a positive pointer for the future that the club, with just one major trophy in eight seasons, is rediscovering a genuine ambition to be the biggest of hitters.

Holbrook arrived in town last Thursday, taking the helm of a team whose confidence was deep in its boots after suffered a Challenge Cup mullering the week before.

That was a pretty desolate low point of an inconsistent season that had led to the removal of head coach Keiron Cunningham after the whispers of discontent among the fans had turned into a roar.

If ever there was a time for someone to pour oil on troubled waters this was it; and although big tests are still to come – starting tonight against Wigan – it is so far so good for the 41-year-old former Sydney Roosters assistant coach.

Holbrook, who has taken up a two-and-a-half-year contract at Saints, is visibly excited to take charge of a club like Saints and that enthusiasm has already rubbed off.

His first job is to lift the team up the table and make a charge on the top four – a tough task, but not impossible.

Holbrook said: “The club are not happy where they are sitting and that is why I am here.

“That is not to say that I am going to be the saviour, but because they expect near the top.

“They are a proud, successful club and are not happy with where they are sitting, but neither are the staff or the players.

“It is a matter from here on in to climb the ladder.

“We just want to play well every week, one week at a time, and as a new coach that is the only choice I have to try and change things a little bit.

“We played well on Saturday and If we can continue to play like that we are going to be in a good position.

“But that is the challenge, a week at a time and we have got to string some games together.”

Two things jump out from his first press briefing – he listens to and answers questions methodically and so far has not stopped smiling. In a town, nay world, that probably frowns too much it is a refreshing characteristic and hopefully Holbrook can get us all to smile more.

But much of that will depend on what happens on the field – and coaches are judged on results and entertainment.

The brand of the Saints and what they have been noted for is something Holbrook is well aware of. “If you are a coach you know how big a club and how special St Helens is,” he said.

“I have only been here a few days but I do know the proud history of the club, how passionate the fans are and I know they expect an attacking brand of football, but that is what makes it exciting.

“You don’t want to be at a club that are not expected to do well because that would mean you would have low expectations on yourself.

“St Helens 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.

“Everyone involved at the club is not happy where they are sitting at the moment and I want to do something about that and be part of that process.

“I am lucky enough to have been given that opportunity and it is something I want to make happen.

“We started well on Saturday but we need to carry that on.

“Hopefully what happened at Newcastle will continue that vibe around the club. We want to get back to playing well and the fans turning up in big numbers.

“They will this week for the derby game, but for the rest of the year we want to get that excitement back and give the fans something to cheer.

“But yes, I am well aware of the DNA of the club and how they like to play rugby league.

“I will probably try to take a bit of the pressure off the players and that was my main role in the brief time I had with them before the weekend’s game in Newcastle.

“When I was back home watching the games I could see how much pressure was on them and they were trying really hard to play some expansive football.

“Unfortunately, it leads to errors when you try to create things and I have seen a lot of frustrated players this last couple of weeks.

“I wanted to take that pressure off.

“I thought it was a positive sign and then without trying too hard on Saturday we scored 45 points.

“Although we do want to play an attacking style, if we can play the way we played consistently then that will lead to some good things.

“I don’t think we can go into games wanting directly to score points but if we have got enough confidence, something the boys have been lacking, that helps.

“Everyone gets affected when your team is not winning – it is not just the staff, players and management, it is your fans.

“If they are known for an attacking style and then they are not doing that and not winning then it affects how many turn up.

“We want that excitement back – and I am sure if we can continue we will get that buzz back.

“I said to the players on Friday that I was excited and I was the lucky one because I was the only one feeling that. Everyone else had been stuck in that frustration and unhappiness because of the position we were in.

“I am trying to get everyone on the side that I am on. I am so excited to be here and coaching a side with a lot of ability.

“It is going to take performances to get them out,” he said.

Holbrook’s work did not start last Thursday – rather it started as soon as he got the nod and avidly caught up on his new team while he waited for his visa.

It meant that at least he knew the names of the players before he took the first training session the day before Magic.

“I had a fair idea of all the players. I made a point on Friday of calling them all by their names, I knew who they were and what they had done. It may not have been important to them but it was important to me.

“I felt sorry for them, the way things were going. You can be losing, frustrated and all sorts of thigs but as a new guy coming in I had to reverse that and hopefully we can do that,” he said.

Barba’s signing is the first piece slotted into the Holbrook jigsaw moving forward, but the new boss wants to see what this team can do before making any radical changes.

He said: “I will get a picture of what is needed as the weeks go on.

“There is a reason why I came straight away and that is because they did not have a head coach and it is my job to get the boys performing and winning as many games as we can.

“But for me it is about knuckling down week to week.”

Holbrook is living in the town – and believes that is the right thing to do to send a message that he is part of this community, rather than simply because it is easier for access to training and work.

“I want to be in the area,” he said.

“You need to be in the area and feel like the players are playing for the area, the community and the fans.

“There is no point living an hour away. I will be around, so if we win games I will be up and down the street buying a paper and if we lose I will be driving 20 minutes out of town!”

So far he has enjoyed his new surroundings – the welcome of the people as well as the facilities and took on board the advice and re-assurance from former Saints bosses Nathan Brown and Daniel Anderson before uprooting his family.

He said: “I spoke to Ando before I came over and he loved it for himself and family. He said the schooling system was far better.

“I was always coming anyway, but to hear the confidence of his experience here made it a whole lot easier.

“We have four young boys - 7 ½ , 5 ½, and twins aged 3 ½ – and they love their rugby league and their football. The kids are all young enough which makes it easy – they are excited.

“It was not hard at all to persuade my wife to move - she is looking forward to it.

“We are all excited although I have left my wife to pack up and I took the easy option to shoot over here. They will be over in a couple of weeks and are excited to be coming.”