JUSTIN Holbrook will take his players on a short training camp in January when the Saints squad will set out their objectives and expectations for 2018.

Having arrived part way though last season to take over a struggling side, the Australian reinvigorated both the players and supporters through his vision for open rugby, articulate manner and passion.

In the end, Saints were just seconds from reaching the Grand Final, but although it was evident progress was made Holbrook has appreciated a pre-season where he and his staff have had time to instil the sporting philosophy and principles that they want to underpin the club.

He told the Star: “It has been good to get a full pre-season in with the squad and to set everything up for the new season rather than playing week in and week out. That has been good for the staff and the players.

“We have high expectations of ourselves. We want to do really well and challenge for the cup and the Super League – but that is no different from what every team will want.

“Last year showed how even the competition is and we’re under no illusions (it’s going to be tough) – but it is just about us and what we want to do.”

Holbrook said he plans to take the club on a short camp, possibly to Wales, to break the routine of pre-season, and it is there where the squad will discus what they hope to achieve in 2018.

Saints have not reached a Challenge Cup final since 2008, when they defeated Hull, and the Grand Final since 2014 when they were victorious over Wigan at Old Trafford.

Holbrook’s mission to deliver silverware should be aided by Ben Barba being in the red vee for the start of the campaign. After featuring for Saints in the season’s closing stages, Barba showed glimpses of the agility and strength that made him one of the NRL’s most dangerous ball carriers.

Barba, like Holbrook, is another set to benefit from having a full pre-season.

Holbrook, speaking ahead of the Christmas break, said: “He (Barba) has been fantastic in training. He came back from pre-season two weeks before everyone else and has just gone home (Australia) for Christmas.

“He has put himself in a really good position. He has high expectations of himself.”