Holbrook reveals plan for Knights halves conundrum

Newcastle Knights’ coach Justin Holbrook is yet to settle on a halves pairing for 2026 but is confident he will have his first-choice duo by the time the Vegas season opener rolls around.

The Knights have a flurry of halves options with Fletcher Sharpe, Tyson Gamble, and new recruits Dylan Brown and Sandon Smith all options for Holbrook.

After inking a 10-year, $13 million deal, Brown is a certainty to be in the halves come Round 1 if available, but whether he will play at five-eighth or halfback is yet to be seen.

Sandon Smith, who joins Newcastle from the Roosters is another choice to appear in the halves, though he is also competing with Phoenix Crossland to start at hooker.

Over six years in charge, former coach Adam O’Brien used 29 different halves combinations, including 11 in 2024 alone.

Holbrook is determined not to repeat the habits of his predecessor but concedes he won’t decide on a duo until after trials.

“To be honest… I'll probably use the next three weeks on it,” Holbrook told SEN 1170 Breakfast.

“Sandon (Smith) can play half, but also hooker. Phoenix (Crossland) obviously prefers hooker but can also play 13, and then you’ve got Fletcher Sharpe, and we won't get Kalyn (Ponga) probably training with us until February, so, we sort of have a key missing piece in training… with the recovery from his injury.

“I will use the next few weeks shuffling guys around, (figuring out) the side of the field that they're gonna play on and it'll work itself out over the next few weeks.

“I understand I have got to get that settled so we can get on with it, but the players themselves have been fine. They don't care what side they play and what position but obviously they all want to be in the side, but I'll fit them all in.

“I'm not 100 per cent sure yet, but, by the time the trials (have) finished, we'll be really confident and clear on who's where and we'll get on with it.”

The other big talking point around the Knights’ halves is the form of Brown.

Brown’s signing was one of the biggest stories of 2025, with his mega deal being the biggest signing in NRL history.

Joining from the Eels, the star half's ability to lead a side from halfback has come under fire, but his form in the Pacific Championships has given Newcastle fans, and Holbrook, plenty to look forward towards.

“I love his demeanour, to be honest,” Holbrook told SEN 1170 Breakfast.

“I mean, before I met him, everyone goes, ‘he's a pretty relaxed guy, pretty cool sort of person’, and I think that's what this group needs.

“We've got that sort of hard work and mentality in the town up here, but Dyl (Dylan Brown) brings that real air of confidence and calmness about his footy, and, obviously, terrific for us, the way he played for New Zealand in that test series.

“He's come up here again full of confidence… I mean, he's been playing long enough, but I just think for the players around him, what he brings is that confidence.

“When you're playing with those sort of good players, you feel better about your own game when you've got someone like that in your side.

“(I) love all these sort of personality traits and he's a great trainer too. He's obviously one of the fittest guys. He really pushes himself and he sets a really good standard for the others, so he's fitted in really well.”