The Knights legend feels it could be a risk with so much instability at the club.
Knights legend Andrew Johns is surprised former Roosters halfback Luke Keary has been linked with the club as a halves mentor as the side looks to rebuild under new coach Justin Holbrook. The Knights will head into the 2026 NRL season having made sweeping changes after collecting the unwanted wooden spoon.
Adam O’Brien has departed as head coach with Holbrook already announced as his replacement. Dylan Brown already signed for the club from the Eels and will play in the halves, while Raiders forward Trey Mooney will join him in Newcastle. Versatile Roosters playmaker Sandon Smith will also join from the Roosters.
And reports have emerged Holbrook is looking to lure former Roosters halfback Keary to the club on a consulting role. Holbrook joined the Knights from the Roosters having been the assistant coach under Trent Robinson.
Holbrook worked with Keary for a number of years during the playmaker’s time in Sydney and they both know how each other works. Despite the connection, Johns feels it is a gamble to bring in Keary with the 33-year-old only recently calling time on his career after a Super League move.
Johns feels it’s a big job to take in what would be his first ever coaching role. “I am surprised, a little bit. Luke is a very smart player, but it will be his first coaching gig,” Johns said on Channel Nine. “I worked with Luke back in the day. He is a real student of the game. It’s an interesting one. It’s a bit of a gamble, because it’s the unknown. But he has got a big job.”
When Johns was pushed on why Holbrook would be linked with bringing over Keary, Johns said their years of working together would have been a massive factor. “I think they would have the same philosophies and they would be on the same page of how they wanna play. But once again, who plays seven, who plays six, who plays nine?” Johns added.
The Knights legend added once Brown is back from international duty, Holbrook needs to work out who will make up his spine in pre-season. Johns said Holbrook needs to be brave and stick with that combination so they can work together and form a partnership going forward.
Luke Keary calls time on rugby league career
Keary played 231 NRL games throughout his time at the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Roosters. The three-time premiership winner played at both No.6 and 7 during his career.
Last year, Keary made the surprise decision to move to the Catalans Dragons in France on a two-year deal after backflipping on his initial retirement plans. Although Keary didn’t see out his contract having been granted a release to call time on his career.
Justin Holbrook excited with Sandon Smith signing
Recently, Holbrook opened up about Smith’s signing with the Knights for 2026. Holbrook also worked with Smith in 2025 with the versatile star breaking into first grade, before making way for Hugo Savala and Sam Walker at the end of the season.
Smith appeared surplus to requirements at the Roosters going forward and after attracting interest from a number of clubs, he landed at the Knights. And Holbrook sees Smith potentially playing as the new No.9 going forward, or playing in the halves. But his role will be to work this out quickly after instability in recent years across the spine.
“I honestly think he can play both,” Holbrook told SEN Radio. “I love him in the halves, but it’s a matter of putting all the pieces together.”