By ROSS HEPPENSTALL
St Helens are  closing in on a deal to appoint Newcastle Knights assistant Kristian Woolf as their next head coach after he fought off competition from two NRL rivals and Salford’s Ian Watson.
Saints, who face Warrington in the Challenge Cup final at Wembley on Saturday, will lose  Justin Holbrook when he heads home to Australia to take charge of Gold Coast Titans at the end of this season.
Holbrook informed St Helens of his decision just over three weeks ago and the runaway Super League leaders have since interviewed around 10 candidates.
Saints chief executive Mike Rush met numerous contenders during a recent trip to Australia and a four-man shortlist was drawn up, which I can reveal consisted of Woolf, Watson, Sydney Roosters assistant Adam O’Brien and Melbourne Storm assistant Jason Ryles.Â
All four impressed but it is Woolf, credited with improving Newcastle’s defence this season, who St Helens have identified as the man they want to lead them into next season and further talks look certain to lead to his appointment.
The 44-year-old, who combines his current job at Newcastle under former St Helens boss Nathan Brown with the role as head coach of the Tonga national team, joined the Knights last year from the Townsville Blackhawks.
He previously worked as an assistant coach at Brisbane Broncos and his move to St Helens will continue their trend of appointing overseas coaches, following in the footsteps of Ian Millward, Daniel Anderson, Mick Potter, Royce Simmons and Brown.
Each member of that group guided Saints to a Grand Final, with Anderson winning a memorable treble, a feat Holbrook’s side remain on course for, in 2006.
Woolf’s appointment will be seen as a snub to Watson and young British coaches generally, with the 42-year-old having  working wonders under budgetary restrictions at Salford.
Watson will, however, assist Wayne Bennett during Great Britain’s tour later this year.
