Queenslander
27-09-07, 03:31 PM
Titans Team With Jets Again
THE honeymoon period may be over, but the marriage between the Ipswich Jets and NRL glamour club Gold Coast continues to blossom.
After a successful first year as one of the Titans' three feeder clubs, the two entities have agreed to continue their agreement until at least 2010.
During their short partnership, the likes of former Queensland Origin flyer Chris Walker, Kris Kahler and Smith Samau have seamlessly slotted into the Jets Queensland Cup squad when not required by the Titans.
And who will forget Josh Lewis' stunning performance against the Easts Tigers in last month's elimination final.
However, the deal was hardly a feat accompli, with reports in media outlets stating the Titans were looking to send their players to just one club in 2008.
Those rumours deeply offended Ipswich Jets CEO Brad Wolens, who organised a meeting with the Gold Coast club last Friday to set matters straight.
Even Wolens was surprised by the outcome, with Burleigh "no longer aligned with the Titans at all".
That leaves Tweed Heads and Ipswich as the two clubs which will use Gold Coast players.
"We were obviously pretty upset at what we had heard, so we arranged a meeting to issue our grievances with (Titans CEO) Michael Searle and (coach) John Cartwright," Wolens said.
"I was surprised they didn't want a third club, but it works better for us.
"Everything between the Titans and the Jets has worked out perfectly."
Burleigh's loss is effectively the Jets' gain, with Wolens pleased with the new deal.
"We still get access to the same players that we had this year, guys like Brad Meyers, Chris Walker, Josh Lewis and Smith Samau," Wolens said.
"Plus, on top of that, we'll get a few of the new players included in our pool, as well as some of the guys who were going to Burleigh.
"We should know by the end of the week which players will be in our pool and who Tweed will have."
With an increased number of Titans-contracted players expected to play in the Jets' Queensland Cup team next year, there could be a fear disharmony will develop within the full-time Ipswich squad.
To counteract that, Wolens said those players signed with the Jets had been consulted before a decision had been made.
"We were surprised how much the players got behind it," he said.
"The guys here learn something from the Titans guys."
Another exciting development to emerge from the deal was the possibility for the Jets to send promising players to the Titans.
The Queensland Times
THE honeymoon period may be over, but the marriage between the Ipswich Jets and NRL glamour club Gold Coast continues to blossom.
After a successful first year as one of the Titans' three feeder clubs, the two entities have agreed to continue their agreement until at least 2010.
During their short partnership, the likes of former Queensland Origin flyer Chris Walker, Kris Kahler and Smith Samau have seamlessly slotted into the Jets Queensland Cup squad when not required by the Titans.
And who will forget Josh Lewis' stunning performance against the Easts Tigers in last month's elimination final.
However, the deal was hardly a feat accompli, with reports in media outlets stating the Titans were looking to send their players to just one club in 2008.
Those rumours deeply offended Ipswich Jets CEO Brad Wolens, who organised a meeting with the Gold Coast club last Friday to set matters straight.
Even Wolens was surprised by the outcome, with Burleigh "no longer aligned with the Titans at all".
That leaves Tweed Heads and Ipswich as the two clubs which will use Gold Coast players.
"We were obviously pretty upset at what we had heard, so we arranged a meeting to issue our grievances with (Titans CEO) Michael Searle and (coach) John Cartwright," Wolens said.
"I was surprised they didn't want a third club, but it works better for us.
"Everything between the Titans and the Jets has worked out perfectly."
Burleigh's loss is effectively the Jets' gain, with Wolens pleased with the new deal.
"We still get access to the same players that we had this year, guys like Brad Meyers, Chris Walker, Josh Lewis and Smith Samau," Wolens said.
"Plus, on top of that, we'll get a few of the new players included in our pool, as well as some of the guys who were going to Burleigh.
"We should know by the end of the week which players will be in our pool and who Tweed will have."
With an increased number of Titans-contracted players expected to play in the Jets' Queensland Cup team next year, there could be a fear disharmony will develop within the full-time Ipswich squad.
To counteract that, Wolens said those players signed with the Jets had been consulted before a decision had been made.
"We were surprised how much the players got behind it," he said.
"The guys here learn something from the Titans guys."
Another exciting development to emerge from the deal was the possibility for the Jets to send promising players to the Titans.
The Queensland Times