Titans 'secret' shopping list for 2008

[Tamwelg]

Source: www.gcbulletin.com.au

Titans 'secret' shopping list for 2008

Luke Turgeon

12May07

THE Gold Coast Titans have compiled a secret hit list of hot young National Rugby League talent, which they hope to recruit to the Gold Coast in 2008.

Gold Coast managing director Michael Searle has made no secret of the fact that he is chasing a 'big bopper' for the forward pack and a classy half to bolster the Titans playing stocks for next season.

The Gold Coast Bulletin can reveal red-haired Panthers five-eighth Peter Wallace, tenacious Sea Eagles No.6 Travis Burns, Roosters half Josh Lewis and giant Eels forward Feleti Mateo are in talks with the Titans.

All four are off contract at the end of the year.

Searle remained tight-lipped about exactly which players the club is hunting, but revealed he would kick off his recruitment drive in June.

"The main things we are working through at the moment are recruitment and retention," said Searle.

"We have been working on the recruitment of a potential front rower and a five-eighth."

Searle said the recruitment drive was not a reflection on the current squad, rather a pre-emptive move to grow depth in key positions.

"We have felt that we want to acquire another player in the halves that could support us if something went wrong with Princey (Scott Prince)," said Searle.

"We are actually probably looking for a guy that can play both in the No.7 and the No.6."

It was originally thought the Gold Coast would have a substantial amount of money to spend on new talent in 2008, after the loss of Brian Carney, Steve Turner and Frank Puletua freed up funds earlier this year.

At first the Titans considered hunting another 'big name' signing, but Searle said whoever they decided to sign would be an investment for the future.

"I would much prefer to cover the two positions with quality first graders," said Searle.

"We already have Luke Bailey, Scott Prince, Preston Campbell, Mat Rogers, Anthony Laffranchi.

"So we have got some fairly impressive marquee players already."

Up until June 30 a player's existing club has the right to be kept informed of their contract negotiations with other clubs.

A player's existing club has to give permission for the transfer and has the right to lodge a counter offer to keep the player's services. If those guidelines aren't met, the NRL won't register the contract with the new club.

After June 30, clubs are free to negotiate with individual players however they wish.

"From our point of view, we will wait to see how it all pans out and put our offers in probably by the middle of June," said Searle.

"We are waiting to find out the finalisation of our salary cap and what it will end up being. So we have to be careful with that."

Four top level Titans -- hooker Clint Amos, five-eighth Matt Hilder and wingers Lelea Paea and Chris Walker -- are on one-year deals.

Searle said the salary cap would heavily decide which ones were retained for next season.

"Next year a few of the players contracts escalate," said Searle.

"And you have to take into account bonuses and payments as well.

"There are a lot of guys playing a lot more football than we thought originally and their payments get assessed next year under the cap.

"It is a moving beast all the time depending on who is in your squad and who is playing."

[Steve]

Don't know much about most of them, but Wallace is pretty damn good.
Probably still finding his feet in first grade, but I thought he outplayed Gower last week. He led the way before the Panthers typical drop the ball penalty fest kicked in.
I also think the Panthers will be trying very hard to keep him.

[jake86]

Source: http://www.news.com.au/sundaytelegraph/story/0,,21719361-5006066,00.html

Lewis on Titans hit list

by David Riccio

May 13, 2007 12:00

THE Titans will attempt to get the Roosters to release young gun Josh Lewis from the final year of his contract today in a bid to avoid a mid-season collapse.

The loss of Preston Campbell for eight weeks to a knee injury has forced Gold Coast officials into chasing Lewis as an immediate replacement.

Gold Coast officials will meet with Lewis just hours before kick-off in the Roosters-Titans fixture today at Aussie Stadium.

If successful, Lewis could be wearing the Gold Coast jersey next week. Titans chief executive Michael Searle confirmed the club's interest in signing the promising five-eighth.

"We've commenced discussion about him coming up here,'' Searle said.

"Our plan B for Princey (halfback Scott Prince) was always Preston, but now that we've lost Preston we're a bit shakey.

"He (Lewis) would give us more depth in the halves and he's a player we have a lot of time for.

"Carty (Titans coach John Cartwright) sees him as a five-eighth because of his good kicking game ... we're pretty keen on him.''

Lewis has had few opportunities with the Roosters this season, with Mitchell Pearce and Jamie Soward taking the halves positions.

After playing 11 games in 2006, Lewis has played just one NRL game this season, round one against Souths.

But in what is likely to prove the impetus for his departure from Bondi Junction, Lewis was relegated to the bench for Newtown in premier league yesterday.

"Carty noticed he was on the bench for 'reggies' and thought something must be doing there,'' Searle said.

"There's probably a bit of a log-jam of halves when you consider the talent of young Mitchell Pearce, and then you've got Jamie Soward.

"I don't know if he would come straight into the first-grade side, but it's conceivable he could play (next week) against the Dragons.''

Lewis' manager, Sam Ayoub, added that the Titans weren't the only club interested in his charge.

"I had a meeting with the Roosters on Thursday morning and I discussed Josh's circumstances,'' Ayoub said. "As much as they're suggesting that they'd like to keep him, I'm looking elsewhere.

"There's a couple of clubs that are interested in taking him on as early as this year, so we're working on that.''

Searle said the club's attention on Lewis wouldn't jeopardise the future of five-eighth Matt Hilder.

"We're in negotiations with his manager now,'' Searle said.

"He's been thrown into the deep end and done really well.

"What we do with Lewis will have no effect on him, we're just really trying to secure depth.''

[Tamwelg]

Searle said the club's attention on Lewis wouldn't jeopardise the future of five-eighth Matt Hilder.

I think Hilder has done the job he was put in that position to do, but a genuine 5/8 in that position would be nice. I think Hilder would be a fantastic locker. A little bit like Scott Hill fwhen at Melbourne.

[Dragons]

I was cheesed of when the Dragons let Josh go to the chooks, I think he will be a good signing for the Titans.

[Tamwelg]

Source www.sydneyroosters.com.au

Lewis becomes a Titan

Sunday, May 13, 2007

Josh Lewis has been released from the final year of his contract with the Sydney Roosters and will join the Gold Coast Titans effective immediately.

The club wishes Josh all the best for the future in his new life on the Gold Coast.

[Coaster]

Awesome news, anyone know anything about the kid??

[Tamwelg]

Awesome news, anyone know anything about the kid??

Never heard of him, but the bulletin stated he has a good left and right step and one of the biggest kicking games around.

[Tamwelg]

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Josh Lewis
AKA Lewie

http://www.sydneyroosters.com.au/images/profiles/player_images/thumbs/Josh%20Lewis.jpg

DOB
Oct 5, 1985
Born in
Sydney
Position
Halfback/Five-eighth
Height
180cm
Weight
86kg
Junior Club
Leichhardt Juniors

--------------------------------------------------------------------

What team did you follow as a kid?

Balmain Tigers

Toughest Opponent?

Andrew Johns

Favourite Movie

Wedding Crashers

Biggest Rugby League Moment so far?

My first grade debut

Favourite Tv Show

My Name is Earl

Romantic date with your partner or night out with the boys?

Romantic date

Who has had the biggest influence on your Rugby League career?

Ricky Stuart and Shane Flanagan

Describe the ideal day with your mates?

Sleep in, lunch at No Names followed by a round of golf

Favourite Holiday Destination

Anywhere

What was your most memorable try?

Against North Queensland

Toughest teammate?

Fitzy

Smartest teammate?

Craig Wing

What is something unusual people might not know about you?

I'll get back to you on that

What does being part of the Roosters 100th season mean to you?

It will be a year I will never forget

--------------------------------------------------------------------

taken from www.sydneyroosters.com.au

[Coaster]

What does being part of the Roosters 100th season mean to you?

It will be a year I will never forget

Nope this is certainly a life choice he will never forget.

This has made my day, i was really worried about this year with no halves.

Great Great signing

[Luke]

Great signing. He is a good alround half but is most dangerous when he takes on the line him self. He also has a massive boot so expect plenty of 40/20.

[Chaos]

Great news...the Titans were really putting the pressure on their followers playing Hilder at 5/8

I think Josh should go up and stay with Prince for a couple of weeks, the quicker these two get bonded the better.

I know Josh has to get to know the boys and the way the Titans play but lets not play him in the lower grades and make him work his way in the team.
If he trains this week, lets give him a run straight away.

[patskE]

his one of the player brad flitter picked

[Titanium_BD1103]

Yep... he certainly is Patske... :)

He is one of the few Roosters I think is a good player, and no I'm not just saying that as he is now a Titan... ;)

He has a nice step, a good run, a strong kicking game and most importantly, he is a great support to other players. Only young yes, but given the right tutorage, which he will now get through Prince and Campbell, the kid could be a very handy addition to the side and a future star for the GC.

Glad to see he is going to get a chance, he was wasted at the Roosters being kept out by Anasta and Pearce, who are both good players, but Lewis deserved to get quality time in first grade in 2007, just like Soward... I wonder what will happen to him... don't think we need anyone else, but if he comes at a decent price, maybe we should look at him too...

[Chaos]

his one of the player brad flitter picked

Some people might brush that off but Fittler is a specialist in the 5/8 position and I imagine he'd have a good view on future talent.

I'm exciterated!

[Capital_Shark]

Awesome news, anyone know anything about the kid??

He can't kick 60m drop goals 20 in from touch...

[Social Loafer]

More of a halfback IMO. Be a handy player, but might have been an idea to try a few other options at 5/8 first.. Kris Kahler has an awesome boot on him.

[Capital_Shark]

Kris Kahler has an awesome boot on him.

Does he what! His dog has more flight time under its collar than most Jet Star pilots!

[Social Loafer]

Were you there when Kahler was forced to kick goals in PL once? From memory he got like 6/6 from all over the park. I like the look of him with ball in hand looking for options. Unfortunately under the Elliott Game plan players wern't encouraged enough to use instincts..

Any coincidence that his current Raiders team is racking up the points now that Elliott is gone? I think not.. By all means use Lewis there if need be, but look outsie the square first.

[Tamwelg]

Source www.gcbulletin.com.au

Mother of all surprises as Coast sign Lewis

Patrick Molihan

14May07

GOLD Coast coach John Cartwright ensured Mother's Day was bittersweet for Rhonda Lewis after he swooped to sign her son Josh from the Roosters in a mid-season coup for the Titans.

The talented halfback and five-eighth has been starved of opportunities under new Roosters coach Chris Anderson and could line-up for the Gold Coast in first grade as soon as Friday's night's clash with St George Illawarra in Wollongong.

"It'll be good. It's a fresh start and I'm looking forward to getting up there," said Lewis as he watched his old club take on the Titans at Aussie Stadium yesterday.

"They've got a good side, they're going well and they have a really good fan base so it'll be good to play under 'Carty'.

"I pretty much only found out they were interested on Thursday and it's all happened quickly and I just can't wait."

Lewis had to leave Mother's Day celebrations at home to do the deal over breakfast with Cartwright and Titans boss Michael Searle.

While former Roosters coach Ricky Stuart rated him highly, Lewis has been stuck in Premier League with the Newtown Jets since he was axed by Anderson after round one. Despite the club's shocking start to the season, Anderson has stuck solid with Mitchell Pearce and Braith Anasta in the halves.

"It has made my decision a bit easier," said Lewis. "I was pretty disappointed after round one that I was the only person to get dropped. I asked Chris why and he said he just wanted to try a few combinations.

"Four or five games later they're still not winning and he pretty much hasn't done anything to the halves."

Most of Lewis' opportunities in first grade have come at halfback but he's no stranger to the No.6 and that's where the Titans are likely to play him.

That would allow former Shark Matt Hilder, who's been playing five-eighth, to switch back to the pack.

"Josh provides us with a great alternative in the halves," said Searle.

"He provides us with some good back-up now that Preston (Campbell -- knee) has gone down.

"He's got a good kicking game and he's good defensively so we have a good young halfback and five-eighth that'll do good things for our club."

Lewis' manager Sam Ayoub negotiated the release from the Roosters and has done a deal with the Gold Coast for this year and next. The Titans also have an option on his services for 2009.

Lewis will fly to the Gold Coast this afternoon before joining his new teammates at training.

"I can't wait to get up there," he said.

"Mum's a bit upset but my old man's sweet.

"They know I've got to do it if I want to play first grade."

[TITAN FOREVER]

Big Call with one first grade game under his belt! See what happens!