Cashed-up Gold Coast Titans on hunt for the NRL’s best young players
Cashed-up Gold Coast Titans on hunt for the NRL’s best young players
CHRIS GARRY AND TODD BALYM EXCLUSIVE
THE COURIER-MAIL
MARCH 23, 2015 12:00AM
NRL clubs be warned, the Gold Coast Titans are hunting the scalps of your best young players.
The NRL-backed Titans are going on a recruitment spree and The Courier-Mail can reveal the club’s Daly Cherry-Evans endorsed hit list.
Coach Neil Henry and recruitment chief Jamie Mathiou are targeting players in their early 20’s who are considered future representative stars.
Mathiou is the club’s first full time recruitment manager and he has already helped secure arguably the club’s greatest signing in Cherry-Evans.
The Gold Coast have at least $2 million to spend in their cap even after their $1m a year splurge on Cherry-Evans.
Their next priorities are Rabbitohs revelation Alex Johnston, St George Illawarra sensation Euan Aitken, young Broncos props Joe Ofahengaue, Francis Molo and George Fai and future Origin centre Dane Gagai.
There will be an overhaul of the Titans roster for 2016 with Cherry-Evans to be joined by at least two more representative-quality players.
The Titans are fighting three other clubs for the signature of Johnston, one of the most exciting talents in the NRL.
The 20-year-old is already among the NRL’s best wingers and was selected in Australia’s Four Nations squad last year.
Souths are nervous that Johnston’s desire to be a permanent fullback will see him leave Redfern as there is no chance of him usurping Greg Inglis.
The Titans have met with Johnston’s manager Clinton Schifcofske regarding his client’s next contract but an offer is yet to be made.
Any offer will depend on whether they secure the services of Gagai and Aitken as centre is the Titans’ major roster hole.
Aitken, 19, was brilliant in his first game for the Dragons in their win over Canberra with coach Paul McGregor rating his 192 metre effort one of the best debuts he’s witnessed.
Benji Marshall rates him the best teenager in the NRL.
Gagai is seriously considering spurning Wayne Bennett and joining the Titans and has been impressed with their negotiations so far.
While coach Henry would not be drawn on individual talents he revealed the club now had a youth policy and confirmed there would be further roster change.
“We’re trying to recruit, with Jamie Mathiou, young players for the future around a nucleus of older guys we’ve got here that have got the experience,” Henry said.
“There’s no doubt there is a changeover in players and that will continue like it does at a lot of clubs.
“We’ve had a little bit of movement this year and there will be a little bit more next year with the nucleus of the players staying.
“That recruitment is an ongoing process and we just get on with our footy in the meantime.”
While Cherry-Evans is being asked for advice on potential recruits he is not making offers to his NRL brethren.
The Knights are furious that Cherry-Evans contacted Gagai about coming to the Gold Coast but Henry said the issue had been blown out of proportion.
“I think Dane Gagai was just something Cherry-Evans makes a call about because they know each other,” Henry said.
“He is not recruiting on behalf of us. Players talk all the time.
“There was a bit of publicity around it and it was motivated that way and I don’t think there is anything in it.”
WISH LIST
Alex Johnston
Age: 20
Club: Rabbitohs
Position: Wing/fullback
Dane Gagai
Age: 24
Club: Knights
Position: Centre
Euan Aitken
Age: 19
Club: Dragons
Position: Centre
Jo Ofahengaue
Age: 19
Club: Broncos
Position: Prop
Francis Molo
Age: 20
Club: Broncos
Position: Prop
George Fai
Age: 18
Club: Broncos
Position: Prop
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Gagai, Johnston and Ofahengaue ... yes please!!
