Gold Coast Titans: 2019 previews

While a plethora of clubs dominated headlines for the wrong reasons during the off-season, the Gold Coast Titans have prepared for 2019 free of scandal.

And the Titans' players are optimistic heading into a new campaign despite an inconsistent 2018 that saw the team finish third-last.

"I have full confidence we're going to shock a lot of people," high-profile signing Tyrone Peachey declared in December.

If Gold Coast are to shoot up the ladder next year, their defence needs to improve markedly.

They conceded more than 25 points on a whopping 13 occasions last season.

Unsurprisingly with a statistic like that, Garth Brennan's men only won back-to-back matches twice in the entire season.

But there were some glimmering rays of hope in '18 – namely the emergence of 20-year-old gun AJ Brimson.

Having burst into first grade in round 10, the former touch football star quickly made his mark as an attacking weapon as he switched between five-eighth and fullback.

Brimson will likely play in the No.1 jersey in 2019, with talented Melbourne recruit Ryley Jacks and Tyrone Roberts to battle it out for a start in the halves.

The victor will partner halfback Ash Taylor, who is coming off an encouraging personal season.

The 23-year-old playmaker ranked third in the NRL for try assists and was nearly rewarded for his form with a Queensland Origin berth.

No doubt he will benefit playing behind a powerful forward pack this season, headlined by former Canberra Raiders behemoth Shannon Boyd.

And of course Peachey will add strike to the backline.

At one point the NSW Blues utility admitted he wanted out of his Titans deal but he arrived on the glitter strip ready to rip and tear.

GOLD COAST TITANS' PRE-SEASON NEWS

The Titans pulled off a big coup in November when they announced current Australian coach and rugby league Immortal Mal Meninga as Head of Performance and Culture.

Meninga said he won't interfere with coach Garth Brennan's duties and detailed his plan to "drive a winning environment across the entire organisation."

Later that month, the Titans announced a new chief executive – former Touch Football Australia boss Steve Mitchell.

Mitchell, who previously held roles with the North Queensland Cowboys, Melbourne Rebels (Super Rugby) and the Seven Network, spoke of a "very exciting future" for the Gold Coast club.

In an initiative from Brennan, the entire Titans NRL squad spent four days in the blue-collar workforce prior to the Christmas break.

The players were treated like regular employees and worked eight-hour shifts before returning to Gold Coast headquarters for training at night.

"We started pre-season training early and it has been something I have been thinking about for a while," Brennan said at the time.

"... A lot of our players come through the grades and straight into full-time training. I want them to experience what it's like for our corporates, members and fans. What it's like to have a full day of work and then go to training, or the gym."

Four Titans – Ash Taylor, Phillip Sami, AJ Brimson and Brenko Lee – were named in the Queensland emerging Origin squad in December.

GOLD COAST TITANS' 30-MAN NRL SQUAD

Ex-Penrith outside back Tyrone Peachey is among a host of strong signings for Gold Coast.

While Peachey will provide X-factor on the edges, having been training at centre, former Canberra and Australian prop Shannon Boyd is set to bring much-needed size and grunt to the middle.

Ryley Jacks makes the journey to Queensland after plying his trade with Melbourne for the past two seasons – and he certainly learnt the art of winning under Craig Bellamy, having been victorious in 20 of the 25 games he played for the Storm

Half Tyrone Roberts is back for a second stint at the Titans after spending 2018 in England with the Warrington Wolves.


Gold Coast also snared former Manly Sea Eagles centre Brian Kelly. The 22-year-old previously played Holden Cup for the Titans.

Rounding out the recruits is Jesse Arthars. Still only 20, Arthars played in the Intrust Super Premiership with the North Sydney Bears as a fullback and winger last year and is in line to make his first grade debut.

Fan-favourite Konrad Hurrell has departed the team to take up an offer from Leeds Rhinos in the UK Super League.

Winger Brendan Elliott and back Tyronne Roberts-Davis have moved on as well.

The Titans have two spots remaining in their top 30 and have until June 30 to finalise the squad.


Player Date of Birth Height, weight Position NRL matches Rep honours

1 Alexander 'AJ' Brimson 9/9/1998 181cm, 89kg Fullback/Five-eighth 15 Nil

2 Anthony Don 21/9/1987 188cm, 100kg Wing 110 Country Origin

3 Ashley Taylor 17/3/1995 181cm, 91kg Halfback 70 Nil

4 Brenko Lee 10/10/1995 190cm, 104kg Wing 47 Tonga

5 Brian Kelly 20/5/1996 182cm, 92kg Centre 47 Country Origin

6 Bryce Cartwright 15/11/1994 193cm, 107kg Second-row/Lock 82 City Origin, World All Stars

7 Dale Copley 21/7/1991 184cm, 93kg Centre 118 Nil

8 Jack Stockwell 2/3/1992 192cm, 106kg Prop 79 Nil

9 Jai Arrow 12/7/1995 189cm, 101kg Lock/Prop 45 Queensland

10 Jai Whitbread 16/1/1998 186cm, 107kg Prop 1 Nil

11 Jarrod Wallace 23/7/1991 188cm, 109kg Prop 114 Queensland

12 Jesse Arthurs 8/7/1998 189cm, 88kg Fullback 0 Nil

13 Keegan Hipgrave 1/1/1997 183cm, 102kg Lock/Prop/Second-row 20 Nil

14 Kevin Proctor 29/2/1989 189cm, 107kg Second-row 218 New Zealand, New Zealand Maori

15 Leilani Latu 5/2/1993 190cm, 112kg Prop 55 Tonga, Indig. All Stars, City Origin

16 Maxwell King 4/5/1997 188cm, 105kg Lock 29 Nil

17 Michael Gordon 24/10/1983 179cm, 88kg Fullback/Wing 245 NSW, Country Origin

18 Mitchell Rein 26/4/1990 176cm, 88kg Hooker 161 Country Origin

19 Moeaki Fotuaika 16/11/1999 185cm, 107kg Prop 16 –

20 Morgan Boyle 17/7/1996 194cm, 111kg Prop 22 Nil

21 Nathan Peats 5/10/1990 181cm, 91kg Hooker/Lock 138 NSW, Indig. All Stars, City Origin

22 Phillip Sami 2/8/1997 186cm, 97kg Wing 27 Nil

23 Ryan James (captain) 20/7/1991 193cm, 106kg Prop 138 Indig. All Stars, Country Origin

24 Ryley Jacks 2/6/1992 185cm, 94kg Halfback/Five-eighth 25 Canada

25 Shannon Boyd 9/11/1992 194cm, 122kg Prop 111 Australia, Country Origin

26 Tyrone Peachey 8/8/1993 183cm, 93kg Centre/Five-eighth 116 NSW, Indig. All Stars, Country Origin, PMXIII

27 Tyrone Roberts 1/7/1991 175cm, 98kg Halfback/Fullback 138 Indig. All Stars, NSW Country

28 William Matthews 30/3/1988 187cm, 98kg Second-row 109 Nil

29 TBC – – – –

30 TBC – – – –

COACH: Garth Brennan

Additions (players who weren't in 2018 squad): Tyrone Peachey (Penrith Panthers), Shannon Boyd (Canberra Raiders), Tyrone Roberts (Warrington Wolves), Ryley Jacks (Melbourne Storm), Jesse Arthars (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Brian Kelly (Manly Sea Eagles)

Losses: Kane Elgey (Manly Sea Eagles), Brendan Elliott (Manly Sea Eagles), Konrad Hurrell (Leeds Rhinos), Joe Greenwood (Wigan Warriors), Kiah Cooper (unsigned), Ryan Simpkins (retired), Tony Matautia (unsigned), Tyronne Roberts-Davis (unsigned)

Re-signed: Dale Copley (2020), Anthony Don (2020), Keegan Hipgrave (2020), Brenko Lee (2019), Phillip Sami (2020), Jack Stockwell (2019), Jarrod Wallace (2022)

Off-contract beyond 2019: Jesse Arthars, Michael Gordon, Ryley Jacks, Maxwell King, Brenko Lee, Mitch Rein, Jack Stockwell, Jai Whitbread


GOLD COAST TITANS' BETTING ODDS

At $51 (as of 19/12/18), the Titans bring up the rear of the premiership betting market. They are yet to win a title in their 12-season history.

Ash Taylor is Gold Coast's best chance of taking out the Dally M Medal according to bookies, with the playmaker priced at $34.

He is followed by representative forward Jai Arrow ($67).

The club are $12 to finish in the top four and $4 to make the top eight.


GOLD COAST TITANS' 2019 DRAW

Games played on

Thursday: 1

Friday: 7

Saturday: 8

Sunday: Eight

Teams they play twice

Sharks, Warriors, Panthers, Knights, Cowboys, Sea Eagles, Broncos, Storm, Dragons


Round Date Opponent Venue

1 Sunday 17 March 6:10pm Canberra Raiders Cbus Super Stadium

2 Saturday 23 March 3:00pm Cronulla Sharks Shark Park

3 Sunday 31 March 6:10pm South Sydney Rabbitohs ANZ Stadium

4 Friday 5 April 6:00pm New Zealand Warriors Mt Smart Stadium

5 Friday 12 April 6:00pm Penrith Panthers Cbus Super Stadium

6 Sunday 21 April 2:00pm Newcastle Knights Cbus Super Stadium

7 Saturday 27 April 5:30pm Wests Tigers Scully Park

8 Friday 3 May 6:00pm North Queensland Cowboys 1300SMILES Stadium

9 Thursday 9 May 7:50pm Cronulla Sharks Suncorp Stadium

10 Saturday 18 May 3:00pm Canterbury Bulldogs Cbus Super Stadium

11 Friday 24 May 6:00pm Manly Sea Eagles Lottoland

12 Sunday 2 June 4:05pm North Queensland Cowboys Cbus Super Stadium

13 Sunday 9 June 2:00pm Brisbane Broncos Suncorp Stadium

14 Friday 14 June 6:00pm New Zealand Warriors Cbus Super Stadium

15 Saturday 29 June 3:00pm Manly Sea Eagles Cbus Super Stadium

16 BYE – –
17 Friday 12 July 6:00pm Penrith Panthers Panthers Stadium

18 Sunday 21 July 2:00pm Melbourne Storm Cbus Super Stadium

19 Saturday 27 July 5:30pm Brisbane Broncos Cbus Super Stadium

20 Sunday 4 August 2:00pm Sydney Roosters Sydney Cricket Ground

21 Saturday 10 August 3:00pm St George Illawarra Dragons Jubilee Stadium

22 Friday 16 August 6:00pm Parramatta Eels Cbus Super Stadium

23 Sunday 25 August 2:00pm Melbourne Storm AAMI Park

24 Saturday 31 August 3:00pm Newcastle Knights McDonald Jones Stadium

25 Saturday 7 September 7:35pm St George Illawarra Dragons Cbus Super Stadium

It's a big year for...

Bryce Cartwright.

It seems an eternity ago that Bryce Cartwright was banging down the door for NSW Origin selection.

At the conclusion of 2018, his first as a Titan, he was lucky to still be playing first grade after a subpar year in which his defence was pilloried.

There's no denying that Cartwright is a special player when he's at his peak. Anyone who is over 100kg and possesses the deft ball skills of Cartwright is a rare threat.

By all reports, the 24-year-old has trained the house down during the pre-season and is in prime physical shape to return to top form.

If Cartwright fires, the Titans will be a much more dangerous team.

But another disappointing year will be catastrophic for Cartwright's career on the Gold Coast, given there have already been numerous reports of the Titans trying to offload the wayward star.


MEMBERSHIP AND TICKETING

The Titans are yet to release membership numbers for 2019.

General tickets for the season are not yet available, aside from Magic Round in Brisbane (NRL round nine), during which all 16 NRL clubs play at Suncorp Stadium on the same weekend.

The Titans' Magic Round clash is against the Cronulla Sharks on Thursday, 10 May.


https://www.sportingnews.com/au/leag...u1dsq28c9lduhg

A lot to like about that ... half a chocolate already.

Gold Coast Titans 2019 season preview
Joel Gould NRL.com Reporter
https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/02/23/...eason-preview/

The Titans have played finals football just once in the past eight seasons, but after having gone to the market to purchase genuine attacking weaponry there is belief that a new horizon dawns.

Gold Coast coach Garth Brennan has secured a one-year contract extension and will be at the helm until the end of 2020. He has a short window to get the Titans back to the standards set by the genuine premiership contending sides of 2009 and 2010.

The 2019 outlook

What's New?
Plenty. The recruitment of match-winning NSW Origin representative Tyrone Peachey and giant former Canberra prop Shannon Boyd, along with the return of the already in-form Tyrone Roberts gives the Titans strike, size and experience in key positions. Brennan was without halves options in 2018 but Roberts' return and the recruitment of former Melbourne half Ryley Jacks has solved that issue.

The presence of Roberts and Peachey will also take some of the pressure off half Ash Taylor.

"The guys we've recruited are all great players," Titans captain Ryan James told NRL.com.

"Boyd has played for Australia, Peachey in Origin and Tyrone Roberts was excellent for us in 2016 when we last played in the semis.

"They are all mid-way through their career and add the experience that this team needed."

Away from the playing arena the Titans have also secured Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga as head of performance and culture, a massive coup that will give the club more cohesion and lift standards across the board.

The Draw
When you are a club that has regularly missed the play-offs, the draw inevitably pits you against teams that have finished higher in the past, so there are plenty of danger games looming for the Titans. They play just one game at home in the opening month, against the Raiders, before three testing away trips against the Sharks, Rabbitohs and Warriors. Chalking up some road wins early will be vital to giving the side belief.

The Titans play twice against six of the sides that finished in the top eight last year and once against the Rabbitohs and Roosters so there is nothing easy about their draw. If Brennan's men return to finals footy, they will have earned it. James said he wouldn’t have it any other way.

"We've had a look at the draw and you can’t do anything about it, but it will be fine for us because we seem to play better against the best sides," he said.

"The draw could end up being a good thing for us."

Stat to give you hope
There weren't many statistical highlights for the Titans in 2018 so finding one wasn't easy, but they were ranked number one in the NRL for slowing the opposition's play-the-ball speed with an average of 3.56 seconds. The hope there is that, on the back of that, the Titans can fix their defensive frailties in the middle of the park where 26 tries were scored by opponents.

With Trevor Gillmeister on deck more regularly this season to give the Titans more defensive clout, the good work the forwards have done in the play-the-ball area should reap more rewards.

What you need to know NRL Fantasy-wise
Hard-working forwards Ryan James ($779,000) and Jai Arrow ($753,000) are the Gold Coast's Fantasy big guns but there is value to be had in the form of AJ Brimson ($602,000), who was a revelation at fullback for the second half of 2018, and star signing Tyrone Peachey ($512,000), who could have a more significant role at the Titans than he did at Penrith. Moeaki Fotuaika ($403,000) is a player on the rise, while Bryce Cartwright ($273,000) will again be tempting for some at such a low starting price.

The coach
Brennan is in his second year of top grade coaching and now has more staff in place to look after off-field matters than he did in 2018. He can now focus more fully on coaching the NRL team after what he described as "a whirlwind" initiation when he arrived at the back end of 2017.

Brennan also has more job security after having his contract extended but knows that only results on the field will provide any guarantees.

The challenge for Brennan is to get his side firing throughout the entirety of a game, let alone a season, and cultivating more of a killer instinct in his squad.

"People talk about being consistent week in and week out but we have got to be consistent for 80 minutes," Brennan said.

"We led 16 games last year at some point. We had some really good patches but to be successful at NRL level you have to be on for 80 minutes and we proved that last year.

"We were in good positions where we led, but just couldn't go on with it."

Contract matters
Brennan has got closer in 2019 to having the squad he wants after successfully going to the market. The positive for the Titans is that the majority of their big guns are re-signed until the end of 2020 or beyond. It will be a big year for off-contract players Max King, Phillip Sami, Mitch Rein and Ryley Jacks. Securing rising star AJ Brimson beyond 2020 will also be high on the Titans' agenda.

Burning question
Do the Titans have the strike power out wide to make the most of what their representative forwards and talented halves provide?

There is quality in the back five and honest, consistent NRL performers such as Michael Gordon and Anthony Don, and now the likely positioning of game-breaker Peachey in the centres. As a unit they don't have the superstar potency of back fives like the neighbouring Broncos or the Sydney Roosters.

James has no doubt the depth of quality finishers are on deck to keep the scoreboard ticking over for the Titans.

"I think we 100 per cent have the strike power we need with Anthony Don and Phil Sami both really good finishers for a start," James said.

"And at the moment we have the battle of the centres between Peachey, Brenko Lee, Brian Kelly and Dale Copley who are all regular first graders.

"Young players like Sami and AJ Brimson have plenty of flair and, as we saw last year, they have the ability to create something out of nothing."

Representative bolter
Ash Taylor. On the surface the Titans halfback may not seem like a bolter but his mediocre back end of 2018 has Taylor well down the Queensland Maroons pecking order. At this stage you’d have to think Daly Cherry-Evans, Cameron Munster, Michael Morgan, Ben Hunt and Anthony Milford would all be ahead of him in the race for a Queensland halves positions. If Taylor has a stunning start to the year and there is an injury or two he could well rocket into contention when the Queensland selectors meet to decide their squad for Game One of the Holden State of Origin series.

The player you should follow on social media
Everyone knows the joker at the Titans is hooker Nathan Peats. His amusing outlook on life provides his followers with plenty of laughs when he stitches up his teammates and he's also not ashamed to put himself on show as well. Peats' two sons and fiancé Jade are at the centre of his world as he shares many beautiful photos of their daily adventures together.

The quote
"Last year we didn't have the depth but this year we do. If there is a form slump I am not afraid to drop players.

"I don't pick my team on reputation or salary. I pick the team on who earns the right to wear the Titans jersey and that won't change, but this year I have a bit more luxury because of the competition for spots." – Titans coach Garth Brennan.

The 2019 squad
Keegan Hipgrave, Kevin Proctor, Michael Gordon, Moeaki Fotuaika, Phillip Sami, Ryan James, Ryley Jacks, Will Matthews, Brian Kelly, Ash Taylor, Bryce Cartwright, Dale Copley, Jesse Arthars, Leilani Latu, Max King, Mitch Rein, Morgan Boyle, Shannon Boyd, Tyrone Peachey, Tyrone Roberts, Alexander Brimson, Brenko Lee, Anthony Don, Jack Stockwell, Jai Whitbread, Jai Arrow.

https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/02/23/...eason-preview/

‘They’ll shock a few teams’: Slater and Lockyer tip new-look Titans halves to make the finals
https://www.foxsports.com.au/

Gold Coast’s NRL premiership hopes have received ringing endorsements from two of Queensland’s rugby league greats, for very different reasons.

The Titans will begin their campaign on March 17 at home against Canberra, optimistic of playing finals football for just the second time since 2010.

Recruits Shannon Boyd and Tyrone Peachey, as well as the return of Tyrone Roberts, are fuelling the optimism.

And it isn’t just confined to Titans fans, with recently-retired Melbourne fullback Billy Slater and Brisbane legend Darren Lockyer happy to talk them up.

“The Titans will surprise a few teams this year,” Slater said. “(Halfback) Ash Taylor will benefit form having Tyrone Roberts back (from the English Super League, where he played one season after departing the Titans in 2017).

“He’s come back in fantastic form and I’m looking forward to seeing those two classy halves.

“The game at the moment benefits classy halves and (if they can) create opportunities for their outside men I think the Titans can make the eight.”

Lockyer tipped his cap to the club’s player recruitment but said it’s another new face that could prove the difference.

“Definitely having the presence of Mal (Meninga) will give them some belief,” he said.

Meninga has arrived in a holistic role to enhance the public image of the club, to act as a sounding board for coach Garth Brennan and mentor to the players.

Lockyer credited Meninga’s arrival as Queensland coach in 2006 for the Maroons dominance that followed and can see similarities on the Gold Coast.

“That’s what Mal brought to Queensland in ‘06 and they’ve been working hard, recruited well,” Lockyer said.

“But it’s (belief) probably been the one thing the Titans have been missing.”

After hearing them talk about how well peach played as a ball playing lock in the all stars game, im certain he will push into arrows role as the packs tire out to give us abother dimension through the middle. Gordon will move to centre to keep our kicker on field and AJ will come on into fullback to ignite a spark with his fresh legs and hard running/pace. It may not work perfectly at first but if they can get some cohesion doing it that could be an awesome facet of our team going forward. Ive never been so excited to be a supporter.

Also i feel with mal there players will be called out for slacking off, everyone will be on notice every week. One bad point is the strenth of schedule, which is one of the hardest in the comp this season although that is sort of to be expected when you finish so slow on the ladder the previous season.

^^^^ Don’t mind your ideas there at all

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Upthetits

After hearing them talk about how well peach played as a ball playing lock in the all stars game, im certain he will push into arrows role as the packs tire out to give us abother dimension through the middle. Gordon will move to centre to keep our kicker on field and AJ will come on into fullback to ignite a spark with his fresh legs and hard running/pace. It may not work perfectly at first but if they can get some cohesion doing it that could be an awesome facet of our team going forward. Ive never been so excited to be a supporter.

Also i feel with mal there players will be called out for slacking off, everyone will be on notice every week. One bad point is the strenth of schedule, which is one of the hardest in the comp this season although that is sort of to be expected when you finish so slow on the ladder the previous season.

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I sincerely hope this never happens....4 positional changes in the middle of a game would be ridiculous

Rumours that Cowboys are sniffing around Rhyse Martin. Any chance we can implicate Latu in any of the videos and find some room in our cap?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hail Sezer

I sincerely hope this never happens....4 positional changes in the middle of a game would be ridiculous

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I should read posts closer, I wouldn’t want that during a game either. I’m more interested in AJ fullback, Gordon Centre, Peachey Lock to start the game.

Martin would solve the left edge/goal kicking conundrum.

If Martins problem is one of attitude, do we really want or need him?

I am a big fan of what he did last year, but we seem to have a pretty good culture right now and dont need any lazy dudes here

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DavidBouveng

If Martins problem is one of attitude, do we really want or need him?

I am a big fan of what he did last year, but we seem to have a pretty good culture right now and dont need any lazy dudes here

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I was just spitballing, there are no rumours with us and he. I wasn't aware THAT was the reason he was looking at missing the 17. That being said, that would play into Garths strengths as a coach.

Paul Kent just predicted we will get the Wooden Spoon
(Don’t shoot the messenger)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mr Bods

Paul Kent just predicted we will get the Wooden Spoon
(Don’t shoot the messenger)

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Someone says it every year, and to be fair, they usually aren't far off.