Make of it what you will however on Instagram today Proctor was playing golf with Jordan Rapana.
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Make of it what you will however on Instagram today Proctor was playing golf with Jordan Rapana.
I think perhaps AJ is in a bit more trouble then they are letting on. I remember Dylan Brown being out for pretty much the whole year with a similar 'slight back problem'. It would also make sense the quick action to find a new fullback as Sami is a NRL winger if that. Fingers crossed Rapana is entertaining coming home.
Was about to say the same elltee. I am worried that AJ is in big trouble and the injury might be worse than we thought. Holbrook actually confirmed today that AJ won’t be fit once the competition is back and that it might be a 6 month injury. Hopefully not but explains why the club might be looking at Niu maybe.
That’s promising to hear about Rapana. Would be a fantastic buy but not getting my hopes up just yet.
FMD 6 months!!! Where can I watch or read Holbrook saying this?Quote:
Originally Posted by BundyTitan
- - - Updated - - -
MDREW this is stressful (exaggeration of course)
Do you have anymore of an update on AJ??
https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/01/23/...l-injury-news/Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr Bods
"Gold Coast coach Justin Holbrook told SportsDay NSW that Brimson would struggle to recover in time for the NRL's proposed May 28 restart date, having not played since the NRL Nines with a back injury.
The club says Brimson's recovery remains a week-to-week prospect but has been hampered by his ability to see specialists on a regular basis under COVID-19 restrictions."
Wonder what’s going on with Hipgrave too.
I swear he was a “week-to-week prospect” for most of last year. Are we sure his recurring failure of the HIA test is related to concussion?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr Bods
Gold Coast Titans boss reveals recruitment plans, return of NRL and 2020 goals
https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/sport/nrl/
Titans CEO Steve Mitchell explains why the COVID-19 shutdown stands to be advantageous for the team and shuts down talk of short-term marquee signings.
Gold Coast Titans chief executive Steve Mitchell has opened up on the affect the coronavirus shutdown has had on his NRL club, how the team have handled isolation and why it may prove the catalyst to launch the Titans back to the finals.
Few sports lean so heavily on timing, communication and reading the play of your teammates as rugby league; at the elite level, those prerequisites become all-consuming as the slightest errors can break down even the best-designed plays.
Balancing the need to train together against government regulations prohibiting gatherings has been an almighty challenge, but one the Titans have navigated with the help of technology.
High performance staff and coaches have been in constant contact with players in their mission to maintain NRL-standards of fitness in their backyards.
“We’ve been utilising technology to do not just training but nutrition and diet,” Mitchell said.
“They’ve all be on their own individualised training programs, hooked in to high performance and coaching staff through multiple weekly zoom meetings.
“We’re keeping them in the best condition we can keep them in before the mini pre-season (begins on May 4).”
TIME FOR PROBLEM-SOLVING
The regular season is no time to reinvent the wheel but the extended break has presented the Titans with a golden opportunity to reboot their season.
The NRL’s six undefeated teams will despair the loss of their early-season momentum but the break has offered Justin Holbrook critically needed time to solve his side’s early season woes and explore new options.
The break has also allowed time for players to heal, with cavalry in the form of Moeaki Fotuaika, AJ Brimson, Shannon Boyd, Dale Copley, Tyrone Roberts and skipper Kevin Proctor expected to arrive fully fit for round three.
“The break has been advantageous for us,” the Titans boss admitted.
“We’d shown glimpses, at the Nines and winning a trial against the Broncos in Redcliffe, but the first two (NRL) fixtures were less than what we wanted to see.
“(The shutdown) has given our coaching staff time to review and look across the squad and work out where they want to see improvement, not just with the players but the structural flow of the game.
“We’ve got a new coaching staff with Justin and Jim Lenihan and Jim Dymock and they’re building a new High Performance environment with the players.”
Mitchell said that work had continued through the COVID-19 shutdown and team would be ready to tackle their May 28 return.
SHARPENING THE SWORDS
Gold Coast products Ben Te’o and Jordan Rapana have been floated in addition to aspirant code-hopper Quade Cooper and Sonny Bill Williams, on short-term contracts.
But would the Titans be interested in bringing players of that calibre into the fold at Parkwood?
“No we’re not, to be honest,” Mitchell said.
“They’re great athletes but that doesn’t speak to our long-term view of sustainability and success.
“Short-term contracts of high profile players aren’t what we’re focused on.
“We’re being strategic with the composition of our squad.”
As it stands, Justin Holbrook will need to replace star import Kallum Watkins with a talent already on the books – a marked demonstration that the Titans have wizened up from the recruiting misfires of the past.
NEW WORLD ORDER
The sporting landscape will likely never be the same again in rugby league as a period of rationalisation and consolidation takes root, Mitchell said.
Sporting clubs have been exposed to just how precarious their positions have been in the wake of COVID-19, and finding stability is going to force teams at all levels to find answers to difficult questions.
The Gold Coast’s Intrust Super Cup sides are in the middle of that process now, with funding from the governing QRL body slashed.
Mitchell said the on-field success of Burleigh and Tweed Heads in the NRL feeder competition boded well for their survival through a difficult period.
“For the QRL, across all the state league competitions, it’s a time of rationalisation at all tiers,” he said.
“We will see rationalisation of clubs that sit within those separate competitions and how they operate.
“Burleigh’s long-term success has been strong, so as the Titans are reshaping our business so will they.
“Tweed have had some good years and with their changes at CEO they’ll push on.
“Both will compete and they both have a future in front of them, but like us, they’ll have to consolidate their business due to shrinkage in the economic pie.”
CLUB COMP CAN’T AFFORD TO RUSH
Optimism about the NRL’s return has lit a fire in under the Gold Coast’s club football community hoping to return to their respective competitions as soon as possible.
Rushing towards a wide-scale return would be a mistake, the Titans chief warned.
“What we’ve got to do is go back to the greater part of community health issue,” Mitchell said.
“Local and state competitions can come back online when all chief medical officers are satisfied we have the risk of infection contained.
“Those comps are dictated by those people being in a position where they say they’re happy with the state of play.
“Everyone wants to play again but we have to listen to health experts first and foremost.”
It just doesn’t get any better. Let’s sign that young Broncos fullback
Meanwhile, Titans fullback AJ Brimson is unlikely to return from a stress fracture in his back alongside teammates from May 28, joining Raiders star John Bateman in having his injury rehabilitation impacted by coronavirus restrictions.
Gold Coast coach Justin Holbrook told SportsDay NSW that Brimson would struggle to recover in time for the NRL's proposed May 28 restart date, having not played since the NRL Nines with a back injury.
The club says Brimson's recovery remains a week-to-week prospect, but has been hampered by his ability to see specialists on a regular basis under COVID-19 restrictions.
Fifita had knee surgery.
https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/broncos...b-ae7d2bb850e6
https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl...0b43482918799b.
Interesting to see this go straight to press and no "rumours" of clubs interested... Could be a handy pick up for us though I fear storm will have first dibs especially with both Ado and Suliasi likely gone next year.
I think that was talk back in mid march regarding him wanting back in the NRL. Page 67 of this thread (depending on your settings).Quote:
Originally Posted by elltee
I don't understand our interest in Tonumaipea. He never showed much in a strong Storm team. A backup player at best imo.
Second string Storm would have him rating as our best back.Quote:
Originally Posted by willhelm
I’ve been more impressed with what I’ve seen from Jonus Pearson than Tonumaipea.Quote:
Originally Posted by JunctionBlock