Sports scientist leaves Gold Coast Titans with claim club not ripe for winning environment
TOM BOSWELL GOLD COAST BULLETIN SEPTEMBER 12, 2015 12:00AM
SPORTS scientist Tim Gabbett has delivered a parting backhander after he quit the Gold Coast Titans claiming he was walking away because of the “high performance *environment”.
Gabbett refused to take up an option on his contract after 12 months with the club.
While he said he was leaving on good terms with the club and coach Neil Henry he’d encountered issues that weren’t conducive to the *environment he believed was required for success.
Gabbett joins strength and conditioning coach Dan Ferris in leaving the Titans, with Ferris to link with Manly.
Gabbett would not elaborate on his exact concerns when pressed further but the respected consultant who had worked previously under Wayne Bennett at the Broncos said various factors were behind his decision to leave.
The Titans have been virtually homeless during Gabbett’s time and been forced into temporary facilities at Pizzey Park with still no resolution on their new home headquarters.
“I don’t think there is any one reason,” Gabbett said.
“To be successful you need the whole club working hard together and need everyone heading in the same direction.
“Ultimately my decision was based on the high performance environment.
“To be winning you need to be performing winning *actions and it is important to do that even when you’re not winning on the field.
‘‘I have been around sport long enough to know what a winning environment looks like and to develop that is a lot of hard work.
“I’m not just talking about working hard on the field but also training hard in a lot of different areas and part of that is working together as a coaching team.”
Henry, who worked with Gabbett at the Cowboys, said he would be missed and thanked him for all his work.
“Tim did a fantastic job for us and it is certainly disappointing to see him go but we value what he has done for us and the research he has done on the game,” Henry said.
Henry revealed the club was already in talks with potential replacements for Ferris and Gabbett with the aim to sign two full-time strength and conditioning coaches.
Gabbett said he maintained a good relationship with Henry.
“I really enjoyed working with the players and I think they are a tremendous group of men,” Gabbett said.