Gold Coast coach Neil Henry says Titans can make NRL finals in 2016
EMMA GREENWOOD GOLD COAST BULLETIN
JANUARY 01, 2016 12:00AM
TITANS coach Neil Henry is adamant his side will be a competitive force in the NRL this season, saying the top eight remains a realistic goal for the Gold Coast in 2016.
Despite an exodus of senior players in the off-season and losing top tryscorer James Roberts after the contract forgery scandal, Henry believes the Titans have the personnel necessary to contend for a *finals place.
And he has assured fans Chris McQueen will not be the final player added to the roster despite the pre-season kick-off drawing closer.
The Titans finished 14th last season, just one win clear of the wooden spoon and critics and bookmakers have them pencilled in as wooden spoon favourites this year.
While Henry is realistic about how difficult it will be, he believes the Titans can be a force if they can keep key players on the paddock.
“We’ve lost a lot of experience with Nate Myles and Aidan Sezer and Dave Taylor leaving the club but I feel we’ve got better depth across the board with our second-tier players too,’’ he said.
“We’re still in the marketplace too, but that’s where they (critics) put the club at the *moment. We value our squad more highly than that but we’re going to have to play some consistent footy, we’re going to have to have a better run with keeping our roster healthy.
“If we can get that under control and keep our main men on the field for most of the season, then we’ll be more than competitive.
“Every team wants to make the finals and I’m thinking if we play to our potential and have our run then we’ll be pushing up towards the eight and that’s what we need to do.’’
Henry believes the addition of experienced players such as David Shillington, Nathan Friend, Zeb Taia and Tyrone Roberts will help.
“Those guys bring in experience and leadership to the team along with our established players like Luke Douglas and Greg Bird and Ryan James,’’ he said.
And he has promised McQueen will not be the only late signing.
“With the departure of James Roberts, we’ll have a couple of vacancies around our outside backs and probably up front,’’ Henry said.
“There’s a bit of movement with the players and we’re active in the market and I think with the right sort of buys for the club we can really improve the depth and quality of our squad.
“It’s a bit of an unusual (time), I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it where there’s so many player movements that can still occur around the Christmas break.
“Things normally happen around October but we’re talking about clubs still moving players around and being able to buy players into the new year, less than four weeks from the start of trials and the Auckland Nines. So that’s unique.’’
Henry believes the Titans have started to earn back the respect of the community with moves to overhaul their board and governance. And he believes it’s time the players now backed that up on the field.
“You have to earn the right to be respected in the community and I feel that we’re starting to do that . What we need to do (now) ... we need to be competitive, we need to be winning our home games and be competitive on the road as well.’’
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A little bit hopeful unless we can add to our roster but I honestly believe (no bias of course ) that we won't finish with the spoon IF we can keep our full side on the paddock. The last 4 or 5 years we have been full of injuries, with double figures of players out. Hopefully the new S&C squad can fix that.