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  1. #121
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    He is one solidly built young man mate, and just glides across the field effortessly.

    Quote Originally Posted by NZFan View Post
    I'm really looking forward to watching play him in the trials. How was Spry looking?

  2. #122

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    We can only hope

  3. #123
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    Quote Originally Posted by mdrew View Post
    He is one solidly built young man mate, and just glides across the field effortessly.
    That's good to hear. There has been some big wraps on him. Hopefully he can get a crack in the centres next season, we could do with some size and speed out wide.

  4. #124
    Moderator lonegull's Avatar
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    How good is David mead still going been bloody brilliant for the kumuls would love to see him given a chance again at nrl

  5. #125
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    Exclusive: Off-contract Gold Coast Titans flyer Phillip Sami set to secure long-term future
    The Wests Tigers appear to have failed in their bid to capture Gold Coast winger Phillip Sami, with the Titans flyer expected to formalise a contract extension later this week.
    Foxsports.com.au understands that Sami, who was one of the shining lights in the Titans’ dismal 2019 campaign, is likely to ink a fresh two-year deal in the coming days.
    Stream over 50 sports live & anytime on your TV or favourite device with KAYO SPORTS. The biggest Aussie sports and the best from overseas. Just $25/month. No lock-in contract. Get your 14 day free trial >
    The Tigers had been hopeful of snaring the off-contract Sami, in the wake of the departure of Esan Marsters after the Kiwi international headed to North Queensland.
    Instead, it is believed the 22-year-old has rejected the overtures from Michael Maguire’s side to stay loyal to the Titans in a deal which will see him remain there until the end of 2022.
    It would represent a significant boost for the beleaguered club, who are aiming to turn around their fortunes under new coach Justin Holbrook.
    Sami has scored 21 tries in 43 games for the Gold Coast and also represented the Queensland U20’s in 2018.
    MORE NRL NEWS
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    PLAN B: Manly make contingency plan for Fainu in 2020 as he fights charges
    Comfortable anywhere across the backline, Sami can fill in at centre, but has spent most of his NRL career on the wing.
    In the 2019 season Sami returned for an average of 112m per game, and notched the fastest speed of a player in Titans’ history.
    That came when he gunned down Melbourne’s Josh Addo-Carr in a try-saving tackle.
    Sami hit a top speed of 35.9kmh in the valiant 24-8 loss at the back end of the year, with his Titans teammates nicknaming him “the Hound”, given he had chased down “the Foxx”.

  6. #126

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    This is great news a bit of loyalty shown its a shame Arrow and AJ dont do the same.
    I hoping Sami and Kelly can get it together this year I also hoping Farmer gets the left edge forward job

  7. #127
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    Quote Originally Posted by Just-a-Fan View Post
    This is great news a bit of loyalty shown its a shame Arrow and AJ dont do the same.
    I hoping Sami and Kelly can get it together this year I also hoping Farmer gets the left edge forward job
    Who says AJ and Arrow won't do the same?

  8. #128
    Junior Titanitis's Avatar
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    Have we ever had a crop of players under 23 with so much potential across all levels of the club and development? Of course it's only early days, but I haven't felt like we were this close to actual progression since 2016. Holbrook's interview with Meyn in today's Courier Mail showed a lot of promising signs. When asked if he thought if some players were taking the club for a ride, it seemed to me that he had maybe already pulled a few guys aside, and went on to say that talk is great but cheap, and it will take more than one or two good efforts to convince him. That being said, we've all been fed some preseason honey before. Garth Vader springs to mind.
    Titans Proud, Titans Strong.

  9. #129

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    I did say previously that I wouldn't care if Sami left due to him being inconsistent and not good enough in kick returns, but booooyyy ohhh boyy do I like loyalty in a player, so if this is true it shows a bit more about the his character and hope he proves me wrong.

  10. #130
    Moderator Bayside Titan's Avatar
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    SPORT
    Justin Holbrook opens up on bold move from UK champs to NRL battlers
    Travis Meyn, The Courier-Mail
    November 16, 2019 1:14pm
    Subscriber only
    Justin Holbrook is a former soft drink salesman who has gone from coaching the best team in the Super League to the worst team in the NRL – the Gold Coast Titans.

    Holbrook has promised it is a fresh start for a club that won only four of 24 games in 2019, and in his first in-depth interview since joining the club, he tells TRAVIS MEYN he can see a light at the end tunnel ----

    How did you get involved in rugby league?

    I grew up in the Revesby area, which is in western Sydney – Canterbury Bulldogs territory. I was a Doggies fan growing up. I played my first year of rugby league in the under-7s with the Milperra Colts. The only reason I’m telling you that is because I played with Steve Price (former St George Illawarra coach), who ended up coaching Warrington in England. We coached the Challenge
    Are you a career coach or did you ever hold a ‘normal’ job?

    I played all sports growing up – I loved cricket, golf, surfing and footy. I started coaching as a captain-coach for the Dapto Canaries in the Wollongong competition. I worked with Schweppes soft drinks as a business manager in the licensed division looking after pubs and clubs. Before I went into coaching full-time, I finished at Coca-Cola looking after the golf clubs and pro shops for NSW. I got into coaching reserve grade at the Bulldogs in 2010-11 and won a couple of comps. I was coaching part-time while working. I enjoyed the commercial side of business. I loved coaching more and had to give up working in the end.

    Holbrook played 17 games in the top grade. Picture: Gary Graham
    Holbrook played 17 games in the top grade. Picture: Gary Graham
    You played 17 first grade games for Newcastle, Penrith and the Roosters from 1999-2002. Do you reckon you were much of a player?

    I was a halfback and played a lot of reserve grade – I was a reserve grade specialist. I had a couple of good first grade games and played with a lot of good players but wasn’t really a good one myself.

    When did you decide to have a proper crack at coaching?

    I was always a bit hesitant to leave my job (while coaching Canterbury reserves). I ended up coaching at the Dragons and Parramatta, then Trent (Robinson, Roosters coach) got me over as an assistant at the Roosters in 2015. I’d always loved coaching but I loved working as well. I knew it was going to take a while not having a player background, but I was okay with that. I thought if I could keep doing well in the lower grades it might lead to something.

    Why did Trent pick you to join such a successful club?

    I’m not sure. Trent had followed my coaching and had a vacancy. Two and a half years there was terrific for my coaching. I had always been a head coach and that was the first year I went in as an assistant and you don’t have to worry about a lot of stuff. You don’t have to do the pre-game, halftime, post-game talks. You don’t worry about away trips. It’s just about the detail of it. That was key for me. I got to learn the real details of the game.

    Midway through 2017 you were appointed head coach of St Helens in the Super League. How did that come about?

    It all happened so quick – we were halfway through the year at the Roosters. They weren’t doing well and parted ways with their coach Kieron Cunningham – one of the best players to ever play for St Helens. Their CEO flew to Sydney and I met with him. I had to speak to Trent as it was halfway through the year. He’d coached over there with Catalans and knew how important it was for himself. He was supportive of it, which was great.

    Did you want to become a head coach again?

    Even with the great learnings I had as an assistant, I missed being the head coach. I missed the things I said I didn’t have to do. You’re responsible for everyone. I always felt I would have to head coach somewhere (to prove myself). I might have got an NRL gig but you’re never sure. I thought if I was at another club I would have looked at it as Trent’s team and I’m an assistant. It was great for me to get over there. Not having a playing background, you’re never going to have fans and board members pushing for you. I wanted to get over there. I had two and a half great years there.


    You won the Super League premiership this year following a remarkable season.

    It was a great finish. We didn’t win the Challenge Cup which was tough but to finish winning Super League was awesome. We had the best season in the history of the game over there. We were 16 points clear of second spot. It’s an incredible level of consistency from the players to only lose three games all year. It was hard to leave. Everything was going so well and we enjoyed living there. I felt a lot better knowing I was leaving the club and town in a good spot.

    Your success over there led to you getting the Titans job after Garth Brennan was sacked. How did you turn around St Helens?

    They’ve always had a good club, they were just in a bad spot and needed a new direction to go in. I stripped it right back. What happens when you’re not playing well is you can tend to overcomplicate things and it gets worse and worse. I simplified it all and got back to two things. You need to work hard because if you don’t you won’t be any good. And enjoy what you do. You can’t do anything good if you don’t enjoy it. You’ve got to love it. I’ve always loved coaching and seeing players play well. The players bought into it.

    Holbrook says he will strip things back at the Titans. Picture: Dave Hunt
    Holbrook says he will strip things back at the Titans. Picture: Dave Hunt
    You’ve gone from the best team in the Super League to the worst team in the NRL. What state are the Titans in after collecting the wooden spoon this year?

    No one at the club is happy with the season. It’s a similar approach to St Helens. They’ve all got a fresh start, I don’t need to remind them they came last, they all know it. It’s about doing something about it now. We’re only halfway through our second week now but they’ve all come back in good nick. Dan Ferris (fitness coach) is really impressed with them compared to this time last year. That proves they want to do something about it. We’re here to help them. That’s what I want to instil. I want them to be better players, that’s our job as coaches. They’ve got to work hard all the time. I’ll create the environment where they want to come to training, that’s what it’s all about.

    There is a perception that some Titans players have taken the club for a ride. Do you sense that?

    That’s not for me to say. There is so much talk about the club and what’s wrong with it. I’ve addressed them. Regardless of what’s been said, it can be all perception and perception can become reality. They’ve got a fresh start and I’ll judge them on what I see. The early signs are good. They’ve taken their own initiative and I’ll make judgment over time. I’ve had meetings with them all and they’ve all said great things about what they want to do. Now it’s about seeing the evidence from them on the training field and delivering the standards every day, not just once or twice. It’s making it the norm and as staff we’ve got to create that. We’re all in it together.



    Which players excite you?

    You can see so much improvement in the younger guys like AJ Brimson and Phillip Sami. Tanah Boyd and Toby Sexton are in training and you can see they’re going to improve so much. Their improvement is awesome and their confidence goes up. Youth brings a lot of energy.

    ----

    FAST FACTS

    Age: 43

    Family: Wife Nat, and four sons Harvey (10), Fletcher (8) and twins Deejay and Bodhi (both 6).

    Playing career: 17 games for Newcastle, Penrith and Sydney (1999-2002).

    Coaching career: Lower grades at Canterbury, Parramatta and St George Illawarra. Assistant coach to Trent Robinson at the Sydney Roosters (2015-17). Head coach of St Helens (2017-2019), winning the 2019 Super League premiership.
    #TitansThruNThru #WeAreReady

  11. #131
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    Sounds great, though I'm a bit concerned he named his kids Deejay and Bodhi

  12. #132
    Captain Toads's Avatar
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    Glad to hear Sami has resigned. I expect him to flourish under Holbrook if Holbrook proves to be a decent coach. Tend to feel Sami's development may have stalled under Brennan's watch/rule.
    Last edited by Toads; 18-11-19 at 07:02 AM.

  13. #133

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    That's bloody awesome news to hear we are locking down Sami and to hear he turned down massive overs from the Tigers is superb. That's the sort of stuff where good culture is built from. Definitely agree Toads that Brennan seemed to have it out for Sami, so hopefully he improves in leaps and bounds under a coach who believes in him.

    Now let's hope AJ and Arrow do the same, I'm confident about both but waiting to see before getting overly excited.

  14. #134
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    Quote Originally Posted by BundyTitan View Post
    That's bloody awesome news to hear we are locking down Sami and to hear he turned down massive overs from the Tigers is superb. That's the sort of stuff where good culture is built from. Definitely agree Toads that Brennan seemed to have it out for Sami, so hopefully he improves in leaps and bounds under a coach who believes in him.

    Now let's hope AJ and Arrow do the same, I'm confident about both but waiting to see before getting overly excited.
    Should've changed his name to Phillip Stockwell.

  15. #135
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    Will be disgusted if Souths get salary cap relief for Burgess' medical retirement and then sign Arrow as a result. They knew about Burgess' history of shoulder problems and gambled on him anyway and lost. Salary cap relief would just be allowing them to offload the risk to other clubs which defeats the purpose of a salary cap.

    -------------

    https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...07b6bea82e7d2e

    South Sydney have confirmed they are eyeing off the signature of Queensland star Jai Arrow, and the trump card to the move may be Miss World Australia 2018, Taylah Cannon, the partner of the gun Titan.

    With a possible war chest of around $3 million, South Sydney have made an approach to sign Queensland front-rower Jai Arrow.

    Arrow’s partner Taylah Cannon, who was last year’s Miss World Australia, has told friends a move to Sydney could help her modelling career.

    Now that Greg Inglis, John Sutton and Sam Burgess have retired — and George Burgess has shifted to Wigan — the Rabbitohs have money and are poised to have a crack at Arrow, who is off contract after next season.

    Rabbitohs general manager of football, Shane Richardson, said his club had “an interest in Jai Arrow”.

    Arrow, 24, didn’t re-sign before the NRL’s November 1 deadline and is testing the waters on the open market.

    Six clubs are ready to pay the Gold Gold Titans and Queensland prop around $850,000 to $900,000 a season over four years. Many believe he will one day captain the Maroons.

    Souths co-owner Russell Crowe is always prepared to use his considerable influence to secure a high-profile player but the Rabbitohs cannot make a formal offer until they know how much salary cap dispensation they will receive for the early retirement of Sam Burgess.

    Arrow was born and bred on the Gold Coast and would prefer to re-sign with the club.

    However, he has become frustrated over the Titans’ on-field struggles and wants to consistently play finals footy. A sense of loyalty means he will let the Gold Coast make the final offer.

    “The club has made an inquiry about Jai Arrow through his manager but that’s all we have done at this stage, as we have done with a whole range of different players,’’ Richardson said.

    “But we haven’t made an offer yet. Until we get a decision from the NRL (about Burgess) we can’t really move on anything.

    “I haven’t spoken to Jai on the phone yet and neither has anyone else at the club, but I have spoken to his manager (David Riolo) about his availability from 2021 onwards.

    “At this time, it is a very limited inquiry.”

    Riolo was reluctant to discuss Arrow’s contract negotiations but did confirm strong interest in his client.

    “Jai is a quality player and quality players are always going to attract a lot of interest in the market,” Riolo said.

    “He will weigh everything up and look at all his options. He will work it out from there and probably (reach a decision) early in the New Year. Jai is a Gold Coast junior.”

    Rivals clubs will want an answer on Arrow around Christmas-New Year so they can pursue other players if unsuccessful.

    “Players who are going to cost between $500,000 to a $1 million a year are more likely to be approached earlier — and get done earlier — because interested clubs want to know whether they have them because it’s such big chunk out of their salary cap,” one manager said.

    “And if you miss out, there may not be an equivalent player available. That would change a club’s direction.

    “Clubs would want to now earlier rather than later what lies in store with current and future rep players.”


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