One thing that some people forget. That is Mal has a reputation to keep intact. He is not going leave the club in a poorer position than what he arrived in. To do so will forever taint him.
One thing that some people forget. That is Mal has a reputation to keep intact. He is not going leave the club in a poorer position than what he arrived in. To do so will forever taint him.
#TitansThruNThru #WeAreReady
I've just got off Fraser and this sums it up for me too. Don't think we are a chance of 12th though. Mal has had 12 months and has failed in 90% of his job. If we lose Arrow and AJ then he has well and truly got no value to add to the Titans. Kallum Watkins jumps to mind as an example of his idea of a good signing.
I agree that Mal inherited an average roster, however his title included the word "Performance" and he was here for nearly a full season and our performance went backwards. I haven't checked but not many teams finish a clear 4 games last.
That shambles of a roster you (correctly) refer to is almost certain to be the same roster next year. If there is an improvement does the new coach get the credit, or Mal. The coach in my book.
Just on the Meninga thingy: I don’t like to sink the boot too early and have only done that thrice: Searle (tick); Annesley (tick); and now the big fella ... as an administrator he was a pretty good footballer ... I’ll say no more but he will forever be the Stupid League traitor who has always had his snout in the trough.
Four reasons to escape to Queensland: Sun, Surf, Sand & the Titans.
I think the coach most certainly gets the credit. Just as I am reluctant to blame last season on Mal because I firmly believe that Brennan and the decisions that were made before Mal came along were the causes of last season. Mal spent half the season conducting an in depth review (it is frustrating that it was never made public) and then spent the second half finding a new coach and taking on a general manager role - which he was never employed to do originally. It is frustrating that we have no new signings on the horizon and twice as frustrating that we haven’t been able to get rid of any dud signings but I would still rather be in this position than in the past when we bid on every person off contract and paid way too much for them. I’m just saying that I think it is stupid to throw the baby out with the bath water just because results haven’t been immediate.
Anyone have access to the Courier Mail? Yesterday there was an article called Gold Coast Titans eye monster $4 million dollar roster overall. If anyone has it can they post it. Thanks
Psmitty
The Titans are weighing up a $4 million roster overhaul as more than half of new coach Justin Holbrook’s top squad faces an uncertain future on the Gold Coast.
Thirteen of the Gold Coast’s top 25 players are off contract at the end of the 2020 season, allowing Holbrook to orchestrate a comprehensive clean-out if he feels necessary.
A host of big-name players are fighting for their NRL futures following a shocking wooden-spoon season which saw the Titans win only four games and culminated in the sacking of coach Garth Brennan.
Among the off-contract players is captain Ryan James, New Zealand Test forward Kevin Proctor and former NSW Origin hooker Nathan Peats.
The Titans have identified rising stars Jai Arrow and AJ Brimson, members of Australia’s recent World Cup 9s winning squad, as priority signings.
But the other 11 players – which includes Anthony Don, Dale Copley, Leilani Latu and Tyrone Roberts – face the prospect of having to prove to Holbrook they deserve new deals as the Titans weigh up another roster overhaul.
Holbrook is the Gold Coast’s third coach in three years, with the club undergoing significant squad changes under former mentors Neil Henry and Brennan.
There is a possibility of the Titans’ squad for the 2020 season also changing, depending on player movement around the NRL.
Culture chief Mal Meninga is playing a lead role in shaping the club’s roster, but he said Holbrook would have the ultimate say on his future squad.
“He’s the head coach and has got some really good people around him in (assistant coaches) Jim Dymock and Jim Lenihan,” Meninga said.
“He’s got good staff and will be in control of all that.
“We’ve got a recruitment and retention committee and (football manager) Anthony Laffranchi has increased his role around salary cap compliance.
“Justin and his team will get a feel for the club and players and what he needs. We’ll make some decisions based on those outcomes.
“We’re not quite sure (if there will be player movement before 2020). It’s dependent on where Justin sees the players fitting in the team, particularly the top 17-20.
“There may be some movement with the players. We’ve got to be patient with what we do.”
The Titans have not offered contracts to 2019 players Jack Stockwell, Brenko Lee and Ryley Jacks, who are yet to secure deals at other clubs.
Former Warriors and Raiders halfback Erin Clark has been offered a train-and-trial contract by the Titans for the pre-season.
Jai Arrow is high on the club’s retention list. Picture: Jerad Williams
Meninga has previously declared he wanted to target some of the NRL’s top players to bring to the Gold Coast.
And he believes the Titans’ poor performances in 2019 won’t hurt them in the recruitment ring.
“We’re really working hard behind the scenes,” he said.
“We’ve improved our development pathway programs and have a really good football department now.
“We’re going from strength to strength.
“Things behind the scenes, beyond the football area of the top 30, are really strong. We’ve got a really good story to tell around recruitment.
“We need to build our foundation to ensure we get sustainable success. We can’t make poor decisions that will impinge on our future.”
SIGN THEM UP
Jai Arrow
AJ Brimson
WAIT AND SEE
Ryan James
Kevin Proctor
Nathan Peats
Phillip Sami
Keegan Hipgrave
Treymain Spry
Sam Stone
FIGHTING FOR LIFE
Dale Copley
Anthony Don
Leilani Latu
Tyrone Roberts
Titans Proud, Titans Strong.
With Matterson joining the eels...Mal has reiterated his want for David Fifita to join the Titans.
This could be a big tell as to how much pull/influence Mal has.
Can't wait to see the outcome!
I think the players betrayed the coach as much as the coach was incapable. So that puts some blame on the culture. Our incoming coach has gone on record as saying the culture is the issue. As for throwing the baby away with the bath water....the baby has moved interstate and the parents are still on the Gold Coast. Next step will be the club saying we need someone fulltime and there will be a mutual parting of ways.
Titans co-owner Darryl Kelly said he trusted Meninga to contribute to the club, but admitted contracts could change.
“He is committed to seeing the club get to where he thinks it can get to,” Kelly said.
“The original contract was for three years, but like all contracts if they need to change, they need to change. No one is going to be holding people here that don’t want to be here or can’t be here.
“He’s got enough integrity to say he can’t do the job because of other commitments – he will know when he’s not contributing. I don’t doubt his integrity at all.
“Mal is maintaining a residence here. He will still be here when he’s required.
“He’s still fully committed at this point in time.”
Exert from an article. Guess you read this how you want to read it, half full, half empty.
Yep.
I think the bottom line is that you cannot do the role when you don't live here. I believe that whoever does this job, if it is really needed, that person needs to be in and around the club and players everyday. I think the second paragraph of Darryl's comments say a lot.
IT's the coaches job. Holbrook knows it too.
“It’s always the culture or the leadership, and that’s obvious.
“The answer is yes (the culture does need an overhaul) and that’s something we’ll work through.
“Culture is an everyday thing, you don’t all of a sudden have a good culture or a bad culture, it changes over time.
“We get to start fresh Monday and lay down some standards and behaviours that we’ll work in with the players over the next few months.”
It’s a culture defibrillation Holbrook has conducted before.