2020 Squad, Signings and Rumours Thread

[Mr Bods]

Quade Cooper can’t tackle.
He also doesn’t have to my eye the size or speed to play in the Centres.
And Mal is off his head mentioning Fullback because that’s AJ’s position until he retires.
I’m absolutely baffled by this.
As mdrew said target the young Reds players If we want to go down that path and look at genuine Centre/Wing prospects.

[elltee]

Hi everyone, Long time follower and have really enjoyed the conversations over the past few months. I just thought I would chime in here as Union and the reds have been my top sport since a kid followed closely by the Titans of course.

The topic of cooper's tackle efficiency and passing only one way is simply a myth IMO. Having followed him closely from school rugby to the big show week in week out I really think he could shine in a league. His vision, footwork, and passing exceed the likes of Benji. While defense would not be his greatest asset he would do better than both Roberts and Taylor being the bigger, stronger body in the line. He would be faster and possibly even bigger*then both our current centers as well*if they were thinking that as a possible option for him also. I don't think the article holds much weight though unfortunately, fox sports gossip articles are getting ridiculous.

[Mr Bods]

^^^ welcome
Please keep contributing

[GCTTSD]

Fair enough, I haven't seen alot of him play so I don't know much about his defence but from what I've seen of his attack he's be a better option at 6 than Tyrone Roberts and a better partner for ash with his kicking game and experience

[JunctionBlock]

Quade Cooper can’t tackle.
He also doesn’t have to my eye the size or speed to play in the Centres.
And Mal is off his head mentioning Fullback because that’s AJ’s position until he retires.
I’m absolutely baffled by this.
As mdrew said target the young Reds players If we want to go down that path and look at genuine Centre/Wing prospects.

Mal sees AJ as a utility. Also if Mal said he's interested in signing a bloke who is earning $800k at the Reds then I think we are safe in saying we won't sign him. Maybe some drug tests wouldn't be out of the question either *sniff sniff*

[Titanic]

Fox reports we are not interested because his short term availability doesn’t fit our long term plan ... like that a lot. And welcome Eltee.

[Mr Bods]

Fox reports we are not interested because his short term availability doesn’t fit our long term plan ... like that a lot. And welcome Eltee.

Thank you. Let’s all move on now.

[DIEHARD]

James prepared to play waiting game in bid to stay a Titan
http://www.nrl.com

Ryan James is unlikely to return in 2020 even if the competition extends past October with new rehabilitation protocols affecting one of the game's luckless injured stars.

While most players who have been nursing niggling injuries have benefited from the game's hiatus, James is among many who have been subject to strict measures in place by the NRL that reduces hands-on contact with high-performance staff.

The 28-year-old forward suffered heartbreak at a training session in February when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament after he had worked hard to get back onto the field from the same injury in that knee in 2019.

"I've gone from 1-2 physio sessions a day to 1-2 a week which is still good but usually you get about 10 a week at training," James told NRL.com.

"So I'm just trying to manage it until I get back to training, it's a really important stage of the ACL rehabilitation.

"I thought I might've been a chance to get back later in the year but it's looking unlikely.

"Everything happens for a reason, it's one of those things you have to suck it up and do your rehab."

Off contract at season's end, James has expressed a desire to remain a one-club player but with the make-up of the 2021 salary cap under a cloud, he's resigned to the possibility of having to play the waiting game.

"I've been at the club now for 12 years so I'm very keen to stay on the Coast, it's who I am and what I do, I love being a part of it," he said.

"I'm definitely trying to stay in the future. It's put [discussions] back a couple of months but it's one of those things where I've got to just talk to them when the time comes and in the meantime I want to prove my value around the club in other aspects.

"I don't really know how it's going to play out and a lot will come down to how diligent I am with rehabilitation."

Despite being restricted to six games in the past 18 months, James enjoyed a four-year purple patch of form which included a call-up to an extended NSW squad in 2018.

He has ruled out retirement, while any chances of players switching to the Super League next season will depend on international border restrictions.

"I'll definitely play on regardless," James said.

"I really wanted to get back and play some consistent footy and play for a new contract. You just have to do your best and that's all I'm doing."

[Mr Bods]

Kallum Watkins Granted Immediate Release

Titans.com.auSat 18 Apr 2020, 07:33 PM
The Gold Coast Titans have granted a request from English Test centre Kallum Watkins for an immediate release from his NRL contract, so that he can return to the United Kingdom for personal reasons.

Watkins joined the Titans in the middle of the 2019 NRL season from the Leeds Rhinos, committing to the Gold Coast until the end of the 2021 season.

Watkins has played 25 Tests for England and over 250 games for the Rhinos in Super League, scoring in excess of 100 tries. He is a three-time premiership winner with the Rhinos, as well as a two-time Challenge Cup champion.

After a period of recovery from a knee reconstruction and adjustment to the NRL last year, a terrific pre-season had the 29-year-old set to deliver his best for the Titans in 2020.

However, some serious family health concerns have forced Watkins and his family to immediately move his family back to the UK, bringing his time at the Gold Coast – and his long-stated desire to prove himself in the NRL – to a premature end.

Titans Head Coach Justin Holbrook said Watkins would be a big loss for the Club, and badly missed.

“Kallum has only been here for a short time, but he is an immensely popular guy in the playing group,” Holbrook said. “Every day he exhibited the qualities that the Club wanted from him – namely his leadership and his professionalism.

“I am mostly just bitterly disappointed for Kallum – firstly that he has to endure this awful situation with health concerns with family members, and secondly that he has had to walk away from his dream of proving himself in the NRL.

“He worked incredibly hard in the off-season, and that hard work was evident in the form we saw from him at the start of the season – in the trial against the Broncos, and then our two premiership games against Canberra and Parramatta.

“For him to have to walk away now just as he was getting back to his best is devastating for him, and for us as his friends.

“But family always comes first, and we would never stand in Kallum’s way of doing what is best for his family in a very difficult time.

“He leaves the Titans with our thanks and best wishes, for him and his family.”

[Dooldog76]

No great loss

[DIEHARD]

Damn it. Just when I thought we were seeing his potential. It is bitterly disappointing.

But as a person working overseas far from family. I can understand how he would feel about his family.

Good luck Kallum.

[Hail Sezer]

Apparently his father has been tested positive for COVID-19. I wish him and his family all the best.

[JunctionBlock]

Apparently his father has been tested positive for COVID-19. I wish him and his family all the best.

That’s terrible news. Hope hue pulls through and has a speedy recovery.

[Titanic Believer]

Bummer! I was looking forward to seeing him get back to form. CV continues to cause havoc. Best wishes to his family.

[Titanic]

He goes with all my best wishes ... he didn’t dog it like so many of his team mates ... I hope his family situation is just a scare.