2022 Squad, Signings and Rumours Thread

[coreythompson]

We could convince Corey to unretire

[Croc]

Thanks mate, appreciate you digging it up

you're right he does say "and probably a third pickup in that space as well, will support this young group" after mentioning Verrills and Foran as examples of signings with genuine NRL experience and success and the associated IP that comes with that

Stimson definitely ain't that, but I'm not sure who would be - there isn't anyone off contract who really fits that description

Yeh I have been waiting to see who they come up with.. would be good to have a gun centre

[willhelm]

We could convince Corey to unretire

Hey Corey, why don’t you unretire?

[Upthetits]

Hey Corey, why don’t you unretire?

If he can't play with mitch rein he doesn't want to play at all

[coreythompson]

Don't want to play for holbrook he will get sacked next year

[hungryjacks]

Any chance Fermor playing center next year and we put in another hardnosed 2nd row rotation of Alick, Haas and Fifita.

[DIEHARD]

Gold Coast Titans captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui looks ahead to what key recruits will bring
https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/sport/

On the back of securing his second straight Paul Broughton Medal, Titans skipper Tino Fa’asuamaleaui has declared a pair of incoming recruits will pave the way for a turnaround come 2023.

On the back of securing his second straight Paul Broughton Medal, Titans skipper Tino Fa’asuamaleaui has declared a pair of incoming recruits will pave the way for a turnaround come 2023.

The Queensland Maroons enforcer was tireless in his maiden campaign as captain of the club, amassing 146 running metres and 27 tackles a game even as his side slipped down the NRL ladder.

The Gold Coast won three of their final four clashes to salvage some respite from their 13th placed finish, and Fa’asuamaleaui believes the arrival of premiership-winning duo Kieran Foran and Sam Verrills will help capitalise on that momentum.

Since the decision to allow halfback Jamal Fogarty to leave the Glitter Strip and give young guns Toby Sexton and AJ Brimson the chance to form a scrumbase partnership, the Titans recruitment philosophy had been questioned.

With no experienced campaigner in a spine which also featured rookie Jayden Campbell at fullback and typical lock Erin Clark at hooker, coach Justin Holbrook’s outfit struggled for cohesion and composure.

Aaron Booth, with just 10 first-grade games to his credit, was the only recognised number nine in the top squad, then suffered a gruesome leg injury to end his year and forced prop Sam McIntyre to assume the dummy-half duties.

Now with Sea Eagles veteran Foran and Roosters rake Verrills joining the ranks, Fa’asuamaleaui said two key pieces to their prospective finals comeback were in place.

“Obviously we need a hooker and it was unlucky Aaron Booth went down. He’s one of my close mates so to see him go down like that during the year was very disappointing,” he said.

“Verrills is a hooker and we had some props playing some hooker towards the back end there so he’s going to help us so much.

“Then on top of that Kieran Foran has played over 250 games, has won a championship, he’s been there done that in the game and he’s only going to better the club.

“It’s going to be exciting next year, we just have to keep working hard and make sure we get it right.”

Fa’asuamaleaui became the first player since Luke Bailey to win consecutive Titans player of the year honours, however for him the pinnacle of the year was the way his side finished.

Having lost 10 games straight from rounds 11-21, victories over the Knights and Sea Eagles instilled renewed belief in the playing group they were headed in the right direction.

Tanah Boyd’s golden point heroics against the Warriors to close out the campaign gave one final reason for the Titans faithful to celebrate, and Fa’asuamaleaui said that emotion is what would fuel the squad heading into the pre-season.

“It did mean a lot, the year wasn’t the way we wanted it and the last six games, obviously we didn’t win all of them but there was improvement,” Fa’asuamaleaui said.

“We were working so hard on new systems we brought into our club and normally that takes time in a pre-season.

“But we really knuckled down and made sure we finished the year strong so we didn’t finish on the bottom but to show the fans we really do want to get better.”

[DIEHARD]

The Cup season bound to put Khan-Pereira in NRL conversation
https://www.titans.com.au/news/2022/...-conversation/

Gold Coast Titans flyer Alofiana Khan-Pereira has topped off an incredible Hostplus Cup season, being named as the winger of the year in the Queensland reserve grade competition.

Playing 19 games for the Burleigh Bears this season, the 20-year-old scored an incredible 25 tries - five more than anybody else in the competition and was a threat on the minor premiers' left edge across the entire season.

Not only was he a try-scoring freak, but the Titan was also second in the competition for line breaks with 22 and had 43 tackle breaks to help him find the white stripe.

In Round 18, he came up with an incredible four-try haul against the Mackay Cutters, one better than his three hat-tricks this year - including a pivotal treble in the do-or-die semi-final against the Capras in week two of the finals series.

His attacking flair is why he was given the nod in the Cup Team of the Year and has certainly put himself on Justin Holbrook's radar to be considered in 2023.

The Titans coach has spoken about the youngster not being too far away from debuting on the big stage and should he put in a big pre-season and continue his stellar form in his second year of being part of the top 30 squad, it'll be no coincidence he'll get his crack in the not too distant future.

The Bears finished with five players in the most prestigious line-up of the season with fullback Taine Tuaupiki, halves Josh Rogers and Guy Hamilton and lock Sam Coster all joining Khan-Pereira in being honoured as the best players in their respective positions.

[coreythompson]

Nathan Brown might be playing instead of Bryce Cartwright
To fight fire with fire

I'm surprised the eels didn't fight fire with Rein

Get it mitch rein

[Allshot]

Nathan Brown might be playing instead of Bryce Cartwright
To fight fire with fire

I'm surprised the eels didn't fight fire with Rein

Get it mitch rein

Man you just aren't funny in the slightest aye

[NZTITAN]

Herman Ese'ese signs with The Dolphins

[The Birdman]

Herman Ese'ese signs with The Dolphins

Good. He was magically finding form in the last few months of his contract

[Whats Doing]

DT Article on Ese Ese

A contract spat has broken out between the Dolphins and Titans after super coach Wayne Bennett continued his recruitment drive by poaching Gold Coast prop Herman Ese’ese for next year’s NRL launch.

But Bennett’s raid has sparked Queensland expansion fireworks with the Titans, who have tabled a $400,000, two-year extension in an eleventh-hour bid to keep Ese’ese at the Gold Coast.

Ese’ese has agreed to a one-year contract with the Dolphins to reunite with coach Bennett, who he played some of his best football under.

The 28-year-old signed a Heads of Agreement with the Dolphins last Friday within hours of the Titans finally hitting back with a two-year deal after weeks of dithering.

Ese’ese stands to earn an extra $250,000 by staying at the Titans, leaving the prop in two minds about whether to sensationally renege on his Dolphins deal.

Ese’ese’s 2023 deal has yet to be formally lodged with the NRL, but the Dolphins are confident the hard-running bookend will be part of their foundation squad next season.

The Titans had urgent talks with the forward’s management on Thursday in a desperate bid to convince Ese’ese to backflip on his Dolphins deal and remain at Parkwood.

Gold Coast have offered an extra 12 months and more money than the Dolphins.

A Test player for both New Zealand and Samoa, Ese’ese has played 109 NRL games for the Bulldogs, Broncos, Knights and Titans, where he has spent the past two seasons.

Ese’ese played under Bennett at the Broncos in 2016-17 before securing a bumper deal at Newcastle, where he spent three years before joining the Titans.

He will join an engine room at the Dolphins that already includes middle forwards Jesse Bromwich, Tom Gilbert, Mark Nicholls, Ray Stone and Jarrod Wallace.

“Herman is an experienced campaigner who will give us another strong option as a middle forward,” said Dolphins CEO Terry Reader.

“He is a solid professional that has been around several different systems and has played over a hundred NRL matches in one of the toughest positions on the field.

“We are excited about what he could do again under our coach Wayne Bennett and are confident he can replicate that form for the Dolphins to become an important part of our pack.”

[Hail Sezer]

Dolphins have formally announced his signing and Titans have formally announced his departure. Courier Mail awkwardly late & probably innacurate on this one.

All the best to Herman..if he plays every week like he did for us in the past 4-5 rounds then he'll be a good pick up for them.

[WolfBuddy4]

$400,000? Do our management want us to get into financial trouble for another 2 years. That's pretty irresponsible. He wouldn't even make my starting 17 next year and there are other alternatives on the market who provide better bang for buck especially for the 2024 season.
The dolphins getting him in a cheap 1 year contract is good business for them though.

Read both Andrew Davey & Franklin Pele are off-contract on zero-tackle but then their was an article saying both were signed by the dogs. Both very astute buys that the titans are missing along with tass and royce hunt.
https://www.zerotackle.com/bulldogs-...-boost-120991/