2023 Squad, Signings and Rumours Thread

[Appsy]

Reckon we get a club statement this week about Tino and Fifi?

[Titslover]

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CuiwE...RlODBiNWFlZA==

They aint leaving

[JunctionBlock]

I take nothing for granted with this club till I hear it from the players mouth

[Gold Coast 88]

I take nothing for granted with this club till I hear it from the players mouth

Agree, IMO this is far from a certainty Tino staying .

[T0ken]

I just want dessallah to grace the club with his presence

Let him practice smashing doors and kicking chairs

[Mini GF]

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/spo...280-1689134304

What’s this?

[Ausphin]

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/spo...280-1689134304

What’s this?

An article written by Badel and Rothfield. There’s a quinella of reporting accuracy and morals.

[Whats Doing]

Here is the article for what it is worth

Phil Gould’s secret Justin Holbrook meeting as Tino Fa’asuamaleaui poaching plot thickens

Canterbury football boss Phil Gould has secretly met with axed Titans coach Justin Holbrook in the same week the Bulldogs launched their bid to sign champion Gold Coast forward Tino Fa’asuamaleaui.

This masthead can reveal both Gould and Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo had dinner with Holbrook on Tuesday night in Sydney.

Fa’asuamaleaui is now a free agent because of a clause in his contract that stipulated the deal would be null-and-void if Holbrook was sacked.

The Bulldogs are one of five clubs that have reached out to Holbrook, mindful the former Titans coach’s close association with Fa’asuamaleaui could be a handy bargaining chip in their quest to bring the Queensland Origin star to Belmore.

Holbrook has also been sounded out by two Super League teams, but his preference is to remain in Australia – putting NRL clubs such as the Bulldogs in the box seat for his signature.

It is understood the Bulldogs have yet to table an offer at this stage, but Gould’s meeting with Holbrook is a sign the Canterbury football chief is leaving no stone unturned in his blueprint to give Ciraldo every chance of success.

Holbrook’s manager Chris Orr confirmed the deposed Titans mentor is being chased by several NRL rivals just three weeks after his shock dismissal at Parkwood.

“Justin is a very talented coach whose services will be in demand,” Orr said.

“Justin is the type of coach that players want to play for which is evident from the reaction of the Titans players.

“I am overseas at present but on my return we will sit down and work our way through Justin’s options.”

The Bulldogs’ secret talks with Holbrook come in the aftermath of revelations Canterbury owner Arthur Laundy is plotting a $4 million poaching raid on the Titans skipper.

Fa’asuamaleaui is said to be bitterly disappointed with the treatment of Holbrook and should his former coach end up at the Bulldogs, it could be a potential lure for the Maroons enforcer.

Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett tried to poach Fa’asuamaleaui 18 months ago and the Titans captain pledged his loyalty to the club on the proviso a get-out clause related to Holbrook was inserted in his Gold Coast upgrade.

The Titans agreed to that request and Fa’asuamaleaui now has the next three months to decide if he will explore interest from Canterbury and Canberra or remain at the Gold Coast.

Holbrook declined to comment when contacted on Wednesday, but told News Corp a fortnight ago he was hoping to remain in the NRL.

“I don’t know what’s next exactly, but I love coaching,” he said.

“When I left Super League, in my last year (in 2019) we finished 16 points clear of second place, which is a record margin in the history of their competition so it will be hard to beat that.

“But I’m happy here (in Australia), I would love to stay in the NRL.

[Cowabunga]

I'm sure David and Tino are stoked being all over the media the last few weeks nonstop assuming Holbrook leaked all this stuff and them being used to get a job.... The comment that made me laugh the other day was Tinos manager saying he was willing to leave his family if he had to, The guy who moved here for family and cries nearly at just a mention of them is going to be willing to do that. Hmmmm

It seems interesting that the talk about Fifita has pretty much stopped but Tino keeps being bought up. The club is going to have to shut this stuff down at some point soon because it absolutely can't go for 3 months.

[Whats Doing]

This reporting is getting ridiculous, So Gould is trying to Holbrook as an assistant coach in the hope that would lure Tino who would be actually coached by Ciraldo

You watch that Gould will drop the Holbrook idea once Tino announces he is staying. Gould is just so ingenuous

[Titanic]

Holbrook talking up his SL record and completely ignoring his 37% efforts is just vomit inducing.

[Cowabunga]

Apparently Tigers are the club actually after Holbrook potentially haha.

I think we're are forgetting how this played out about 4 months ago with Fifi, These guys pushed the same stuff when Fifita re-signed and they had no clue what was actually going on behind closed doors. Since origin started, I don't think Meyn, Badel or Buzz have had an article not about Tino's contract involving us.. They see a story but don't know anything that goes on behind closed doors.

I get the anger and fear off them leaving but everyone needs to remember we're a club that moves in silence. This exact same stuff happened with Fifita. Have some confidence in these guys actually liking the club and the area, I don't think they've lied at all when they've said how much they want to bring us a title.

I'm super disappointed in Holbrook out of anyone, dude got the world given to him at this club to actually make it successful and goes out and does us like this.... I get being angry, but he's thrown everyone who was under him as a coach/player under the bus trying to create chaos.

[Bayside Titan]

The one thing that I feel that could have helped Holbrook was more support staff or coaches. When you look at a lot of other coaching boxes game day there is full box with all sorts of analyst, assistants and specialist coaches. Since we have been a club I can’t really recall any more than 5-6 in the coaches box. Mostly for the last few years the coaches box has Coach , assistant and one other. Just thoughts.

[Cowabunga]

We offered him everything we could from a club perspective and gave him way more then you could hope for as a first time coach. Spent millions buying out guys from Brennans roster and gave him free reign... He knew what he was walking into in 2020....

He got his coaching staff and everything he wanted till it became untenable then the club had to act for him last year... Had Mal and the club 100% backing him to the point we didn't fire him a month after the clauses.

What more could we have done without under minding him from the start? Holbrook had every opportunity in the world that a young coach would hope for. Holbrook was shocking even when we bought in people for him, Our performances the last three weeks based on just basic moves proves that.

Wtf hahha, Holbrook let us down more then we let him down.....

[The Birdman]

Holbrook talking up his SL record and completely ignoring his 37% efforts is just vomit inducing.

We should call Adam O'Brien and Holbrook the FIGJAM's. Don't worry about their actual performances in the NRL, they'll tell you how good they are.