2023 Season General Discussion Thread

[MaroonTitan]

They're good points you make, NZFan. The conundrum is that the Roosters were happy to lose Liu as they see Radley playing that role better than him (and more mobile in the 6-again game). For mine, I think Clark will end up doing it better than Liu but I could well be wrong about that. At the beginning of last season, I thought Sam Mac could be an ideal 13 for us after Liu but I didn't see that from him as much as I would have liked. I'm hoping Clark can become elite in that position.

I think you could be right about Emry Pere. He could be an answer for us, in terms of that extra middle we need in the 30. Alternatively, we'll have to buy someone else and there's not much left on the shelf.

I also agree with you on bringing one of those young hookers into a Dev spot. Currently there are two vacancies there. Does anyone know how Booth is going? He might be the answer to the hooker problem if he's ahead of schedule with his recovery. I think we need a backup to Verrills in our 30 and what if Boyd is too good at 7??? I wonder if we're looking at Tom Starling long term from 2024 and will scratch around next season until we have an answer on Booth or Starling. Any ideas?

The last spot in the 30 should go to an outside back as many have suggested. Kevin Naiqama looked good this morning and has a lot of experience. He could be a cheap depth player for a year or two. I don't think there are any goalkickers left on the market.

But again, if we're looking at one of: Flegler, Big Nelson, Kamikamica, McLean or Gilbert for 2024, I wonder how this influences our 30 for 2023. I can also see how Hiku and Rapana could help us in 2024 for a year or two, until De Groot and Ngumanu can step up. I'm a big fan of Douehi but letting Fuller go indicates Boyd is thought of as a pure half in future and a depth hooker is on the way.

Maybe I'm way off. It wouldn't be the first time. Sometimes the passion blurs the vision.

[Hail Sezer]

Yeah but at the same time hes a middle, all that’s required for him is to have a dig and run the ball hard and often. Tino’s managed to be one of the best forwards in the game in our structures, should be no excuse for Liu.

Sorry to single out your post mate but this kind of old-school thinking around middle forwards really irks me…it’s just simply not accurate. Modern day middles contribute a lot more than just stat sheet metres and tackle breaks. Tino does what he does because he’s Tino. Liu’s perceived lack of contribution is IMO because a) people close their eyes when it comes to the defensive side of the game and b) for some reason when we signed him it was assumed he’s a bustling tackle breaking forward, which he isn’t.

Agree with whoever else said that he’s a 13…and I think it’s also worth mentioning that in general our middles struggled in 2022 because of poor conditioning, poor defensive structure and principles, and a lack of field position because of our poor defensive principles and poor conditioning. A middles offensive contribution always looks a lot better when these things are humming along well and they’re in good-ball.

[RavShamrock]

Oopsie I said that with the assumption that Foran is the 7 and AJ the 6. In which case Boyd should be the 14 at minimum, and next in line for 7. He’s ahead of Sexton.

I meant Boyd will go to Burleigh to play 7 as in Burleigh are desperate for halves having lost their 6/7/1 to NRL clubs, and the Titans will want to keep Weaver & Sexton at Tweed. So they’ll prob assign Boyd back there as a 7. Not that he’ll necessarily be playing there.

Edit - and by back to Burleigh I meant it as in back to Burleigh from Tweed, because he was previously at Burleigh. Really should’ve given more context in hindsight

PHEW! You had me a bit worried there...thanks for clearing up.

[jacksonm]

I notice that Shallin Fuller is on South Sydney’s Train and Trial list published in the Telegraph today

I’m disappointed that we didn’t give him another year considering he spent 2022 injured

[NZFan]

If one of the hookers is moved up to a Development contract if say Keano Kini gets promoted to the Top 30, maybe Oskar Bryant gets call due first, but they are all very close in terms of current ability and potential.

What would be the point in promoting Kini when he’s already on a development contract? Straight out of school it’s going to be unlikely that he’d play any first grade (for the first half of the year at least), wouldn’t that be a waste of a spot? While I’m all for promoting through our pathways it’s going to be pointless unless we have some experience around them.

[GCTTSD]

I’m disappointed that we didn’t give him another year considering he spent 2022 injured

Showed alot of potential but Keano Kini has probably taken his spot

[MaroonTitan]

I'm unsure of the Dev Contract numbers after your post mdrew. If we have four currently and Hau and Pahulu come into the 6 places and then as you suggest Iszac F gets promoted to the 30, doesn't that leave a spot for a Dev hooker, without the need for Kini to be promoted too early?

Do you think it's a train-off between Iszac and Pere for the last middle spot in the 30? Either way, I hope both of them train the house down and Emry can land a spot in the Dev 6, if not the 30.

[Hail Sezer]

I'm unsure of the Dev Contract numbers after your post mdrew. If we have four currently and Hau and Pahulu come into the 6 places and then as you suggest Iszac F gets promoted to the 30, doesn't that leave a spot for a Dev hooker, without the need for Kini to be promoted too early?

Do you think it's a train-off between Iszac and Pere for the last middle spot in the 30? Either way, I hope both of them train the house down and Emry can land a spot in the Dev 6, if not the 30.

Have you seen Pere play? He was really underwhelming in Qcup last year and there's a reason Payton wouldn't pick him. Personally don't see him being signed but would love for him to come out and prove me wrong, of course...we need a middle.

With our remaining Top 30 spots, I don't really think there is any immediate move that makes sense. The off-contract options are underwhelming. I'm not confident on Pere being signed and don't believe we even have the appropriate positional vacancy for Toia.

There's no need to rush out and sign players to the top 30. See who becomes available, and see how Iszac F/Ben Liyou respond after another NRL pre-season. Tony Francis as well. I'd want to get through pre-season and trials at a minimum before this became an option, though. Then you can re-evaluate the Dev spots if you need to fill them again.

[Titanic]

I also would counsel caution with signing anyone right now. We have been exposed too often with a "filling places" mentality.

Also I just have to comment that Tonga used Fifita even less than we have done which suggests something is wrong in his own game management if he couldn't get up for that last game. Plus I am very pleased that they are out early (except having to put up with more Luai) so that Mofo (who really earned his jersey) and the underwhelming hulk can get back soonest. I feel that Whitey could be the key to getting them both into the right space.

[Ausphin]

I spend way too much time thinking about this, but the way i see the squad my 2 major concerns are -

Goalkicker

Middle Forward

The way Brimmo finished the year i think we need him to be involved as much as possible and i fear he would be wasted in the centres. The way the current game is i dont think teams need 2 superstars in the centres and i think we can get by with Jojo and Kelly (if he can improve his defence). So if Brimmo is 6, then i think Foran will be 7. He is not a natural halfback, but his experience and defence particularly we be upgrades over Boyd/Sexton. The challenge then is who is goalkicker. Would love to find a tall rangy winger who can kick but they are not out there at the moment.

I was ok with moving on Wallace, Lisone and Ese Ese, but we are a bit light on for middles. Think Liu should start at 13, with Clark off the bench and then Tino and Mo with Joliffe on the bench but we still need 1 more. Not a lot out there, but wonder if we could grab Josh Kerr from the Dragons who is not off contract but seems to be out of favour with Griffin.

[NZFan]

Do we know what’s happening with Spry this season?

[DarOv]

I spend way too much time thinking about this, but the way i see the squad my 2 major concerns are -

Goalkicker

Middle Forward

The way Brimmo finished the year i think we need him to be involved as much as possible and i fear he would be wasted in the centres. The way the current game is i dont think teams need 2 superstars in the centres and i think we can get by with Jojo and Kelly (if he can improve his defence). So if Brimmo is 6, then i think Foran will be 7. He is not a natural halfback, but his experience and defence particularly we be upgrades over Boyd/Sexton. The challenge then is who is goalkicker. Would love to find a tall rangy winger who can kick but they are not out there at the moment.

I was ok with moving on Wallace, Lisone and Ese Ese, but we are a bit light on for middles. Think Liu should start at 13, with Clark off the bench and then Tino and Mo with Joliffe on the bench but we still need 1 more. Not a lot out there, but wonder if we could grab Josh Kerr from the Dragons who is not off contract but seems to be out of favour with Griffin.

These guys make a great rush, it even reminds me in some ways of one Australian casino - https://betpokies.com/reviews/grand-rush-casino - here's a review. I've tried it, looks good. I haven't deposited any money there though. Have you tried it?

I think that if we're going to improve anything, we should start with the defense. The foundation of any game is defense. But that's my opinion. And I'm glad to see so much discussion here. Hi all!

[Titanic]

Welcome to Forum DarOv … get stuck in, it’s a long off season

[GCTTSD]

I also would counsel caution with signing anyone right now. We have been exposed too often with a "filling places" mentality.

Also I just have to comment that Tonga used Fifita even less than we have done which suggests something is wrong in his own game management if he couldn't get up for that last game. Plus I am very pleased that they are out early (except having to put up with more Luai) so that Mofo (who really earned his jersey) and the underwhelming hulk can get back soonest. I feel that Whitey could be the key to getting them both into the right space.

He looked gassed after about 5 minutes on the field I don't know if he's carrying any lingering injuries but he needs a big offseason of conditioning or we may as well let him leave he'll just be another Dave Taylor

[GCTTSD]

'Taking control’: Former choolboys star Tom Weaver reveals plan to make Gold Coast Titans NRL debut in 2023
Transitioning from schoolboy phenom to NRL hopeful has been a trial by fire for this young gun. A series of bruises inflicted by a Kiwi powerhouse are proof of that.

Transitioning from schoolboy phenom to NRL hopeful has been a trial by fire for Tom Weaver. A series of bruises inflicted by Kiwi gun Eliesa Katoa are proof of that.

However the Titans rookie senses his opportunity to crack the elite is nearing, and he has declared a first-grade debut is within his reach by the back end of 2023.

Once the pride of Palm Beach Currumbin, steering them to Langer Trophy glory, Weaver’s campaign this year was the start of a new journey. The beginning of his quest to the top.


MORE GOLD COAST SPORT

Team of the Week Rd 5: Seven half centuries steal the spotlight

Revealed: Expansion in the works as QLD’s 11 Festival stars unveiled

Named: Top Gold Coast junior hockey players

The 19-year-old halfback said his focus in his first full season training alongside the Titans was to be a sponge, soaking in every ounce of information he could to transform his game.

Now he has bigger goals in sight.

Externally it may appear that more experienced campaigners in AJ Brimson, Toby Sexton and Tanah Boyd will be vying for the right to share the playmaking duties with new recruit and New Zealand international Kieran Foran.


Titans halfback Tom Weaver. Picture: Lawrence Pinder
But Weaver believes with greater exposure to the Queensland Cup, it will not be long before he enters the conversation.

“I just want to still learn as much as I can, but maybe towards the back end of the year I would like to think I’m sort of knocking on the door to get a spot,” Weaver said.

“But at the moment throughout this pre-season I’m looking to build on as much as I can, build myself up and dominate at that Cup level before I take any steps forward in the NRL.

“I’ll bide my time as much as possible, but I’ll definitely look towards the back end of next year. I would hope I’m playing well enough that I’m knocking on the door there.”

Weaver admits his maiden steps into senior football were a profound “eye-opener”. Making his QCup debut for the Tweed Seagulls against Redcliffe, he found himself in the crosshairs of Katoa — the wrecking ball edge forward who has been signed to the Melbourne Storm.

The young man who went toe-to-toe with Cowboys star Jeremiah Nanai in the 2020 Queensland Schoolboys final was suddenly thrust from the role of commanding game manager while at PBC to desperate defender, a self-proclaimed “lightweight” in a battle against men.

But watching his former high school adversary in Nanai rise so rapidly — a State of Origin and Kangaroos sensation barely two years out of school — has only lit the fuse for Weaver.


PBC Captain 7. Tom Weaver with the Phil Hall Cup, Queensland Schoolboy Phil Hall Cup rugby league grand final between Palm beach Currumbin SHS and St Brendan's College, Redcliffe. Picture: Liam Kidston
For if he could compete on a level playing field with the NRL Rookie of the Year, all he felt he needed was time to build physically — one of his main goals this pre-season — and truly find his voice among the more senior members of the squad.

“You definitely feel a bit sorer after the games (in senior football), and for me going from playing school footy and 21s and stuff you definitely feel the pain,” Weaver said.

“It wasn’t so much the speed of the game, it was more the physicality. I was definitely a lot smaller that everyone else out on the field, but the second game around I felt a bit more confidence going in knowing I had played against a solid Redcliffe team on my debut.

“It definitely takes a bit of time to find that confidence to be able to tell someone who has played NRL where to go and what to do.

“But towards the back end of the year I started feeling a lot more confident being around the boys and having been there for the whole year.

“This year I’ll hit the ground running straight away and start taking control a bit more when I’m out there.”