The season started so brightly for the Gold Coast Titans. They won six of their first eight matches but poor results and the departure of their foundation coach conspired against them.
The Titans missed the finals for the fourth consecutive year.
John Cartwright’s departure, as well as those of foundation players Luke Bailey and Mark Minichiello, has signalled the end of an era for the club. Not one single player from its inaugural year in 2007 still remains on the holiday strip.
It has now been left to Neil Henry, who becomes the club’s second coach, to pick up the pieces and form a side that is capable of returning to the finals in 2015. But for now, let’s carry out the post-mortem.
Gold Coast Titans
Final ladder position: 14th (9 wins, 15 losses, -166 differential)
What went right?
The Titans started the season brightly, sitting on top of the ladder after six rounds and having a 6-2 record after Round 8.
This included defeating the Melbourne Storm away from home, as well as defeating the two Queensland clubs which did make the finals, the Broncos and Cowboys, both at home.
Highlights would be few and far between after Round 8, but there were also notable away wins over the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Newcastle Knights in July, as well as the thrilling golden-point win over the Bulldogs at home in Round 26.
Additionally, the club was able to land Daniel Mortimer from the Sydney Roosters mid-season, and he brought up his 100th NRL game against the Dragons at Kogarah Oval in Round 24.
What went wrong?
After Round 8, the club started to fall apart on and off the field, winning just three more games to tumble down to 14th by the end of the regular season.
The poor results heaped the pressure on Cartwright and not surprisingly the club’s inaugural coach decided to jump before he was pushed, doing so after the loss to the Roosters in Round 23.
In addition, club veteran Ashley Harrison suffered a neck injury in the middle of the season, and announced his immediate retirement. With Luke Bailey and Mark Minichiello also leaving the club, the Titans will be down on experience in 2015.
Best win: defeated the Bulldogs 19-18 at Cbus Super Stadium in Round 26
The Titans ended a poor season on the field by upsetting the finals-bound Bulldogs in a final-round, golden-point thriller in front of their home fans who suffered as much as the team did in 2014.
Without regular co-captains Nate Myles and Greg Bird, the hosts fell behind 18-0 at half-time and lost Paul Carter, Beau Falloon and David Mead in the second half through injuries.
But somehow, the Titans would draw level with the Bulldogs at 18-all by full-time, and it would be William Zillman who would kick the Titans to their ninth victory in their final game for the season.
Worst loss: lost to the Warriors 42-0 at Mount Smart Stadium in Round 25
Just the previous week, the Titans suffered one of the worst defeats in their history when they were blanked out by the New Zealand Warriors across the ditch, losing 42-0.
It marked the first time since their entry into the premiership in 2007 that the Titans had been held to a duck, as the Warriors went all-out in attack in their late (and ultimately failed) bid to reach the finals.
The defeat appeared to be the summation of a poor season for the club on the field as they battled through a horror injury toll (plus the suspension offered to Luke Douglas by ASADA for his role in the Sharks’ 2011 supplements program) and the uncertainty involving their now-departed coach John Cartwright.
The future
After four years out of the finals, it will be up to Neil Henry, who has coached the Raiders and Cowboys, to build a side that is capable of returning to the finals in 2015.
With no players remaining from their inaugural season of 2007, as well as coach Cartwright having departed, it is indeed the end of an era. Henry is now tasked with stamping his authority on a side which has mostly underachieved throughout its existence in the NRL.
The club has not made any significant signings for 2015, however, the likes of Luke Douglas and Ryan James have re-signed until the end of 2017.
With the raft of experienced players leaving the club, the future looks bleak in the short term. Neil Henry will have it tough trying to turn things around in an instant.
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