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As the youngest club in the NRL, Gold Coast will need some skilful navigation if they are to avert the same disaster as befell its namesake ship.
Finishing the 2014 season in 14th after leading all comers early in the season, the Titans will be asking themselves what went wrong.
Luckily they have recruited a tactically brilliant coach by the name of Neil Henry. But has he inherited enough quality to make any sort of charge? Like an iceberg in the night, I just can’t see it.
Henry obviously didn’t think so, sweeping a broom through the regular first grade side with the likes of Albert Kelly, Maurice Blair, Mark Minichiello and Brad Takairangi moving on. Add to this the retirement of Luke Bailey and Ashley Harrison and the sacking of Paul Carter and one wonders how the Titans will field a team in 2015.
Eddie Pettybourne returning to the NRL from a stint in Wigan should add a bit of muscle and David Hala, if he can stay on the field, has the potential to be an absolute wrecking ball. It’s a big if though.
After a lot of confusion it seems Matt Srama will be staying put, which will give Henry an interesting choice at hooker. Beau Falloon was voted the club’s player of the year in 2014 and young Cloncurry product Kieran Moseley would have been slated for the backup role which will now leave Henry with some decisions to make.
The departure of Kelly means that young Daniel Mortimer will likely get first crack at half back after signing with the club in mid-2014. In partnership with Aidan Sezar the pair will need to combine quickly if the Titans are to be any threat in 2015.
There is almost no backup plan if one of them breaks down. Toyota Cup player of the year Kane Elgey looks the most likely but will need to be brought up to speed very quickly if one of the Titan’s halves suffer a season-ending injury.
The battle for fullback will be as hot as ever on the Gold Coast with newcomer and former New Zealand custodian Josh Hoffman likely to push for selection against David Mead and William Zillman. Personally I rate Hoffman as a great winger with the potential to be a great centre, but unless he drastically improves his passing game he will always struggle at fullback.
The centre spot is anyone’s guess with a number of contenders vying for spots. Brad Tighe, Kalifa Faifai Loa Hoffman, James Roberts, Kevin Gordon and even Anthony Don filled in there for a spell at the back end of last season. Heck, even Dave Taylor has gotten a run in the centres.
The pack is where we will see the biggest changes with Nate Myles, Taylor and Greg Bird the only household names left. While Ryan James, Luke Douglas and Matt White are all capable footballers someone is going to need to step up for the retired Bull Bailey.
Matt Robinson comes in from the Panthers and will be looking to continue his late 2014 form while Ben Ridge will make his comeback from a serious groin injury last year. The biggest question mark remains over whether coach Neil Henry can address the mid-year capitulation of 2014.
Additions
Josh Hoffman and David Hala (Broncos), Eddie Pettybourne (Wigan), Matt Robinson, Kierran Moseley and Ryan Simpkins (Panthers), Lachlan Burr (Bulldogs).
Losses
Brad Takairangi and Cody Nelson (Eels), Mark Minichiello, Steve Michaels, Albert Kelly and Maurice Blair (Hull KR), Luke Bailey and Ashley Harrison (retired), Sam Irwin (Featherstone), Paul Carter (sacked).
2014 finish: 14th
2015 prediction: 15th
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