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Gold Coast Titans 2016 NRL season preview

18th January, 2016
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Neil Henry is out at the Titans. (AAP Image/Action Photographics, Colin Whelan)
Roar Guru
18th January, 2016
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The Gold Coast Titans need to put a raft of unfortunate recent events behind them in 2016 if they hope to make their first finals appearance in six years.

However with so many factors going against them, it is unlikely the 2007 expansion franchise, entering their tenth season in the NRL, will make the top eight.

Last year’s drugs scandal, Daly Cherry-Evans’ backflip, James Roberts’ contract bungle, Kane Elgey’s injury, and the departure of key players Nate Myles, Kevin Gordon, Dave Taylor and most notably Aidan Sezer, make it hard to see the Gold Coast team even coming close in 2016.

The Titans are favourites to finish at the bottom of the table in 2016, and with no real direction, experience or star power, yet another poor season for the struggling club seems inevitable.

Rookie watch
Neil Henry has four players in his first-grade squad yet to make their NRL debut, all of whom are huge chances to trot onto the field.

The most likely of the group is Oshae Tuiasau.

Tuiasau has been with the Titans since 2014, and played 30 NYC games over a period two years. A backrower or prop, Tuiasau grew up playing junior rugby league in Ipswich, before moving south to attend school at Keebra Park, where he won the GIO Schoolboys Cup in 2013.

Tuiasau is one of the most exciting young talents in rugby league, representing Queensland Under-20s in 2015. He may sit behind Ryan James, Chris McQueen and Greg Bird, however his versatility could see him make his debut while McQueen and Bird are absent on representative duties.

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Another forward hopeful of making his debut in 2016 is Wyong Roos recruit Leivaha Pulu. He was a staple up front for the Roos and a key member in the 2015 NSW Cup campaign which saw them finish runners-up, losing to the Newcastle Knights in the grand final.

Pulu spent his NYC career with the Wests Tigers from 2009 to 2010, and will be hoping his switch from the Roosters to the Gold Coast finally allows him to step up to first grade and show what he is capable of. Like Tuiasau, Pulu’s best chance will come when State of Origin players are unavailable.

He will be competing directly with recent recruit Jeff Lynch, who joins the club after five seasons at the Canberra Raiders, where he made 48 NYC appearances between 2011 and 2013, and then became a key member of the Mounties NSW Cup squad.

The only other rookie on the Titans’ books is Karl Lawton, who came to the Titans in 2014 and played 33 NYC games over two years. The brother of former Titans hooker Kayne, the utility is almost certain to make his debut in 2016, given 2014 Holden Cup player of the year Elgey will miss the entire season with an ACL injury.

The Burleigh Bears junior has only Daniel Mortimer standing in his way if either Tyrone Roberts or Ashley Taylor become injured, and will also be in contention for the hooker spot with Mortimer, as well as Kierran Moseley, Matt Srama and club legend Nathan Friend.

In the lower grades, Brian Kelly and Jed Cartwright, son of foundation coach John, are both chances to play NRL in 2016, while 2015 Holden Cup player of the year Ashley Taylor will be hoping he can play out a full 80 minutes after his debut last season for the Broncos ended quickly when he was taken from the field with a thumb injury.

Under pressure
The Titans’ future rests on the shoulders of untested rookie Ashley Taylor, who must take the challenge of replacing Elgey with two hands.

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Taylor has only played 28 minutes of first-grade football, and his halves partner is set to be Tyrone Roberts, who relied heavily on Jarrod Mullen during his five-year tenure at the Knights.

Greg Bird, an extremely experienced player at the top grade who has been vice-captain of the New South Wales Blues State of Origin in recent years and was club co-captain in 2015, is set to be named as the Titans’ new captain for season 2016 and could be exactly what the Gold Coast need to save themselves from a crisis in the halves.

If Bird makes the switch from lock to five-eighth, not only will it add direction and experience in the halves, it will lessen the load on Taylor.

Greg Bird in action for the Gold Coast Titans

Who will fill the void left by James Roberts?
2015 Dally M centre of the year James Roberts recently left the Gold Coast for Brisbane after a feud regarding his signature on a contract extension.

William Zillman, Josh Hoffman, David Mead and Nene Macdonald are all expected to secure a spot in the Titans’ backline, leaving four players battling for Roberts’ vacant position at centre.

The primary candidates for the role are Anthony Don and Leva Li, who both made appearances for the Gold Coast in 2015.

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Don has played 44 games over three years for the Titans, and is the most likely to appear in the starting side come Round 1, with Li having only played one game to date.

If the event of injury, the Titans could be in serious trouble, with only Don, Li and second-tier contracted NYC graduates Brian Kelly and Jed Cartwright available.

Are the Titans any chance of making the finals?
The Gold Coast have not made a finals appearance since 2010, the second longest finals-drought of any team (the Eels are in first, having missed the top eight since 2009).

The odds are stacked against the Titans and with no real direction in the halves, very little experience, and a mediocre roster, it is hard to see them in the top eight at the conclusion of the regular season.

Must watch

Round 5 versus Broncos
Friday, April 1, 8:05pm at Cbus Super Stadium

The Titans only face local rivals the Brisbane Broncos once in 2016, and will hope the team from the Queensland capital can attract a huge crowd to Cbus Super Stadium.

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To add to the occasion, it will be James Roberts’ first game against his former club.

Round 26 versus Cowboys
September 1-September 4 at 1300Smiles Stadium

The Titans won’t come up against reigning premiers North Queensland until the last game of the regular season.

The Gold Coast may not have anything on the line, but the game against the Cowboys will be a huge test from the team going into season 2017.

If the club’s position on the ladder is secured, it could allow Henry to test rookies at first grade level and try new combinations.

Predicted best XVII
1. William Zillman, 2. Nene Macdonald, 3. Anthony Don, 4. Josh Hoffman, 5. David Mead, 6. Tyrone Roberts, 7. Ashley Taylor, 8. Luke Douglas, 9. Nathan Friend, 10. David Shillington, 11. Ryan James, 12. Chris McQueen, 13. Greg Bird
Interchange: 14. Agnatius Paasi, 15. Zeb Taia, 16. Nathaniel Peteru, 17. Eddy Pettybourne

2016 signings
Nathan Friend (New Zealand Warriors), Jeff Lynch (Canberra Raiders), Chris McQueen (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Leivaha Pulu (Wyong Roos), Tyrone Roberts (Newcastle Knights), David Shillington (Canberra Raiders), Zeb Taia (Catalan Dragons), Ashley Taylor (Brisbane Broncos)

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2016 draw (AEST)
Round 1: Titans versus Knights (Sunday, March 6, 6:30pm at Cbus Super Stadium)
Round 2: Storm versus Titans (Sunday, March 13, 6:30pm at AAMI Park)
Round 3: Titans versus Wests Tigers (Saturday, March 19, 9:30pm at Cbus Super Stadium)
Round 4: Raiders versus Titans (Saturday, March 26, 5:30pm at GIO Stadium)
Round 5: Titans versus Broncos (Friday, April 1, 8:05pm at Cbus Super Stadium)
Round 6: Sharks versus Titans (Sunday, April 10, 2pm at Shark Park)
Round 7: Titans versus Dragons (Saturday, April 16, 3pm at Cbus Super Stadium)
Round 8: Bulldogs versus Titans (Saturday, April 23, 3pm at ANZ Stadium)
Round 9: Titans versus Storm (Sunday, May 1, 2pm at Cbus Super Stadium)
Round 10: Titans versus Roosters (Monday, May 16, 7pm at Cbus Super Stadium)
Round 11: Panthers versus Titans (Sunday, May 22, 2pm at Pepper Stadium)
Round 12: Bye
Round 13: Rabbitohs versus Titans (Sunday, June 5, 6:30pm at nib Stadium)
Round 14: Eels versus Titans (Saturday, June 11, 5:30pm at TIO Stadium)
Round 15: Titans versus Sea Eagles (Monday, June 20, 7pm at Cbus Super Stadium)
Round 16: Titans versus Raiders (Sunday, June 26, 2pm at Cbus Super Stadium)
Round 17: Warriors versus Titans (Saturday, July 2, 3pm at Mt Smart Stadium)
Round 18: Bye
Round 19: Dragons versus Titans (Friday, July 15, 7:50pm at Jubilee Oval)
Round 20: Titans versus Eels (Saturday, July 23, 5:30pm at Cbus Super Stadium)
Round 21: Titans versus Sharks (July 28-August 1 at Cbus Suoer Stadium)
Round 22: Titans versus Warriors (August 4-August 8 at Cbus Super Stadium)
Round 23: Wests Tigers versus Titans (August 11-August 15 at Campbelltown Stadium)
Round 24: Knights versus Titans (August 18-August 22 at Hunter Stadium)
Round 25: Titans versus Panthers (August 25-August 29 at Cbus Super Stadium)
Round 26: Cowboys versus Titans (September 1-September 4 at 1300Smiles Stadium)

Prediction
With the loss of key players Kane Elgey and James Roberts, the Titans have no place to go but down.

In what was supposed to be the year the franchise finally showed the rest of the rugby league world what they were capable of, instead they will finish last.

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