Gold Coast coach John Cartwright has rolled out the NRL club’s $5 million rescue package, headed by representative stars Jamal Idris and Nate Myles, promising Titans’ fans they’ll never be burdened by another wooden spoon on his watch.
Idris (signed on a five-year deal), Myles (four years), Beau Champion (three years) and Luke Douglas (three years) were the high-priced recruits among seven players showcased by the Titans at their Skilled Park headquarters at Robina on Wednesday.
They’re part of the club’s re-birth following a forgettable 2011 season where age caught up with them.
“We can’t pretend last year didn’t happen,” said Cartwright of a season in which they lost 18 of their 24 games and finished the year with the worst defensive record of any team in the NRL.
“We have to learn from it – make sure it never happens again.”
Cartwright was careful not to make any bold premiership predictions or promises but said the club’s expectations remained as high as ever.
“We’re here to win a title,” he said, running his eye over his off-season recruits which also included ex-Roosters flyer Phil Graham (one year), Beau Falloon (two years) and 20-year-old Bulldogs five-eighth Aiden Sezer (two years) – a Toyota Cup point-scoring sensation before undergoing knee surgery this year.
Cartwright was excited about the prospect of winning back Gold Coast’s fans who had little to celebrate last season.
“This is as excited as I get,” he said with a straight face.
“It’s like the first day at school, Christmas Day, birthday, Melbourne Cup, all rolled into one.
“It’s a very fine line between top and bottom in the NRL and not many clubs could put so many new guys on the stage as we have today, so I’m genuinely excited to see what these guys and the guys left from last year can bring out in each other.”
Cartwright is under pressure to lift the Titans from last place back into the finals after the club showed faith in him by offering him a new five-year contract last season when his side was struggling.
There have been constant rumours halfback and captain Scott Prince could leave the club which is in a rebuilding stage after farewelling veteran Preston Campbell, workaholic hooker Nathan Friend and tireless forward Anthony Laffranchi.
Titans boss Michael Searle says the money spent on recruiting strike players like Idris and Champion is one of the best decisions the club had made.
“For us, this is chapter two,” he told AAP.
“The first five years were chapter one and we had great success on the field and within the community.
“It (wooden spoon) was a disappointing end to the first chapter but the next chapter is about regenerating the squad and bringing in a whole new ethos.
“These guys get to determine where the club goes to in the future.”
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