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.”
greg
Guest
What on earth are the titans thinking signing beau champion to a 3year contract they should teach him how to catch a ball and play defence before they waste money Whatare they thinking
turbodewd
Guest
Agreed, it is a worry. It seems rugby league and financial mismanagement go hand-in-hand. Shame. Its a great sport.
SearlegivethSearletakethaway
Guest
There is no board, most of the decisions are just done by Searle himself with input from Cartwright, that includes a lot of recruiting. The team's performance this year was largely due to how the club was handling them. They were getting told there was no more money for them and then they would sign a massive deal for some other player. Nathan Friend was a perfect example of how they were dicking players around, he was the lowest paid forward at the club and repeatedly told their was no more money under the cap for him. They then signed Luke Douglas and Nate Myles. Ridiculous recruiting anyway, Titans had some of the best forwards and backs and all they needed was a decent half because Princey was playing sub-par.
Jaceman
Guest
The Titans have lost a lot of experience but I suppose like the Broncos they will have the pick of the Qld juniors...
Gareth
Guest
We'll see how they go in another three years time when these guys are getting moved on from the club in favour of the next batch of mercenaries. It's pretty hard to motivate guys who know they'll be at a different club the next year. Just ask Jamal Idris and Nate Myles.
Curious
Guest
Now heres a bloke named Cartwright who seems to be an Anointed One' by his fellow new south Welshmen as a Humdinger of a coach who seems to deserve contract extension, whether warranted or not - He must be a magician to be able to pull the wool over Titans execs and he finished last easily. He should also be mindful of the old saying 'Never say Never' as his overall coaching record hasn't achieved what his mentors visualise.
Happy Hooker
Guest
The elephant in the room is why the Titans board early last season extended Cartwright's contract. They could have had me coach them and the end result wouldn't have been any worse.
Chris
Guest
It is not a 5 mill bailout, they have spent 5 mill on new players over a number of years within the salary cap. They tried to hold off one year too long with an old squad and had all this money ready to go for 2012. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Sportfreak
Guest
May I ask why amidst all this talk of nrl expansion that a club not older than 5 years requires a 5 million dollar bailout? To be considering another team seems insane.