Try as he might, Gold Coast coach John Cartwright can’t forget the Titans’ 2011 NRL season debacle.
“It definitely hurt me and it doesn’t go away,” Cartwright says.
“I pick up a newspaper and we are not referred to as the Gold Coast Titans. We are last year’s wooden spooners.
“But that won’t go away until we make it go away.”
However, it’s another piece of paper that has Cartwright believing his club can turn it all around in 2012 – his team sheet.
A multi-million dollar recruitment drive has delivered Cartwright a line-up he could have only dreamed about during last season’s nightmare.
A potent new centre pairing of $1.8 million dollar man Jamal Idris and Beau Champion operating outside a forward pack boosted by the likes of Nate Myles and Luke Douglas. It’s almost enough to make the dead-pan Cartwright smile.
The no-nonsense coach admits there will be no excuses if his star-studded line-up fails to shine this season.
“We expect to make the semi-finals and win the comp, like every year,” Cartwright says.
“Nothing has changed regardless of who we have on paper.
“There’s no excuses where we are concerned.
“The first year we didn’t make the semi-finals and I was gutted. This year will be the same.
“You play this game to have success at the end of the year and if you don’t get there it hasn’t been a successful year.”
But all the money pumped into the Titans line-up can’t hide the fact Gold Coast will be inexperienced in three key positions – fullback, five-eighth and hooker.
Jordan Rankin and William Zillman have shared the No.6 and No.1 jerseys in the 2012 pre-season.
And youngsters Matt Srama and Kayne Lawton look set to battle it out for the No.9 jumper after another impressive off-season recruit Beau Falloon (biceps) was ruled out for up to three months by injury.
Throw in the on-field loss of the club’s heart and soul Preston Campbell (retired) and the Titans still have plenty to do to regain their mojo.
However, Cartwright sounds like a man who was on the verge of achieving something great.
“I believe teams that are tight and cover the areas with the players we have got can achieve anything,” he says.
“We have more experience than some clubs in certain areas (but) we have a young five-eighth, fullback and hooker.
“It’s not going to happen overnight. We have to grind away and win some ugly games, and grow from that.
“But we have already shown signs that we can do that.
“We have guys who can score tries but we also have a big tough pack of forwards who are prepared to grind it out.
“There are things that you can’t practice on the training field, it has to happen in a game and keep happening until it becomes habit.”
Gold Coast Titans
Premierships: Nil.
Finishes over the past three seasons: 2011 – last, 2010 – preliminary finalist, 2009 – semi-finalist
Coach: John Cartwright
Captain: Scott Prince, Luke Bailey
Gains: Jamal Idris (Canterbury), Nate Myles (Sydney Roosters), Beau Champion (Melbourne), Luke Douglas (Cronulla), Beau Falloon (South Sydney), Phil Graham (Sydney Roosters), Aidan Sezer (Canterbury).
Losses: Preston Campbell (retired), Luke Capewell (Brisbane), Nathan Friend (Warriors), Anthony Laffranchi (St Helens), Will Matthews (St George Illawarra), Brad Meyers (retired), Mat Rogers (retired), Esi Tonga (Parramatta), Clinton Toopi (retired), Riley Brown (released), Joseph Tomane (rugby union), Shannon Walker (rugby union).
Player they really needed: Benji Marshall. Since Mat Rogers’ retirement in 2010, Scott Prince has not had a reliable halves partner. He’d flourish alongside his old mate from the Tigers.
Headline fans dread to read: “All Star line-up fails to shine for Titans”.
Headline fans would love to read: “Titans fairytale – from wooden spoon to NRL title in a year”.
Money Man: Jamal Idris. The former Bulldogs giant is literally the Titans money man thanks to a reported $1.8 million dollar deal – and he will need to earn his cash in the centres if Gold Coast are to turn it around in 2012.
One to watch: William Zillman. Can he finally live up to his superstar potential while proving a halves foil for Scott Prince?
Best team: Jordan Rankin, Kevin Gordon, Jamal Idris, Beau Champion, Steve Michaels, Williams Zillman, Scott Prince (capt), Luke Bailey, Matt Srama, Luke Douglas, Nate Myles, Mark Minichiello, Ash Harrison, Interchange: Michael Henderson, Bodene Thompson, Beau Henry, Luke O’Dwyer.
Predicted finish: 11th
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