The Gold Coast Titans are the most recent addition to the National Rugby League, with 2014 being their eighth season in the NRL. In that time, they’ve only graced the finals on two occasions.
In 2009 they toppled out of the finals race in straight sets, while the following year was slightly more successful. They won against the Warriors at home to earn a week off, but failed to win their preliminary final against the Roosters and missed out on their first grand final berth.
So is this the year the Gold Coast Titans go all the way to their first grand final appearance? Let’s take a look at their personnel.
The Coach
John Cartwright is under a fair amount of pressure this year. The Titans haven’t made the finals since 2010 and received their first wooden spoon in 2011.
Cartwright is an excellent coach but has won a total of 86 of his 170 NRL games. He has a lot of work to do.
The signing of Neil Henry as assistant coach adds some experience to their side.
Henry coached the North Queensland Cowboys to 59 wins out of 129 games and has also coached the PM’s XIII team that played in Papua New Guinea, while regularly assisting Mal Meninga in the Queensland camp at State Of Origin time.
Henry looks to be a huge signing that the Titans might have needed. Don’t be surprised if Henry replaces Cartwright as coach in the coming years.
The Backs
The Titans have bought a whole lot of speed in the off-season, bringing in Kalifa Faifai Loa, Siuatonga Likiliki, Maurice Blair and trading a homesick Jamal Idris for Brad Tighe.
This adds to the existing speedsters in Kevin Gordon, who just signed a new three-year deal until 2017, and David Mead, who is pushing for the fullback spot having played a lot in that role last year.
The centre spots are wide open at the moment, and with Brad Takairangi looking to play some time in the forward pack, the race for the 3 and 4 jerseys is on.
Tighe and Blair look to have a lead in the race, though Faifai Loa, Likiliki, Steve Michaels, Anthony Don and Jamie Dowling are all scratching at a chance to prove themselves either in the centres or on the wing.
Aidan Sezar and Albert Kelly formed a nice combination in the halves last year. No one expected that two different players could form such a unique combination, and this pairing will only grow and mature over the years.
The Forwards
There is a lot of competition going on with the front and back row.
Ryan James has just signed a new contract and is looking to prove he was worth keeping this year, and with a Blues Origin jersey in his sights, he’ll be hoping he has a excellent start to the season.
Workhorses Luke Bailey and Nate Myles have some competition, with Matt White looking to make a comeback after suffering a season-ending injury last year in the trials. Luke Douglas has also made his mark, either in the starting side or off the bench.
Mark Ioane has made an impact in the trials and might be called up if injuries occur during the season.
Dave Taylor is looking to have a huge year this year after a disappointing 2013 in which he missed Australian and Queensland representative selection due to poor form.
There has been a lot of talk about how well his off-season training has been. Come Round 1, Taylor just needs to show what he’s capable of.
With Ben Ridge, Mark Minichiello, Dave Taylor, Greg Bird, Ashley Harrison and Brad Takairangi making up the back row, Ben Ridge and Brad Takairangi could be the only back rowers to miss out on selection.
Come State Of Origin time, Ridge and Takairangi should get some game time.
Matt Srama, Sam Irwin, Beau Falloon and Paul Carter are the hookers all pushing hard for selection. With Srama and Irwin out for some time, it looks like Falloon will pair up with Paul Carter in Round 1.
Off-season recruit Carter has shown great skill playing at dummy half in the trials, with aggressive runs and control around the ruck. Primarily a back-rower, his versatility makes him a must-have for the Titans’ top line-up.
Carter has also shown the same type of aggression Greg Bird displays on the field and many have commented on great similarities between them. Big things are in store in 2014 for Paul Carter.
Gold Coast Titans Predicted Best 17
1. William Zillman
2. Kevin Gordon
3. Brag Tighe
4. Maurice Blair
5. David Mead
6. Aidan Sezar
7. Albert Kelly
8. Luke Douglas
9. Beau Falloon
10. Nate Myles (C)
11. Greg Bird (C)
12. Dave Taylor
13. Ashley Harrison
14. Mark Minichiello
15. Luke Bailey
16. Ryan James
17. Paul Carter
Predicted finish: sixth
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
I think the comment has been removed. No need to bring this sort of thing into an article about the Titans season. You could just about go into any sport's season preview and bring out skeletons for the sake of cheap shots.
Silver_Sovereign
Guest
yes his girlfriend claimed she glassed herself and the court bought it. I didn't. After the incident, Bird claimed it was his roommate who did it. Problem was, he wasn't even home. Then like a lot of abused women, his partner took responsibility and blamed herself for being hit
Mitch Moore
Roar Rookie
Are you referring to the article or a comment? I cant see Bird being accused or name calling happening?
Knight Vision
Guest
agreed .....the man has been cleared. Quit the name calling
peeeko
Roar Guru
I thought that Bird was cleared? Quite the accusation
peeeko
Roar Guru
Surely hooker is the titans main weakness? Apart from that they are pretty good
James
Guest
memberships are on the incline for the Titans which is a surprise to me. almost beating end of last years total before the season. still nothing on NFL or AFL member numbers but for league it's a good start.
turbodewd
Guest
The Titans were coming 5th before Idris was injured. He was having a great year. Now the Titans are missing one of their best players. I cant see this ending well for them in 2014. I also worry about their crowds.
up in the north
Guest
I'd go a little further mate and say that if they think 'King' is going to be their messiah then good luck with that. What about the coaltrain though? Is there a bigger waste of potential in footy history! That dude has everything, an off-load, a step, he can kick and sometimes he even bashes it up the middle. So what is it with this turkey, every year we hear how he's training the house down, looking fitter than a mallee bull, you name it. And then when it's showtime he forgets to take his brain to work. Must suck to live on the goldie ;-)
Knight Vision
Guest
The titans will never win the comp with the coach they have .... End of story -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
ctar
Guest
Sezer looks like a very promising player and could even push for Origin (he's NSW i think?). His kicking game is excellent from what I've seen. Norman on the other hand is an awful player. Parra still look terrible on paper, even with Hoppa Jnr
Mitch Moore
Roar Rookie
Agreed origin will definitely hurt them, and that's let them down in the past. This year they need to muscle up and survive origin and have a strong run from round 20-26. I am worried about the centers being a titans fan, they have struggled in the centers ever since Matt Rogers moved into 5/8. Hopefully underrated players in the centers can get the job done( pressures on Blair and Tighe).
The Koomz
Guest
I think they have the strongest pack in the NRL for sure. Ryan James is definately NOT overated and blue jumper bekons in May. A decent centre pairing will take them a long way. Sezar and Kelly will be wiser in their second year together. Origin time will definately affect them though.
Mitch Moore
Roar Rookie
BA Sports, Zillman suffered an injury which stopped his terrific run that he had. Hayne is definitely a higher class player than Zillman, it's just when Eels rely on Hayne to much he doesn't play to well. Hayne also only was 2 tries ahead of Zillman that's not that much of a difference. I would have Hayne as my fullback, however if the Eels don't fire and turn to Hayne to solve all there problems I think Zillman might have a better year (excluding Origin) than Hayne. We will see come round 26 though.
Walter Penninger
Roar Guru
I have to say I cannot see the Titans improving this year.
The eye
Guest
It's certainly interesting to see the fans' differing opinions on the abilities of players here..personally I feel the Titans back 3 will be liabilities this year.Small wingers will get pulverised in the air by long reached mountains like Tupou did to Wolfman and hammered and carried back when taking the ball from dummy half on their own line.Zillman is an awful player.But their halves,to my eyes,are exceptional..Really looking forward to the return of Jacob Loko,shocking luck with injuries,but could be anything..think the eels have more improvement in them but still got nothing in the forwards to be anything more than a nuisance.
BA Sports
Guest
Renegade; Your observations are fair enough. A said i think alot of the positions are pushes. Seizer has potential, but he hasn't come close to living up to it yet. I know he has had injuries but Loko is significantly better than Blair IMO. Not sure what he is going to be able to create himself which he will need to do with a running half and running fullback and a 5/8 who hasn't developed his passing game yet. Mitch; You can't be serious with your Zillman, Hayne comparison!! Zillman ended with 6 tries from 16 games, Hayne with 8 from just 15 and i am willing to bet Hayne was responsible for many more line break assists and try assists than Zillman and a comparable number of line breaks. So Zillman can make all the line breaks in the world, it means zero if they are turning into points.
Mantis
Roar Guru
Agree. Realistically 12 or so teams have a top 8 side. But if you say Roosters, Manly, Melbourne and Souths are locks for the 8, that leaves Cowboys, Broncos, Titans, Newcastle, Bulldogs, Penrith, Cronulla and the Warriors (Sorry Dragons, Eels, Tigers and Raiders fans) fighting for the last 4 spots. I dont think that the Titans are better than 4 of those teams named, but thats the beauty of sport i guess. well see in 26 weeks
Mitch Moore
Roar Rookie
Hayne was still at fullback last year and the Eels came dead last again. Zillman was tearing it up at fullback and was leading most line breaks in the comp at one stage. So Zillman had the edge there, granted Hayne is a tremendous player but he only brings the x factor to the Eels if he isn't being depended on hugely throughout the season, then he can'y produce anything for them. Titans finished 9th with Eels finishing last and by the end of the season the Titans 1,6,7,9 were performing better than the Eels 1,6,7,9. The Titans also had a second string side and beat the Roosters, I don't think Eels could compare to that. Therefore i don't see how this year the Eels could improve to be better than the Titans. The Eels will improve, they can't get worse, however they will not make the finals.
Renegade
Guest
In the spine obviously Hayne is the better fullback and i would have Peats at hooker. The titans halves are seriously underated and i would pick both Sezer and Albert Kelly above the eels pair. Centres - 1 each (Hopoate/Blair) Wing - Titans pair Front Row - Titans Pair Second Row - Titans (Bird and Taylor goes without saying.... happy to substitute Paulo for Harrison, but i would personally keep Harrison) Bench - Titans easily. So basically, apart from Hayne, Hopoate, Peats and possibly Paulo.... I don't think the titans would want to buy any of the parramatta players to try and improve their squad. Just my thoughts.