The Gold Coast has had four attempts at setting up a premiership-winning team and all to date have failed.
Even though the Titans came into the comp in 2007, they have had limited success, but having said that they still have produced some great players and rebuild the careers of others.
Now as with all lists, my ‘one club per player’ rule will come into effect so Scott Prince and Mat Rogers will not feature on this list – they feature on the lists of other teams.
This was not an easy list to make. And before you get too excited, Jarryd Hayne isn’t here.
10. Mark Minichello
As a Titans original, he would come from the Roosters and be part of the first team with the Titans in 2007. He would go on to be the most capped player at the club with 173 games. He would score 32 tries while at the club and be selected for the NSW City squad for the City versus Country Origin game five times.
In 2015 he would leave the NRL for the English Super League.
9. William Zillman
Zilliman joined the Titans in 2009 and would go on to play 140 games for the club scoring 40 tries. In 2013 he would be awarded the Preston award for that season and in 2016 be named co-captain alongside Nathan Friend, he is currently injured with a leg injury.
8. Ashley Harrison
Joining the club in 2008 would start things off at lock, Harrison would go on to play 117 games for the club and score 12 tries. He would represent Queensland 15 times and play two games for the NRL All Stars.
7. David Mead
A try scoring machine mead would have the club record at 68 tries over his seven seasons at the club starting in 2010. Each season he would be the most tries for the club. In 2012 he was the first winner of the Preston award and after playing 147 games for the club Mead has moved on to play with the Brisbane Broncos, Mead has represented Papua New Guinea nine times and NSW Country, twice.
6. Nathan Friend
Friend came off the bench for the first game of the Titans against the Dragons in 2007. From his 2007 to 2011 stint for the club he would play 100 games scoring seven tries. In 2009 he would have the best year in the NRL winning the Best and Fairest Award for the club.
In 2012 he would leave the club for the Warriors but return for the 2016 season as a co-captain playing 21 games which would be he last.
5. Preston Campbell
Campbell started and finished his career on the Gold Coast. In 1998 he debuted for the Gold Chargers and only played one season before the club disbanded at the end of the 1998 season.
In 2007 he would return to the Gold Coast and mostly play at fullback. Over the course of his three years and the Titans he would play 103 games and score 15 tries. In 2008 he would win the Paul Broughton Medal for best and fairest.
Campbell was the man behind the Indigenous versus All Stars concept and played in the first match in 2010 and then retired. He would represent NSW Country three times.
In 2012 the club would name the Preston award after him.
4. Anthony Laffranchi
As a Titans original member he debuted for the club in 2007 and was co-winner of the Paul Broughton Medal for best and fairest player alongside Luke Bailey at 2007 season’s end. He would go on to play 102 games for the games and score 32 tries.
In 2008 he would represent Country in the City versus Country Origin match and be selected for man of the match. Due to this he was selected for NSW and scored a try on debut. In 2008 he was selected for the 24-man Australian squad and debut against New Zealand. He would represent NSW four times and have five Tests for Australia.
3. Nate Myles
Like most that play at the Titans he career was only short with four seasons played, but in those four years he would play 76 games and score three tries. In 2012 he would win the Dally M for the Second Rower of the Year and the Paul Broughton Medal for best and fairest for the club.
In 2013 he would be named co-captain beside Greg Bird and would captain side for three seasons. He would represent Queensland 31 times and in 2012 he would win the Wally Lewis award for man of the series. He would also represent Australia nine times.
2. Greg Bird
Bird came to the club in 2010 and played 129 games and scored 15 tries and 19 goals. In 2013 he was named co-captain and won the best and fairest award for the club. A leader on the field as apart of the go forward and plays for the club, a hard reliable man to turn to. He would represent NSW 18 times and play 17 Tests for Australia
1. Luke Bailey
Another original to the club, he debuted for the club in 2007 and was co-winner of the Paul Broughton Best and Fairest Award in 2007. He would win the award two more times in 2010 and 2011 also winning the Clubman of the Year award that same year. In 2014 he would win the Preston award.
His club games stands at 150 second only to Mark Michello and he has scored 13 tries. He had represented NSW 15 times and had four Tests for Australia. He is the best player to put on a Titans jersey as he always lead by example and was a inspiration to the younger players.
Do you agree with my list? Who is your favourite Titans player?
Next up the New Zealand Warriors.
Jake
Guest
Barry He came from Roosters first.
BigJ
Roar Guru
Prince is ineligible due to that he will be on the West tigers list
The Koomz
Guest
I would have Presto at #2. Not sure about Myles but surely Prince should be up there somewhere, he will be always one of their greatest players ever.
Zedman
Roar Rookie
Luke Bailey always turned up to play. Greg Bird,tough, i was going to say no nonsense type of player but he had a bit of nonsense in him which tended to come out occasionally. Preston always entertained and great to see him still involved in the game.
Wascally Wabbit
Guest
I agree Scott, thought Ryan James would have made the Top 5.
BrainsTrust
Guest
You missed out on Larry Corowa, even Larry Corowa's return after so many years he looked sprightly compared to the walking corpse Wally Lewis. The original Gold Coast they let the best players go and replaced them with has beens..
BigJ
Roar Guru
fair enough, Myles with the Best and fairest and was captain of the team. This list was ready hard as it was the best of a not bad bunch but less achieving group of players. I have no doubt that the Titans are closer than ever to getting thier maiden title and its only a matter of time, its just a shame that none of these guys will be in the team to see it.
Scott
Guest
Scott Prince is a stand out exclusion with your reasoning making sense, I would have Ryan James in the list and Preston higher. If judging on his performances for the Titans solely Nate Myles is lucky
BigJ
Roar Guru
That is actually a fair point and list , but Lewis would not qualify for the Gold Coast as he is on the Broncos list, but bar that this is a pretty good list none the less. Nice work mate I like it.
Sammy
Guest
I find it interesting that the original Gold Coast Club are officially one of the worst Clubs in Premiership history, and yet they would have a pretty good Top 10 with players like: Wally Lewis * see Roarer's comments on your Broncos article * Chris Close Dale Shearer Bob Lindner Wayne Bartrim Ben Ikin Steve Jackson Martin Bella Brent Todd Preston Campbell * only player to make Top 10 for both Gold Coast Clubs * We all know that the Gold Coast Titans chose to distance themselves from the original Giants/Seagulls/Chargers Club, and start with a clean slate, But on paper, the Titans Top 10 wouldn't match the Giants/Seagulls/Chargers Top 10.
BigJ
Roar Guru
that is just how the cookie crumbled for this list
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Yeah he was IIRC. Remember his classic magic carpet video?
John
Guest
Apart from Zillman it's a good list -Replace Zillman with absolutely anybody. Another shining example of poor management by Michael Searle signing a player to a 5 year deal... they never pan out well. IMHO Ryan James should make this list.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I'm sure they would. Your rule is fine overall and for clubs like the Storm, Broncos and Raiders it probably doesn't matter which team Lazarus makes as they have heaps of players to go in. But it really shows up here. The Titans list is massively incomplete without Rogers and Prince. I agree with you that their contributions to the Sharks and Tigers were greater but the rule has let down your good work for this list.
The Barry
Roar Guru
The fact he was cut from a different cloth was one of the things I liked about him. Wasn't he also a DJ for a while?
BigJ
Roar Guru
he was good enough to get best and fairest in 2007, must of been doing something right.
BigJ
Roar Guru
Mate, he has only started with the Titans this year, I hardly think that warrants him a top ten mention only after two games, sorry. The problem with this list is that all these players have come from other clubs (even the originals) and have established themselves elsewhere before coming to the Titans, so it was not easy to make this list without their previous club stats following them.
BigJ
Roar Guru
I was considering Flash Gordon, now that i have read the list again i should of put him in there, but the list is the lists. If i had put in Rogers and Prince they would of been very high up, Prince would of be around 2 or 3 and Rogers would fo be close behind, but they will make the sharks and tigers lists respectively. Flash wants to become an actor, good for him hope it goes well.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
YEah I was thinking of Gordon too, but he was more of an excitement machine every now and then. Fun Fact, he's now attempting to make it as an actor.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Mark Minichello came from Souths. Shame not to see Rogers and Prince on the list - they deserve to be there - but rules are rules. Zillman? Not sure who would replace him but he's been mediocre. 40 tries in 140 games isn't much of a return for an outside back. Otherwise it's a pretty good list. Always had a soft spot for Kevin Gordon - not sure he's top 10 and don't think he could displace anyone but Zillman.