Marwan Koukash has emerged as a legitimate suitor for the Gold Coast Titans, chiefly because he is erratic, litigious and seven-eighths gold bullion.
Nobody is better suited to control the hormonal Titans than a self-made squillionaire with a penchant for anti-authoritarianism and racehorses.
Spare me your business mumbo-jumbo about how Koukash aces the ‘important’ criteria as someone who prints his own money and gets things done.
What separates him from the pack is that he is more Gold Coast than a failed property development with plastic boobs.
Koukash is a colourful identity who likes spending, legal stoushes, impulsive sackings and challenging high office.
If he’s not secretly the mayor or a Tomic, I’ll gladly chew on my sandy g-banger.
With it being almost seven weeks since the Titans have been in the headlines, he is the man to return the club to its charming skittishness with a dash of Euro panache.
The club should do something crazy that isn’t a cocaine saga or a five-year deal and let him electrify the place with his cavalier attitude.
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As we know, the Gold Coast is a volatile steed that can only be tamed by one of two ways; repeated re-brandings, or something with more money than Elvis.
Koukash is worth an estimated $3 billion, even after making rash purchases like Todd Carney. This makes the former Salford owner the perfect match for the Titans, despite his ability to appropriately manage money.
Without being too reductive, he has enough in his ashtray to pay out Jarryd Hayne and commission more Wayne Bennetts or Walker brothers to coach the side, should he so desire.
Most encouragingly, Koukash’s rescue of Salford was a perfect dress rehearsal for the Gold Coast. He solved their finances, took them to the top four, and most importantly, changed the team name.
In a further positive, he is also renowned for not taking a backward step with administrators, which is superb because the NRL needs more angry clubs.
No doubt he will commence badgering Todd Greenberg for a better deal for the Gold Coast, right after he buys the club from him.
In summary, Koukash is the man for the Glitter Strip, because if the club is serious about respecting its history, the last thing they need is the moribund beige of stability.
Rebecca Frizelle and Darryl Kelly are far too qualified for the role, and the Bears consortium is avoidably sound. Such a marriage would be highly inappropriate and a slap in the face for the club’s charter.
The Titans should accede to the man’s advances, even if instinct tells you two such forces should remain as far apart as possible.
Londoner
Guest
Totally agree. In the UK not everyone believes he's as rich as he says. Im sure he is worth well over 20 million, maybe even 50 million gbp, but a man of his ego would be buying soccer teams if he was worth 3 billion usd......thats a reality. All this stuff with the names etc, he wants glamour, and status on the cheap, and SL offered that. He probably would have loved Wigan, but couldn't buy them. RL is big in the north, in places like Leeds, Warrington, Wigan, even in football Cities like Liverpool, people know of it. If you said rugby to the average soccer fan, he would point to a set of 6 not a line out, and mention how Wayne Rooney is a big fan of SL etc etc. He hasn't really left Salford in a good state. They have a lot of debt. He tried, and did okay, but overall I would not say has been a massive help to them, as to leave them now makes no sense really, if he wanted a long term proposition. NRL should either stay well clear, or demand a huge holding bond, that sits for the next 5-10 years against him upping sticks. I dont trust him to run a club responsibly. Lastly, if you put League and Union together, as Rugby, its the 2nd biggest sport in the UK by a long way behind soccer.
rugby365
Guest
so Milan no one cheers when a 40/20 is kicked?
Rugby365
Guest
Posh rugby boys ??. Guess you are using this time to post while you wait to collect Centrelink payment. Grab another slab so you can beat your misses/cousin with it lol.
Fred
Guest
PS I couldn't care less about who goes to see Manchester United play soccer. For all the debates I get in about league v union, to me soccer is by far the most boring sport to watch. Globally, more people play candy crush on their phones than read the novels of Dostoyevsky. Globally, more people watch soccer than the greatest game. Further, Manchester United sums up all that's wrong with modern sport. It's just a corporate brand - Nike, Apple, Manchester United, MasterCard. 99% of Manchester United fans would have no connection to Manchester at all and would never have been there, and if the club didn't win the EPL every second year, they'd move on to another club.
Fred
Guest
Yes, one of the biggest soccer clubs did indeed steal the name of a cross-town club. It is well documented. Here's a quick summary for you: "Manchester City fans always say United supporters aren't really from Manchester, and the origin of the club's nickname would certainly bring a smile to the faces of the city's blue half. Salford's dominant rugby league team earned the nickname Red Devils during a tour of France in 1934, when they were so dazzling and ruthless that a French journalist labelled them 'Les Diables Rouges'. United's early nickname was 'The Heathens' due to the fact they came from Newton Heath and were the first ever team to play on Sunday. But they eventually decided that Salford's nickname effectively meant the same thing and sounded more intimidating."
Milan
Guest
And whilst I'm at it, union - probably the only game in the world where some of the largest cheers of the day are for booting the ball OUT OF PLAY.
Fred
Guest
It doesn't help that they've moved into a stadium nowhere near their fans. That teams like Widnes, Leigh, Castleford etc survive at all amazes me (in a good way), let alone manage to top the league as Castleford did this year. It's the equivalent of the NRL or AFL having teams in Wagga, Dubbo and Mudgee and expecting them to compete against Brisbane and Melbourne. Will be fascinating how some of the smaller teams adapt to the arrival of Toronto, Toulouse, New York etc.
Milan
Guest
Posh rugby boy, I presume your using the time in between one of your scrums needing to reset 5 times to post on a league thread.
Andrew
Guest
Onr of the biggest football clubs in the world stole their nickname of an irrelevant sporting club in the same city! I love how the super league use Old Trafford for there big games and get excited to get 50k in it where Man U fill it every game they play.. But but they stole the name off Salford
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Salford played very well this year but fell away late in the season. Super League crowds are pretty decent for a competition that barely gets promoted or rates a mention anywhere. The top clubs average 10-15,000. Except for Salford who have had a devil of a time with their attendances, even with a very good squad this year.
Justin Kearney
Guest
I find Andrew very amusing fred!
Fred
Guest
I'm glad you raised that Andrew! Salford were the original Red Devils, a name given to them by the French press pre-WWII. Manchester United (Salford is in greater Manchester) later pinched it for themselves. So yes, great to see Salford embracing its history!
Billo
Guest
What evidence is there that Marwan Koukash is a wealthy man? If he is, no one seems to know how he has made his pile. The NRL should do plenty of due diligence before selling the Titans to him.
Justin Kearney
Guest
You tell em andrew!
Andrew
Guest
Fred i like how they are trying to change the name to something closer to Manchester United to try and garner any support they can.. Kicking goals in Northern England
Justin Kearney
Guest
Cool story andrew!
Justin Kearney
Guest
I've given up on union fred. In my view it is just too boring to watch anymore. Played the bloody game for over 30 years but cannot endure more than 10 minutes of it unless kiwis are playing. They are the only ones who can make it worthwhile watching. As for koukash. The nrl is too small minded to see anything worthwhile outside moore park. He has no chance.
Fred
Guest
He left Salford at a good, stable time. He could have walked out during his spats with the powers that be over the years. Many speculated he'd walk out when Salford were deducted points over a salary cap problem. But he stuck it out during the tough times. He's no Clive Palmer or Nathan Tinkler. I think he'd be a great character for the game in Australia.
Adz Sportz
Roar Guru
Salford didn't work out too well for him. I believe he's not in control of the club anymore?? I could be wrong but I think that's what I heard... The NRL will be pretty reluctant to sell to him given the Tinkler/Knights debacle. However he would easily blow the other offers out of the water and would ensure the club becomes financially secure. But there would be huge questions marks over whether he's the man to handle the operations of the club.
rugby365
Guest
whatever makes you happy Justine.