This is the latest entry in my series in naming the best sides of each NRL club. You can find the Canterbury edition here.
The Titans have only played 13 seasons in the NRL and while they haven’t won a premiership or had a bona fide superstar, they have had some handy players come through. I was gobsmacked that this team turned out much better than I first suspected.
Would you guys prefer I do an all-time team including all iterations of the Gold Coast rugby league sides?
1. Preston Campbell (c)
Dally M Winner
Part of the Gold Coast Chargers, Preston was the club’s first signing. His speed and ad-lib style of play helped the new side find their feet when they were in their early years.
2. David Mead
14 caps for Papua New Guinea
A very consistent player with plenty of pace, Mead always found a way to score. He scored one of the best tries ever with a behind-the-back pickup of a bouncing ball.
3. James Roberts
Three caps for NSW
Roberts has shown how unstoppable he can be when he gets it together. Probably one of the fastest player ever in the NRL. However, he left south-east Queensland on bad terms.
4. William Zillman
Zillman has been a mainstay in the Gold Coast backline, has great acceleration and excels anywhere in the backs.
5. Kevin Gordon
One cap for Philippines
A very fast and agile winger who showed an ability for finishing tries. He was one of the club’s quickest wingers. His career was plagued by injury, but he remains underrated.
6. Aidan Sezer (GK)
Sezer was an intelligent half with great defence and a good kicking game. Wasn’t particularly flashy, but led the team around and was the most consistent five-eighth they’ve had.
7. Scott Prince
Four caps for Australia, five for Queensland, Clive Churchill Medal winner
A creative half who was the reason behind the Titans coming with one game of the 2010 decider.
8. Moeaki Fotuaika
Big Mo has made a real impact since his debut in 2018, the lone shining light in many Titans losses. Selected in the 2020 Queensland State of Origin squad. Can go down as an all-time great for Gold Coast.
Moeaki Fotuaika. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
9. Nathan Peats
3 caps for NSW
A really tough hooker, he had a good pass in him and was very solid in defence. Played Origin and had a really good series.
10. Luke Bailey
Four caps for Australia, 15 for NSW
“Bull” was a big prop who showed us how to do it well into his 30s. For a long time, Bailey was the key to the engine room.
11. Nate Myles
Nine caps for Australia, 32 for Queensland, second-rower of the year, Wally Lewis Medal winner
Myles was a tough, gritty player who is the club’s all-time best forward. He was a rock in defence.
12. Greg Bird
17 caps for Australia, 18 for NSW, Brad Fittler Medal winner
A man whose game never lacked passion, Bird is an all-heart player with ball-playing ability. Gave Gold Coast a hard edge and one of the bigger names to don the light blue jersey.
13. Ashley Harrison
15 caps for Queensland
The glue of the Titans, Harrison was a total workhorse and a key part of their early years. They still haven’t recovered from losing him.
Bench: AJ Brimson, Ryan James, Luke Douglas, Jai Arrow
Coach: John Cartwright
This team’s forward pack is, surprisingly, pretty good. A very tough group with many playing representative football. Bird, Bailey, Harrison and Myles lead the pack.
This team would probably win a 4x100m relay against other all-time teams with Mead, Gordon, Campbell and Roberts as the anchor, but the problem is this is rugby league, not the Olympics.
With the very creative Prince being a constant threat, always asking questions of the opposition, this team can score points. Throw in the electric Brimson off the bench and this team could really be a treat to watch. Whether they are good enough to beat other teams, that remains to be seen.
Which of these Titans greats will be remembered?
Heyou
Roar Rookie
I’ve only seen parts of that particular grand final and wanted to tear my eyes out! Scrubbed from my playlist but not from my memory. Many of the long time faithful lament it as an awfully sad, horrible way for a great, even legendary player for the red V, to finish his career. Hate that game but the white boots? Oh lord! Never forgotten, along with the needle that hit all the wrong nerves. So Mr Allan, you enjoyed tearing open that old wound again? I think you did. :laughing:
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
It was 5-0 at half-time despite Graeme Langlands being completely useless due to the pain killing injection that hit a nerve in his leg. At half time no one could convince him to put on the reserve grade fullback so the rest of the team gave up and played like Langlands. Saints got a penalty and Langlands kicked for touch but could only kick the ball a few inches? That's why there were so many tries scored. That was the end of the captain coaches at St.George.
Nico
Roar Rookie
Truth be told I didn't get to see much of Rambo and have him in there more on reputation than anything else. I always thought of him as a Manly player but I believe he ended up playing more games for the Coast than anyone else
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Agree Barry. Prior to “due diligence”, players used to return to the field in a similar to some fighters being told by their trainers “Get back in there. You’ve got him beaten.” I remember some years ago Easts’s Danny Shepherd retiring after too many head knocks. Think he was from Dubbo. Somebody told me as part of the HIA Test, players are asked to recite the alphabet backwards. Is that true? If so there would be some when fully lucid who couldn’t recite it from A to Z.
Nico
Roar Rookie
As I said, slim pickings, Goddard is probably the only one that makes the Titans squad
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
How can you not have The Don? Great servant in some ordinary sides and I'm pretty sure he's their top try scorer or close to it. Better then Gordon and Mead
Statler and Waldorf
Roar Guru
And Steelers
Tony
Roar Guru
Rambo would have you looking over your shoulder from the time the game kicked off until you took your seat on the team bus after the game. He was an absolute weapon. Robbo would be rubbed out within a month in the modern game.
Tony
Roar Guru
There's some real no names there Nico. Brendan Hurst? Chris Nahi?
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
From memory Rambo Ronnie played most of his games with Easts and Manly.As far as lack of self preservation is concerned I put him in the same category as Geoff Robinson. I wonder if they were playing nowadays, how many times would they be receiving HIA”s or would their style of play be discouraged? Thoughts.
Nico
Roar Rookie
It's slim pickings but this is the best I could come up with for the pre-Titans iterations of The Giants/Seagulls/Chargers using the author's selection criteria: 1. Andrew King 2. Brendan Hurst 3. Jason Nicol 4. Ron Gibbs 5. Danny Peacock 6. Chris Orr 7. Wes Patten 8. Michael Searle 9. Jamie Goddard 10. Chris Nahi 11. Terry Cook 12. Brett Horsnell 13. Jeremy Schloss
Matt
Guest
Nathan Friend anyone? Would've thought he did the most at hooker for the Titans.
DJ
Guest
According to Wikipedia Laffranchi played 102 games for Gold Coast and 103 for Tigers so he probably be in the Tigers team .
Zenn
Roar Rookie
Rodney Stone of the Chargers?
Dexter The Hamster
Roar Rookie
Anthony Laffranchi missed the cut?? I have him down as their best ever forward.
U
Roar Rookie
Rogers is better than all those backs apart from Prince
U
Roar Rookie
Zillman is was horrific
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
If I recall, Nate wasn’t toilet trained properly and Bird “missed the target” the morning after his wedding. Boys will be boys!
Phil
Roar Rookie
Nate had a real head for football, and Greg Bird, he was a bit flighty at times.
catcat
Roar Rookie
Ball boy- Anthony Don