With the 2022 NRL Season done and dusted, the Penrith Panthers are the champions, the Wests Tigers have taken out the club’s first wooden spoon and it is the fifteenth year with no success for the Gold Coast Titans.
Professional sporting outfits on the Gold Coast are often the butt of many jokes, one reason being the inability to secure any sort of title. While for decades this could have been argued that being Australia’s premier tourist destination meant that the long-term support needed for the success of a professional sporting outfit was missing.
This for a while was deemed to be true, but now as residential developments up and down the east coast of Australia have now seen more than enough residents to establish themselves, it gives professional outfits on the Gold Coast an opportunity to truly establish a supporter base.
It was in 2005 that the NRL, through then CEO David Gallop, announced that the Gold Coast had been accepted into the competition from 2007 – following their initial failed bid in 2004 surrounding the controversy of the side originally wanting to be called the Gold Coast Dolphins.
In September 2005 it was announced that the club would play under the Titans moniker, voted for by the public and beating out fellow popular names the Stingers and Pirates.
Former State of Origin winger Chris Walker began his comeback trail with a 14-point haul in their first premiership match against the St George Illawarra Dragons in front of over 42,000 people at Suncorp Stadium, but the Titans fell short of victory 20-18.
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Despite the fanfare on what is often referred to as the ‘Glitter Strip’, the Gold Coast Titans and their fanbase have now gone through fifteen seasons with little success to show for their efforts.
Ladder Positions & Record by Year
2007 12th (10W-14L)
2008 13th (10W-14L)
2009 3rd (16W-8L)
2010 4th (15W-9L)
2011 16th (6W-18L)
2012 11th (10W-14L)
2013 9th (11W-13L)
2014 14th (9W-15L)
2015 14th (8W-16L)
2016 8th (11W-1D-12L)
2017 15th (7W-17L)
2018 14th (8W-16L)
2019 16th (4W-20L)
2020 9th (9W-11L)
2021 8th (10W-14L)
2022 13th (6W-18L)
(AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
As the 2023 season starts to take shape, despite the usual murmurs surrounding player contracts and the safety of head coach Justin Holbrook, there is additional pressure on the club to perform after what could only be described as a disastrous 2022 campaign. That is, the introduction of The Dolphins, the league’s 17th franchise headed by legendary coach Wayne Bennett.
For fifteen years the Gold Coast have lived the highs and lows of the “50/50 calls” that happen in a game of football and their fans have accepted new coaches ‘inheriting’ sides, player injuries and ‘dodgy’ ref calls. But the newest franchise tasting success before the Titans could be a tough pill for their long-suffering fans to swallow.
Throughout the 2022 season, many things were said about the Gold Coast Titans, with many reflecting on the ‘one pass’ that could have seen them progress to week two of the 2021 finals series. And yet they spent most of the last season battling for the wooden spoon, all of what was said warranted.
But like the fifteen years of the results, 2022 was just like any random year you pick from. The list no longer matters and like the fans of sixteen other clubs focus now must turn towards hopes of a better 2023 season.
The Kellys and Frizelles – current owners of the Gold Coast Titans – have invested a lot of resources into the club they love and are desperate for success. The ultimate kick in the guts for them, as well as to the fans and the area the club represents, would be for Wayne Bennett to pull off one of his famous masterstrokes and deliver success to The Dolphins before it is tasted by the Gold Coast.
Titans coach Justin Holbrook has admitted he made the wrong call by releasing experience such as Jamal Fogarty prior to the 2022 season, and the side at times seemed rudderless with the inexperienced spine failing under the pressure. Now Holbrook and the list management staff have begun to right their wrongs.
Kieran Foran (photo by Getty Images)
Despite not being overly active in the player market the club has taken their first steps in the right direction towards forcing a premiership window open with the acquisition of Kieran Foran, Sam Verrills and Joe Stimpson to plug glaring holes in their playing squad.
Foran, 32, has played 262 career matches including stints at the Sea Eagles, Eels, Warriors, and Bulldogs with representative honours for New Zealand and the NRL All Stars adding a further 24 appearances to his stellar career.
A Four Nations winner with the Kiwis, and premiership winner with the Sea Eagles in 2011, Kieran Foran would be the first to admit that his best football is behind him, although not past his prime. Believing he can still perform on the football field Foran found himself in career-best replicating form throughout 2022, despite his club (Manly) and their season imploding around him.
His signing to the Gold Coast not only provides a solid halves player who is capable of handling match situations he also brings much-needed leadership experience.
The Titans have made it clear they are focused on youth as well as building the bulk of the squad they currently have together into premiership-winning players. Foran, not only brings stability on the field but with his experience he is able to mentor the younger players, in particular the likes of Tanah Boyd, Aaron Booth and Toby Sexton – all of whom come with high wraps from those within the Titans.
Verrills is another inclusion, a player who has experienced premiership success with the Sydney Roosters, and comes to the Titans to provide direction from a football setup that is among the best in the game.
Solid contributions by Clark, Boyd and Booth were not enough to secure the hooker role throughout 2022. Injury, selections or just bad luck played a part but it was clear the departure of Mitch Rein and Tyrone Peachey meant the youngsters had big shoes to fill – unfortunately they were not up to the challenge.
The introduction of Verrills not only provides a solid spine on paper along with Foran, Brimson and Jayden Campbell, but the hope of clear ball to some of the other players that will be looking for a big year ahead.
(Photo by Jono Searle/Getty Images)
Lacking clear ball and space for the likes of David Fifita, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and their outside backs was one of the points heavily criticised by experts throughout the season, with Verrills seen as an important acquisition for the club if they were to wipe the dismal 2022 season from their memory.
Once again, the younger players still under development have an opportunity to learn from, plus train alongside a premiership winner whose wisdom and knowledge of what makes a team successful could have immense benefits to the club long-term.
A smart, young player himself, Verrills is one to not die wondering. Accompanying his skill and experience are the expectations of being able to deliver the early ball and the clear direction the players around him need to get the go-forward the Titans have lacked.
While sixteen other clubs set their eye on premiership glory the race is now on for the Gold Coast Titans, which until now has been the newest franchise in the competition, to force open their premiership window and try to taste success.
Not only for themselves, but to cross it off the list so there is minimal chance of embarrassment of The Dolphins beating them to the glory.
JennyFromPenny
Guest
Could have wasted far less of your life by just typing you agree to disagree. G/C in 1996, one and a half times the population of what Penrith is today, only makes your supporter base look far worse, not better.
Contego
Guest
I've followed every Gold Coast / Tweed NRL team since 1988 and stopped following the NRL when the Bronco's arranged for the Charger's to be kicked out. I am however a rarity and I would suspect that 60% plus of the Titan's supporters did not follow the Giants / Seagulls / Gladiators and Chargers (I think I've got them all). This is due to (1) they didn't live on the Gold Coast prior to 1998 (2) Tweed Heads is not the Gold Coast - I'm central Gold Coast and Tweed Heads is 20 minutes closer to my house than Lang Park and I can catch public transport to Brisbane (3) Only someone with a high pain threshold would have followed the teams as I have done (4) 1998 to 2007 is a long time in sport (5) Michael Searle did not want to associate the Titan's with the previous teams - this was a mistake but was far from the biggest mistake he made. My son is currently 29, he was 5 when the Charger's were kicked out. If he was allowed to I have no doubt he would have followed the Bronco's and with the exception of 2021 the Bronco's have not given people reason to leave them. My brother, who was both in 1980, always followed the Bronco's until he was excluded from Christmas lunch a few years ago. That is because when he was a kid they were successful and it is why Penrith are currently very popular with kids determining their favourite team. As to population growth according to the ABS the Gold Coast / Tweed grew from 364,572 to 645,711 between 1996 and 2016. Penrith was 167,868 to 201,597. I obviously know nothing about Penrith other than they have a good Rugby League team but 77.11% is much more drastic than 20.09%. Most of the new people have come from Sydney and Melbourne (unfortunately) and the Titan's realistically want the kids as supporters because the parents aren't going to be anything other than bandwagon supporters. If they win this will happen.
Contego
Guest
It's written by someone who doesn't realise the Gold Coast is more than Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach. Dumb comment basically.
JennyFromPenny
Guest
So is this the gist of what you say, that there is scant player talent in Qld, so to solve that, have Sydney teams merge super-teams, and the players who miss out on a spot, then apply to to Qld for a start ? What a sad sad solution. Mostly though it needs to be pointed out, the lack of talent in Qld, is not NSW's problem to fix. It's your own.
JennyFromPenny
Guest
The problem I see is from the outset, there was such a gap between success of Sth Qld teams, most would have had Broncos as #1, and a soft spot for little bro down South. Now there's two little bro's. Broncos fans so used to success, means Redcliffe and Coast will always be 2nd and 3rd choice teams. Only seems to me that the Dolphins become another Gold Coast. Twins, but not good looking ones.
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
What I mean is new clubs need new fans. I have followed the Broncs since day one and new teams or were I live will not change that despite living on the Gold Coast for 25 years My wife is from Cairns and supports the Cows My kids schooled and grandkids born on the Gold Coast , they support Titans. When you go to a game at Robina you see supporters of every NRL team wearing there team jumpers, the love football but still support the team they grew up with
Tony
Roar Guru
No worries :happy:
The Peoples Dude
Roar Rookie
My bad pretty sure I had 16 everywhere – including 16 on the list. (in all of my notes) Hospital + Lots of spare time + small iPad screen = lots of mistakes so may back off for a couple days. Really do appreciate the feedback etc
Tony
Roar Guru
Hi mate, I didn't want to post this on your latest "top 15" article, but please note that 2022 was the Titans 16th completed season. You may want to update your series accordingly. The current article could also be updated if you wish by communicating with the editors via the "comments" tab.
JennyFromPenny
Guest
When does anyone's performance review show that you, by far, exceeded the set KPI's ? KPI's by nature, are designed to be difficult to achieve. Set KPI's too low, and watch how it affects productivity. Ask that only 4 widgets get produced a day, not 20, and how many do you think get produced ? That being said, how is Gold Coast ever going to lift Penrith's Provan-Summons trophy, if the coach's KPI pass-mark is finishing top8 or thereabouts ? How will Holbrook, by far exceed this KPI ? He can't because there is no mindset to far exceed. So it's the KPI that's wrong. Set way too low. Remember, you can't win the comp outside the top4. The KPI needs to say 4th is a pass. From there you can win it. From anywhere else, you can't.
JennyFromPenny
Guest
Is interesting though, no Bennett coached team, throughout his career has won less than 10 games through the regular season. That minimum mark achieved would see Dolphins well clear of the bottom4, and much closer to playing finals.
JennyFromPenny
Guest
It can be a difficult concept for them, but the Gold Coast need to strive harder for premiership glory, not just aim to do enough to class themselves as competitive. Aim for the stars, and they might reach the moon, aim for the sky, and they may as well just have a jump on a trampoline.
JennyFromPenny
Guest
Moreso, support would present through the uniquely odd Qld patriot banner, where said Qlder would previously rank the three teams northernmost teams, two of them as their 2nd, and 3rd choice teams. Now they need to rank 4. Thankfully, we have true league tribalism in NSW which doesn't compel us to rank our favoured from 1 to 10. We cheer on our team, and banter to the rest. It's tribalism that has seen the game sustain so many teams within an hour of Sydney, not the hand holding mentioned.
JennyFromPenny
Guest
Population growth. Happens to most areas. Penrith was 50k in the 60s, 130k in the 80s, 220k now. I've seen pics from Nepean Hospital early 70s looking West towards the town, and all you can see is grassland. Ask Albo to verify. He travelled from hospital to football ground for game 1, 1967. Not really sure what your argument is though mentioning similar ? Do you say the 80s and 90s Coast fans no longer support the Titans , or are no longer around ? (You better speak to Albo about that one too). Else are you saying that because you weren't a fan back in the 80s yourself, then chances are noone else was either ? Is there an unwritten rule that said you need to be local to be a fan ? Need to be from Manchester to support the soccer team ? Really just what the heck do you mean ?
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
The Gold Coast/Tweed population was 300,000 in 1998 Its 750,000 now That is, most of the current fan base did not live there 1988-1998 Suburbs like Coomera, Robina & Casuarina were cattle or crops in 1998
JennyFromPenny
Guest
On a simple maths point, Titans have been in 16 years, as per the 16 win/loss entries. Although I find it not-believable that Gold Coast fans have no connection to the 11 years of failure 1988-1998 as Giants, Seagulls, Gladiators, and Chargers. Different competition names before and after Super League didn't change it from being the same comp, apart from that one year. Souths would be furious if anyone dared suggest.
Succhi
Roar Rookie
I really hope the Titans can improve. But I always wonder about their recruitment and player development. Mal Meninga as high performance director? Mal based in Canberra and probably his only link the the GC was he’d had a few beers at Northcliffe Surf Club. Gordon Tallis as an Ambassador? Recently admitted he has little to do other than turn up to an occasional game and have a pie and beer. Two Taylor,s, Ash and Dave, Hayne Pain, Fifita…….Beating the Dolphins should be the least of their concerns.
Muzz
Guest
I don't think the Titans management want success bad enough.
mushi
Roar Guru
Plenty of suburbs sure but the entire city of Sydney? There not just two different areas they’re separated by the country’s third largest city. The two are 100km apart Equating the difference to the west tigers is like sating penrith and the roosters had similar seasons last year
JennyFromPenny
Guest
He'll face the same as Munster will face if he ever moves to Redcliffe, and the same as B.Smith faces next year with the Roosters. Their next bender will be their last.