Gold Coast Titans aka Trouble Titans aka Brisbane Titans aka No show Titans.
What ever you wanna call them the Titans are in no doubt at a cross roads in their tenure. From a young age being involved in Rugby League (ironically on the Gold Coast where it all began), we were always told “If you always do what you’ve always done, then you’ll always get what you always got” and “Adapt or die”. Now that last one was in reference to a game plan but the adage applies to my point all the same. How has this happened? Let’s break it down shall we:
I believe the troubles started with Michael Searle, when the Titans were born he was the CEO had no board to answer to. He was a founder, the judge, the jury and the executioner. Above all he ultimately and largely was held unaccountable. John Cartwright the noble good guy and inaugural head coach. Don’t get me wrong John and the team had some early success including in 2009 and 2010 when they finished 2 straight years in the top 4. Then comes the daunting reality, over the next 2 years they would win 16 games in 2 years – including the 2011 wooden spoon – they were doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Because of John’s relationship with Searle and the sentiment of being the inaugural coach he was probably held onto 2 years too long and eventually removed in 2014. The powers to be in the early days choose to focus on the Titans as a business and not the Titans as a football brand. Building a multi million dollar Centre Of Excellence eye sore and public bars in Surfers Paradise where was the football focus? Remember the Titans circa 2007? They were largely already an ageing team coming in. Preston Campbell, Scott Prince, Mat Rogers, Mark Minichello, Luke Bailey. All fantastic players in their own right but all in the twilight or later stages of their careers they were never 10 year players. The succession plan wasn’t there. When the legends retired there were little options to replace them. For example when Cooper Cronk left Melbourne they had Cameron Munster, when Stacey Jones retired the Warriors had Shaun Johnson, and when Michael Hancock went to England the Broncos had Lote Tuqiri. They all had one eye on the future with the exception largely of Kevin Gordon and David Mead the Titans were slim on talent but where are they today? Not with the Titans. No real planning no major prospects. With the Gold Coast being such a high participation rate on the GC that is a hard pill to swallow.
Then comes along Neil Henry. A very nice man also and with some experience to boot. However was he the right man to lead the club? History says no. I think given his history at Canberra and Cowboys, Neil had big immediate expectations placed on him. Pressure anyone would find hard to deliver on. To be fair Neil has a great head for footy but he was given a $1m player he didn’t need or want and was told to like it. Jarryd Hayne sent the club backwards we all know that and Henry wasn’t the coach to handle his ego. Let me ask you, If Bellemy or Bennett or Hasler were in charge of the Titans at that time do you think Hayne would have been able to run amok like he did? Didn’t think so. The clubs board ultimately backed a player over their coach that was trying to build something and ended up losing a good coach. As time shows the player after destroying a coaches career walked from the team anyway. In the end ultimately a lack of demanded respect and leadership from his players were Henry’s downfall.
Cue the Titans 3rd coach overall. The ultimate nice guy Garth Brennan. Again the Titans went for a largely untested man as head coach. Brennan had the runs on the board at reserve grade level but even back then I thought someone who had not coached before was maybe not the right fit for the job. They needed someone with discipline and who not be worried about critics, newspapers, being liked. You know like Bennett or Bellemy. Proof however is in the pudding and there is no doubting Garth’s ability however with a result of just 12 wins in 2 years makes it hard to justify. The unit is largely out of sync. They were paying players on potential, the game plan was at times above the players before them, they lack fight and an identity in the way they played, there is no Titans football and I believe as nice as Ryan James is they lack real leaders in the club. Someone in mould of James Graham or Sam Burgess someone that when the game is on the line or the team is in a slump will stand up and say ‘come on lads, back to basics, back to our game plan we are better than this’. They were also fast become the Gold Coast Panthers home to the Penrith unloved and unwanted. I get that is were Garth built his rep and had success with those players but Penrith is not Gold Coast. The football style is different, the fans are different and ultimately his recruitment strategy was a big loss in his favour.
So where to now? The Titans are at a cross roads. Do they continue to be the definition of insanity and do the same thing they have always done and expect different results? Or will the introduction this year of Mal Meninga bring about a QLD like re build from the ground up. I think the Titans need to look no further then the Brisbane Lions, what they have done and been able to achieve. They were at the same point a few years ago, they decided they had little choice but to change it up, re write the book for under performing teams if you will . They changed the way they recruited, they were getting an exodus of ‘homesick’ stars up and walk out on the club back to Melbourne or Adelaide or Perth. So they bucked the trend and started recruiting country boys or guys that were boarders and used to being away from home. They recruited mates that had played together before or knew each other from their youth or youth teams. This helped create a better vibe and unity and ultimately better culture.
They re-signed players on performance and players that wanted to be at the club not just the next big thing, paying on potential or someone who was collecting a pay check – anyone else was shown the front door. The philosophy was simple, if you don’t want to be here, then don’t. They got in a coach with a back bone and a proven pedigree for the game and had been in and around successful set ups. Not just the next former favourite son to roll off the production line like Voss or Leppitich.
Ultimately and above all now the Lions again have an identity in how they play their game, they play Lion football. Not just doing what everyone does cause it apparently works in Sydney or Melbourne. They are the Brisbane Lions and everyone, the opposition and fans know it. They made the tough calls and now they are not only destined for the finals but it seems a top 4 finish. Titans take a look, read the manual and drink their potion that is what you need to do.
There has been a lot said about who will bring the Titans back into the frame and drive success. Many names have been thrown up. Craig Fitzgibbon, Kevin Walters, The Walker brothers, Justin Holbrook. There are 2 names that aren’t mentioned above. Two names that can turn the club around. Mr Tim Sheens and my personal choice Mr Geoff Toovey.
Sheens and Toovey are old school rugby league men. Discipline, a take no prisoners attitude and an attitude for winning. They demand respect from their players and would not allow the wishy washy attitude toward the club and the game that the current Titans players have. The take a pay check attitude of players would go out the window, and they would single handedly attract rookie players and big name players alike. They are coaches that players want to play for and want to win for. They also have the runs on the board in terms of results. Sheens has won 4 premierships with 2 clubs (that’s second only to Wayne Bennett), he has coached Origin and International teams winning the 2013 World Cup and been named Dally M coach of the year on 3 occasions, While Toovey has yet to win a premiership, in 4 years he coached Manly to the finals on 3 occasions including a GF. He oversaw a changing of the guard at Manly and demanded success. Either men are perfect for the role. These men combined with Mal Meninga will have the Titans running to the beat of a different drum in 24 months. Hungry and hunting for success.
Getting the right coach in is step 1, changing the way of thinking is step 2. Did you know that the Gold Coast Titans don’t sign any players to contracts before the age of 16 years old. While this can be seen as admirable, in a world where talented players are getting snapped up at 13 and 14 years old can the Titans continue to take the high ground? In the current comp alone Payne Haas, David Fifita, Tom Deardon and Xavier Coates are all Gold Coast developed and all currently tearing it up for BRISBANE BRONCOS!! Not to mention Jai Arrow and Jarrad Wallace yes they are back at the Gold Coast now but both moved off the Gold Coast and had to be bought back at a higher price. Not good. Mal this is need number one to change.
I coach a junior Rugby League team on the Gold Coast. Each and every week I watch the talent of players that are running around on the Gold Coast. An epic nursery of talent from big front rowers to speedy and crafty little men. The Titans future. Make it happen Mal.
I believe ultimately there are good times on the horizon at the Titans and with the right people in place and the right decisions made we will see a big turn around. I for one am looking forward in 2 years time to once again be sitting in a packed house at Skilled Park with the Titans on the rise and the passion in the stands. Good times are coming. Let’s just make sure the right moves are made.
Now remember these are just the amateur, raw opinions of an Aussie Arm Chair Commentator. Until next time readers.
AAC
The Aussie Arm Chair Commentator 