NRL 2021: Titans cult hero Antony Don officially retires
He became the accidential cult hero of the Titans and rugby league and Anthony Don just added to his legend with an emotional farewell speech.
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Gold Coast Titans great Anthony Don never felt comfortable being one of the NRL’s cult figures.
He cringed at Facebook fan groups, felt awkward about supporters cheering his name and couldn’t understand why the club gave members a bobblehead figure of him this year.
To Don, it all seemed a bit unnecessary. But to the NRL he was the people’s champion.
Don, 33, is one of the NRL’s great success stories.
The battler from Grafton who debuted at 25 officially announced his retirement from the NRL at season’s end on Tuesday.
He will depart the Titans as the club’s greatest ever try-scorer, having crossed 85 times in 152 games, with the possibility of more to come.
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Don’s retirement press conference showcased everything that has made him a beloved figure in the NRL - and he didn’t even know it.
It started with the raw emotion of a player coming to terms with his career ending, flowed into self-deprecating humour and ended with an offer to Clive Palmer.
“As you probably guessed,” was all Don could muster with wife Samantha and daughter Frankie (1) in the room.
It was a rare glimpse of emotion from one of the Gold Coast’s coolest customers.
“What I was trying to say was I’m retiring at the end of the year,” Don said later.
“The club is in the best position I’ve seen it in the 10 years I’ve been here. It’s in a great spot to move forward. That’s why it’s sad to be out of the team.
“I was ready to retire a couple of years ago before Justin (Holbrook) got here. The new coaching staff really reinvigorated my career.
“John Cartwright (former coach) deserves the biggest thanks because I was a 25-year-old kid out of the country and he gave me a crack on a train-and-trial at the end of 2011.
“I’ve been clinging on for dear life ever since. I’m very proud to have made it to where I am now.”
Don forged a unique path to the NRL.
The grandson of league great Ron Willey, he was working as a high school PE teacher in 2010 when he scored 40 tries for the Grafton Ghosts, earning a shot at the Queensland Cup with Burleigh.
By 2013 he was making his NRL debut with the Titans, his mates cashing in on first try-scorer bets after Don was named on the bench in jersey No. 17 but opened the scoring against Parramatta.
Don quickly became a mainstay in the Titans team and in 2017 was named the club’s player-of-the-year.
He will retire as the Titans’ most-capped one-club player, but still questions why he was so popular.
“When I was 15 or 16 I hadn’t hit puberty and was playing against men. I wasn’t even making my starting team for the Grafton Ghosts and there was 20 players to pick from,” Don said.
“For the kids that aren’t making the rep teams at school…there’s still always hope. People mature at different rates.
“I just kept playing because I loved it. I would have played for free for the last 10 or 12 years anyway.
“I’m not sure why I was a cult hero, maybe because I lacked so much talent. I was a skinny country kid and maybe they just saw I tried hard and did my best.
“I’m not sure why they got behind me but I certainly noticed all the support across the years.”
Despite playing 152 games, Don has never featured in an NRL finals match.
He suffered an injury on the eve of the Gold Coast’s 2016 play-offs match against Brisbane, the club’s only top eight finish in his career.
That could change this year with Titans on track to quality for the finals and Holbrook said the curtain hadn’t closed.
“He’s the most popular bloke in our squad currently,” he said.
“He wants to go out on top. He’s a winner and always has been. He’s one of our most competitive guys at training.
“He’s a great example of hard work and enjoying the game. You can’t come in and make your NRL debut at 25 if you’ve lost the love of the game.
“It doesn’t matter what age you get there – it’s about how committed and competitive you are. He is as competitive as anyone I’ve seen.
“We’re not sitting here saying it’s his last game. He is still playing very well for us so he’s not a million miles off. You never know.”
Don said he would shift his focus to securing a career post-football but didn’t rule out a return to the field, especially after billionaire Clive Palmer funded Israel Folau’s return in the local Gold Coast league.
“My main priority is to secure some work then I’ll see what uncle Clive’s got at Southport because he’s throwing around some cash,” he said.
And with that signed off one of the NRL’s favourite figures.
In-form Titans surge into seventh spot
- Chris Honnery
A relentless Titans have continued their late season surge after handing the Cowboys their eighth straight loss with a 36-14 win at Cbus Super Stadium.
It was one-way traffic in Sunday’s Queensland derby as the Gold Coast dominated in attack to notch up their third straight win and continue their push for a top eight finish.
They finish the weekend in seventh spot with the Rabbitohs, Storm and Knights to come in their run to the finals.
Meanwhile, North Queensland slumped to their eighth consecutive loss and are now staring down the barrel of missing the finals for their fourth year in a row.
It was a tough start for North Queensland when damaging winger Murrary Taulagi was ruled out in the 90th second with concussion.
The Cowboys were left with two players on the interchange bench for the final 16 minutes of the match when Lachlan Burr was also ruled out with concussion.
The Titans were relentless in attack — finishing the game with 1557 run metres to the Cowboys 1051 and 82 tackles in the opposition half to the Cowboys 38.
The Cowboys meanwhile were forced to make 331 tackles to the Titans 220 to make it difficult for them to build any pressure.
Titans coach Justin Holbrook drew parallels to the Gold Coast’s five-game run at the back end of last season.
“I thought it was a good win and a really important one,” Holbrook said.
“There’s been a real shift from us about five or six weeks ago.
“We know the importance of the back end of the year and there’s some good confidence here now.
“We made a real good run last year, so we’re confident in that. We’re confident in what we’re doing as coaches and the playing group.
“But we have to step up against South Sydney and we can’t afford to drop off.”
TOBY’S TIME
It’s hard to believe Toby Sexton has played just three NRL games.
The 20-year-old has become one of the Gold Coast’s best in recent weeks and continued his impressive run on Sunday afternoon, with a try assist and two tackle busts.
His emergence as a future first-grader only spells danger for Ash Taylor, who is still without an NRL contract for next year.
Taylor was both hot and cold on Sunday, setting up a try but also put in a poor kick into the legs of Tom Dearden — who picked up the ball and scored an 80-metre runaway try to keep the Cowboys in the game at the halftime break.
"The best chip over the top ever"
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) August 8, 2021
Corey Thompson wins the chase and sets the ball up perfectly for Ash Taylor 🤩
🈠#NRLTitansCowboys
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BACK ROWER LOLO A NO-GO
Human wrecking ball Jason Taumalolo was kept relatively quiet, by his own high standards, after he was thrust into the backrow position for just the fifth time since 2015.
Cowboys coach Todd Payten admitted he shifted Taumalolo to the No.11 jersey to spark a late-season revival but it didn’t produce.
The former Dally M lock of the year made 106 running metres, one offload and one error.
He had David Fifita as his opposite number but it’s safe to say the Titans backrower won the battle, finishing the match with a try, 105 running metres, seven tackle busts and a linebreak in just 60 playing minutes.
Payten hopes to persist with Taumlolo in the backrow for the rest of the year.
“It’s a starting point for him,” Payten said.
“Our ball possession (on Sunday) limits his impact in the game.
“Heilum and Jase on the edge in today’s game didn’t have the impact we desired but it’s something for us to build upon.
“I’m going to see out the next few weeks.
“Watching our footy over the past month, we’ve lacked a little bit of punch on the fringes.
“Heilum and Jase with their athleticism will give our halves a little more time and space so that’s where we’re going with that.”
RAZZLE DAZZLE
There was some razzle dazzle footy on a wet evening on the Gold Coast, epitomised by Ash Taylor’s try in the 70th minute.
Titans winger Corey Thompson made a break down the sideline before grubber kicking ahead, which he managed to chip over the top of Valentine Holmes for Taylor to score just millimetres from the dead ball line.
Dayten slams ‘soft’ Cowboys after disappointing season
— Travis Meyn
Cowboys coach Todd Payten has slammed his team’s “soft attitude” and admitted his first season in charge of North Queensland has been a disappointment.
Payten’s Cowboys will be looking to snap a seven-game losing streak when they face the resurgent Gold Coast Titans at Cbus Super Stadium on Sunday.
It has been a shocking two months for the men from Townsville, whose promising 6-6 start to the season has descended into a disastrous campaign.
After winning the 2015 premiership and reaching the 2017 grand final, the Cowboys claimed three straight bottom four finishes (2018-20) under former coach Paul Green and are headed for another in Payten’s first season at the helm.
The 14th-placed Cowboys had a golden opportunity to snap their run of losses against the battling Broncos last week but instead suffered a 37-18 defeat, prompting the straight-shooting Payten to launch a savage critique.
“I’m disappointed,” Payten said of his first season.
“I thought we worked really hard to get to 6-6 after a slow start.
“The most frustrating thing for myself is the majority of our games have been patchy. We have won or lost games in patches.
“Against the Roosters and Storm we lost those games in moments when we were taking good steps forward.
“Our game against Brisbane was not acceptable. We had everything to play for on the back of six losses.
“We were playing a Queensland derby and turned up with a soft attitude. That was really frustrating and disappointing.
“We’ve got some work to do. We’re well aware of where we’re at.
“There are parts of our game that have been okay and parts that have been way off. There’s still a fair bit of work to do.”
The Cowboys were on track to be Queensland’s best-performed team at the halfway mark of the season.
But the Round 13 bye was followed by a dramatic crash, with North Queensland failing to win a game since.
The early season retirement of co-captain Michael Morgan (shoulder) sent shockwaves through the club while Payten is conducting a roster overhaul, granting mid-season releases to Josh McGuire, Wiremu Greig, Esan Marsters and Jake Clifford.
He has signed halves Tom Dearden and Chad Townsend along with Warriors utility Peta Hiku and believes there is improvement to come in 2022.
“We will have a different roster, more time under our belt with coaches, we’ve made some decisions around players and a couple of retirements that haven’t helped our cause this season,” he said.
“It’s laying the foundation around what we stand for as a club. I know that will hold us in good stead in the coming months and years.
“We had some honest conversations in our review (after the Broncos game). It was a pretty tough place to be for the first couple of days after the game.
“I know they’re certainly more focused this week on the back of the embarrassment but I’m disappointed we got to that point.”
The Cowboys have named star fullback Valentine Holmes to return from a shoulder injury against the Titans and Payten has made a big selection decision in shifting damaging forward Jason Taumalolo from the middle to an edge.
Payten is hoping Taumalolo can spark a late-season revival for the Cowboys and help them finish a disappointing campaign with some positivity.
But this is a game the Titans should win if they want to maintain their position in the top eight and play finals for the first time since 2016.
“Injuries have hurt them a bit. A couple of weeks ago they pushed Melbourne Storm all the way to the end,” Titans coach Justin Holbrook said.
“They haven’t been putting the wins together but they’re capable. They’ve got plenty of good players. If Val Holmes comes back, he is one of their best.
“(Taumalolo) is going to be damaging wherever he plays. If he plays back row or middle, he is such a damaging player wherever he pops up on the field. He’s going to be a handful.
“If they play him in the back row they’re obviously looking to try things. They haven’t been playing as well as they would like of late so they’re mixing it up.”
Don gone: Cult hero calls it quits
Is Don, is done.
Gold Coast Titans club legend and cult hero Anthony Don is on the verge of retiring following a stellar nine-season career.
Don is expected to formally announce his retirement from the NRL next week, bringing an end to one of the club’s most famous careers.
Don, 33, debuted for the Titans in 2013 as a 25-year-old after being plucked out of bush footy in NSW following a 40-try season for the Grafton Ghosts.
The former high school PE teacher has gone on to become the greatest tryscorer in Titans history, crossing 85 times in 152 games.
Don was contemplating going around again in 2022, but he has only managed nine NRL appearances this year and hasn’t scored a try, with his last game coming back in Round 12.
Wingers Corey Thompson, Phil Sami and Greg Marzhew have moved ahead of Don in the pecking order at the Titans.
Don is hoping to break back into the NRL team before season’s end, but coach Justin Holbrook revealed an announcement on his future was imminent.
“Donny has been fantastic for us for a long time,” he said.
A likeable character, Don is a fan favourite and one of the NRL’s cult heroes with his unorthodox plays and try-scoring ability.
Don was contemplating going around again in 2022 for a 10th season, but he has only managed nine NRL appearances this year and hasn’t scored a try, with his last game back in Round 12.
Wingers Corey Thompson, Phil Sami and Greg Marzhew have moved ahead of Don in the pecking order at the Titans.
Don is hoping to break back into the NRL team before season’s end and at least have a farewell game.
He was tight-lipped about his retirement plans when contacted on Friday but coach Justin Holbrook revealed an announcement on his future was imminent.
“Donny has been fantastic for us for a long time,” he said.
“I guess he will probably make an announcement on that soon.
“He is back and fully fit and flying. We’ve got a couple of other options that we’re happy with at the minute.
“Donny’s been fantastic and the top tryscorer at the club.
“He’s still training with us and if he gets another chance he will be ready to go. We haven’t ruled him out, we’re just going with different options at the moment.”
The grandson of league great and Manly coaching legend Ron Willey, Don thought he would never play in the NRL.
But he was handed a Queensland Cup contract by the Burleigh Bears in 2012 after starring for the Ghosts before securing a deal with the Titans.
Don made his NRL debut in 2013 and quickly became a mainstay of the team, racking up 152 games for the Titans to sit third on the club’s all-time most-capped list behind Mark Minichiello (173) and Will Zillman (156).
Sadly, Don missed the Gold Coast’s sole finals game in 2016 after suffering an injury on the eve of the play-offs.
He has never played in an NRL final and may once again miss out, with the Titans on track to play finals for the first time since 2016 this season.
Don was named on an extended bench for Sunday’s clash against North Queensland at Cbus Super Stadium, but it appears only injury to one of the Gold Coast’s wingers will see him secure a farewell NRL game.
While Don is calling time, the Titans have activated an option in co-captain Kevin Proctor’s contract to keep him at the club for 2022.
Prop Herman Ese’ese, who has only been sighted three times in a disappointing debut season at the club, has activated an option in his favour to stay at the Titans next year.
Holbrook said Don was close to making his plans known.
“Donny’s close to making that decision,” he said.
“He still loves playing rugby league so I don’t want to speak on his behalf. He will decide by next week I think. I’m not sure if he wants to keep playing rugby league or not.
“From our end, he’s been fantastic. The top tryscorer at the club and been here for nine seasons after coming in as a late-bloomer.
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