NRL: Gold Coast Titans axe 14 as 2022 squad begins to take shape
The Titans dropped 14 players from their pre-Christmas extended squad of 50, leaving 10 players to battle for the final two Top 30 roster positions and to fill the club’s four-man development squad.
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THE prospect of extended NRL squads in 2022 to combat the Covid-19 outbreak is keeping NRL dreams alive for dozens of Gold Coast Titans train-and-trialists cut over the Christmas break.
The Titans dropped 14 players from their pre-Christmas extended squad of 50, leaving nine players to battle for the final two Top 30 roster positions and to fill the club’s four-man development squad.
News understands hooker Aaron Booth and centre Treymain Spry are favourites to be promoted into the full-time squad and enter the frame for selection in round one.
Prop Isaac Matalavea-Booth, centre Tony Francis and halves Tom Weaver and Shallin Fuller are tipped to have the inside running to remain with the squad full-time through the course of 2022 as development players.
Eligibility for NRL selection arrives midway through the season for players under that designation.
A team source said the Titans would wait as long as possible to finalise the composition of the development squad to motivate other talented youngsters at the club to remain dedicated.
Front rowers Ben Liyou and Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui, centre Klese Haas and fullback Jaylan de Groot scored invitations to train with the squad into the new year and they are the ones who could benefit most from growing pressure to widen open squad sizes to combat Covid-19.
The NRL is anxious to avoid the selection headaches plaguing cricket’s T20 Big Bash League, particularly with the Brisbane Heat.
The Omicron variant has forced the Heat to pull players out of club cricket - including their second- and third-choice substitutes - to field a team.
If broadened wide enough, train-and-trialists from the pre-Christmas group could also be in line for against-the-odds NRL debuts this season.
Australian Schoolboys representatives Jack Cullen and Ryan Foran and dynamite young hooker Oskar Bryant were among the group of 14 players who returned to their clubs for the remainder of pre-season.
Others were forwards Braden Robson, Charlie Murray (Tweed Seagulls), William Samuel, Jordan Penquitt (Brisbane Tigers) and Jacob Alick (Souths Logan).
Backs released were Josh Rogers and Taine Tuaupiki (Burleigh) and Kaleb Ngamanu, Lee Turner and Caleb Hodges (Tweed).
GOLD COAST TITANS 2022 SQUAD (28/30)
Middles (8): Moeaki Fotuaika, Jarrod Wallace, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Isaac Liu, Sam Lisone, Jaimin Jolliffe, Sam McIntyre, Herman Ese’ese
Backrowers (4): David Fifita, Kevin Proctor, Beau Fermor, Joe Vuna
Hookers (1): Erin Clark
Halves (5): AJ Brimson, Toby Sexton, Will Smith, Tanah Boyd, Paul Turner
Centres (4): Brian Kelly, Patrick Herbert, Esan Marsters, Jojo Fifita
Wingers (4): Corey Thompson, Phillip Sami, Greg Marzhew, Alofi Khan-Pereira
Fullback (1): Jayden Campbell
Development Squad (10/4): Aaron Booth, Treymain Spry, Tom Weaver, Shallin Fuller, Tony Francis, Isaac Matalavea-Booth, Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui, Jaylan de Groot, Klese Haas, Ben Liyou
Train and trial (released to clubs): Jack Cullen, Ryan Foran, Oskar Bryant, Braden Robson, Charlie Murray, Kaleb Ngamanu, Lee Turner, Caleb Hodges (Tweed), Josh Rogers, Vaka Sikahele, Taine Tuaupiki (Burleigh), William Samuel, Jordan Penquitt (Brisbane Tigers), Jacob Alick (Souths Logan).
TITANS SIGN 20 NRL HOPEFULS ON TRAIN-AND-TRIAL DEALS FOR 2022
- Nic Darveniza, 31 October
THE day Keebra Park prop Payne Haas walked out the Titans’ door to sign with the Broncos aged 16 was the most painful recruitment in Gold Coast rugby league history.
There was no chance the Titans would let the next Haas slip through their fingers, signing Payne’s younger brother Klese to a train-and-trial contract that will see the centre join the club for his first NRL pre-season from Monday morning.
Scroll down for full Titans train-and-trial squad
Haas earned selection in News Corp’s Langer Trophy team of the season in 2020 for his right-edge play in the school’s run to the semi-finals.
The Titans pounced, and school coach Glen Campbell predicts they have landed a talent with the potential to rise to NRL superstardom.
“He’s a big, mobile backrower and he’s got the potential, with his family DNA, he could be built like Viliame Kikau (when he stops growing),” the Keebra Park coach said.
“That’s where his ability has got to take him but as his game develops Klese could be a real handful.”
The early signs of a damaging ball carrier were there in the first round of the 2020 competition, when Haas beat five defenders with a combination of right-foot sidestepping and a damaging fend to score by the posts against Wavell.
The opportunity presented by a train-and-trial contract is nothing to scoff at for young Klese.
Since Justin Holbrook took the reigns at the Titans ahead of the 2019 pre-season no NRL club has leaned as heavily on the train-and-trial system to promote talent from outside the top 30.
Halfback Jamal Fogarty, prop Jaimin Jolliffe, hooker Erin Clark, winger Greg Marzhew, centre Young Tonumaipea and fullback Jayden Campbell all took pre-season opportunities with the club to break into the big time under Holbrook.
In total, 20 train-and-triallists will begin training on Monday morning, alongside rookies Tom Weaver and Shallin Fuller, who are already contracted to the club’s development list.
Haas is not the only train-and-trial product with family ties to the NRL.
Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui is the younger brother of Titans lock Tino, and Tweed lock Braden Robson is the elder brother of Cowboys No.9 Reece.
With 27 Top 30 players signed as of November 1, the Titans must sign another two players before March 1 and fill the final roster spot by June 30.
There are four development contracts available in 2022 which sit outside the Top 30.
The Titans have signed three in Aaron Booth, Tom Weaver and Shallin Fuller.
GOLD COAST TITANS 2022 SQUAD
Middles (8): Moeaki Fotuaika, Jarrod Wallace, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Isaac Liu, Sam Lisone, Jaimin Jolliffe, Sam McIntyre, Herman Ese’ese
Backrowers (4): David Fifita, Kevin Proctor, Beau Fermor, Joe Vuna
Hookers (2): Erin Clark, Aaron Booth (Dev)
Halves (7): AJ Brimson, Toby Sexton, Will Smith, Tanah Boyd, Paul Turner, Tom Weaver (Dev), Shallin Fuller (Dev)
Centres (4): Brian Kelly, Patrick Herbert, Esan Marsters, Jojo Fifita
Wingers (4): Corey Thompson, Phillip Sami, Greg Marzhew, Alofi Khan-Pereira
Fullback (1): Jayden Campbell
COMPLETE TITANS TRAIN AND TRIAL SQUAD 2022
TOM WEAVER
Position: Half
Club: Tweed
School: PB SHSC
Rep highlight: Australian Schools (2021)
Tom Weaver led PBC to back-to-back Langer Trophy titles and state wins at school and club level in 2021. He has signed a development contract and is eligible to play NRL minutes after Rd 11, 2022.
SHALLIN FULLER
Position: Half
Club: Burleigh
School: Woodenbong Central School, NSW
Rep highlight: GC Vikings (2018)
The human Intrust Super Cup highlights reel was compared to Cody Walker with his running game. He joins the development list in ‘22.
ISAAC MATALAVEA-BOOTH
Position: Prop
Club: Burleigh
School: Keebra Park SHS
Rep highlight: Titans U19s (2020)
Giant Kiwi Isaac Matalavea-Booth will return to Titans training on Monday having been brought in earlier to mimic Storm colossus Nelson Asofa-Solomona.
WILLIAM SAMUEL
Position: Prop
Club: Brisbane Tigers
School: Marsden SHS
Rep highlight: Tigers MVP (2021)
The former Logan schoolboy scooped up the Brisbane Tigers players’ player award, team MVP and the Jack Loth Medal for dedication, integrity and will to win
JACK CULLEN
Position: Prop
Club: Tweed
School: PBC SHS
Rep highlight: Australian Schools (2021)
Cullen brings an iron-clad combination with halfback Tom Weaver and hooker Oskar Bryant. The trio have played together since U10s and have an almost psychic ability to read eachother’s play.
BEN LIYOU
Position: Prop
Club: Tweed
School: PBC SHS
Rep highlight: National U18s club champion (2019)
As one Grafton Ghost goes out the door in Anthony Don, another rolls in: Ben Liyou. The former PBC Reds front-rower will enter his second Titans pre-season after a maiden appearance last year.
ISZAC FA’ASUAMALEAUI
Position: Prop
Club: Burleigh
School: James Nash High, Gympie
Rep highlight: Titans U19s (2021)
The younger brother of Tino Fa’asuamaleaui is a fitness freak who already matches his State of Origin star sibling for endurance and competitive drive.
JORDAN PENQUITT
Position: Prop
Club: Brisbane Tigers
School: Ipswich Grammar School
Rep highlight: Nil
A former schoolboy rugby union teammate of Sydney Roosters No.7 Sam Walker, long-limbed Jordan Penquitt has played just one season of U20s league.
BRADEN ROBSON
Position: Lock
Club: Tweed
School: St Patrick’s College, Murwillumbah
Rep highlight: Newcastle Knights U20s (2015-17)
The 2014 Australian Schoolboy returned to the Coast in 2019 having starred for Wests in the NSW Cup.
CHARLIE MURRAY
Position: Lock
Club: Tweed
School: Marymount College
Rep highlight: NSW High Achievers captain (2016)
The former Knights and Eels junior played three Intrust Super Cup matches for Tweed this year after playing mostly Under-20s.
RYAN FORAN
Position: Edge
Club: Tweed
School: PBC SHS
Rep highlight: Australian Schools (2021)
The tough-tackling edge backrower was one of four Titans-contracted players to reach the Australian Schoolboys. The Club hopes the players’ chemistry can be their own Jarome Luai-Nathan Cleary.
JACOB ALICK
Position: Edge
Club: Souths Logan
School: Cavendish Rd SHS, Holland Park
Rep highlight: Nil
Alick enjoyed a breakthrough season in the Intrust Super Cup as an 80-minute performer at Souths Logan alongside some former superstars of the NRL.
OSKAR BRYANT
Position: Hooker
Club: Tweed
School: PBC SHS
Rep highlight: Titans U19s (2021)
Tweed U18s coach Tim Maccan rated Oskar Bryant as one of the top two hookers in the state this season. Bryant has big game experience with back-to-back appearances in Phil Hall Cup school finals.
VAKA SIKAHELE
Position: Hooker
Club: Burleigh
School: St Paul’s College, Auckland
Rep history: NZ Schools (2020)
A devastating run of injuries forced Sikahele onto the sidelines for most of this season but the Titans have seen enough to extend him through 2023, such is his promise.
JOSH ROGERS
Position: Half
Club: Burleigh
Jnr club: North Beach, WA
Rep highlight: WA U18s (2015)
The Western Australian-born playmaker rejoins the Titans having starred in the club’s Under-20s team in 2016, wining the True Titan award as AJ Brimson’s halves partner. The 25yo has played 44 Cup games.
TONY FRANCIS
Position: Centre
Club: Burleigh
School: Marsden SHS
Rep highlight: Broncos Development (2020)
A blockbusting centre product from Marsden SHS, Tony Francis had interest from Cowboys and Broncos before ultimately winding up in the Titans’ clutches.
KALEB NGAMANU
Position: Centre
Club: Tweed
School: The Southport School
Rep highlight: U18s club national champion (2021)
A promising junior rugby union star, Ngamanu was Jojo Fifita’s GPS premiership-winning centre partner back in 2019. The pair will reunite at the Titans this pre-season.
LEE TURNER
Position: Centre
Club: Tweed
School: Endeavour Sports High, NSW
Rep highlight: Warriors U20s (2017)
A mainstay of the Tweed Seagulls and Southport Tigers backlines, Lee Turner will get his chance to audition for a place in the Titans centre pecking order.
CALEB HODGES
Position: Centre
Club: Tweed
School: PBC SHS
Rep highlight: Queensland U18 (2019)
Hodges was a strike weapon in Toby Sexton’s PBC backline back in 2019 and a prospect the Titans have had their eye on for some time. After impressing in his first pre-season last year Hodges is back for Rd 2.
KLESE HAAS
Position: Centre
Club: Tweed
School: Keebra Park SHS
Rep highlight: Langer Trophy team of the year (2020).
The younger brother of arguably the best prop in the NRL, Payne Haas, Klese brings an entirely different skillset with his mobility and knack for hitting holes in attack.
JAYLAN DE GROOT
Position: Fullback
Club: Tweed
School: PBC SHS
Rep highlight: Titans U19s (2021)
Gold Coast only had the chance to sign the late-blooming PBC fullback because Parramatta cut him loose in a cost-cutting effort during Covid. De Groot still carries that chip on his shoulder as motivation.
TAINE TUAUPIKI
Position: Fullback
Club: Burleigh
School: Coombabah SHS
Rep highlight: Nil
Tuaupiki will join clubmates Shallin Fuller and Josh Rogers at the Titans pre-season despite playing just 21 minutes at Intrust Super Cup level. Tuaupiki has been an A Grade superstar since 2019.
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Originally published as NRL: Gold Coast Titans axe 14 as 2022 squad begins to take shape
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