Gold Coast Titans’ war chest puts entire squad on notice

The Gold Coast Titans playing group have been put on notice in the 2020 season with the club boasting an enormous war chest that will put the entire squad under pressure to secure their positions.

Mal Meninga says the Titans squad must earn their positions in 2020. Picture: Dave Hunt

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Titans culture chief Mal Meninga has put the entire Gold Coast squad on notice, warning contracts will be torn up if the club produces another wooden-spoon finish next season.

The Titans will go into the market next season with a $3 million war chest with 14 top-liners off-contract at the end of 2020, including Jai Arrow, AJ Brimson, Dale Copley, Anthony Don, Tyrone Roberts and Leilani Latu.

Other notable Titans off-contract next year including skipper Ryan James, Kiwi Test back-rower Kevin Proctor, flying winger Phillip Sami, forward Keegan Hipgrave and former NSW Origin hooker Nathan Peats.

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Mal Meninga says the Titans squad must earn their positions in 2020. Picture: Dave Hunt

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Meninga was hired last November to improve Gold Coast’s performance culture but it was a disastrous maiden year at the club for the NRL Immortal as the Titans crashed to the worst season in their 12-year history.

Aside from coach Garth Brennan’s mid-season sacking, the Titans won just four games, finishing with the wooden spoon for the first time since their last-placed finish in 2011.

Meninga is banking on the appointment of new coach Justin Holbrook to herald a successful chapter for the embattled Titans in 2020, but admits the revival cannot happen without an attitudinal shift from the playing group.

A host of Titans players are off contract at the end of 2020. Picture: Dave Hunt

The Broncos’ dismal 58-0 finals embarrassment against Parramatta has overshadowed the Titans’ woeful finish to the season, but Meninga says Brisbane are not the only Queensland club under the microscope.

“I see that the Broncos players have been put on notice, well they aren’t the only ones,” Meninga said.

“Our players are on notice as well because what happened this season was just unacceptable.

“We need to get better next year and the improvement has to be a collective mindset. I’m not just pointing the finger at the players, everyone at the club has to be pushing in the same direction, but we’ve got a number of players playing for the futures next year.

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“We can’t afford to be finishing last again next year, it’s not where we want to be.”

Meninga will be hoping Holbrook can bring his Midas touch at St Helens to the Titans. Holbrook’s side finishing on top of the Super League ladder a staggering 16 points clear of second-placed Wigan with 26 wins and three losses.

Saints charged into the grand final with a 40-10 hammering of Wigan in their major semi-final, leaving Holbrook odds-on to arrive at the Titans with a Super League premiership on his resume.

There will be no rest for wicked with Holbrook to be on deck for the Titans’ pre-season, which starts on Monday, November 4.

“Justin has had great success in England and as soon as he is finished with St Helens he will be with us,” Meninga said. “I’m confident Justin can drive some major changes to our group in the pre-season.”