Des Hasler lands first big scalp with Michael Monaghan to join Titans’ coaching staff

New coach Des Hasler’s rebuild at the Gold Coast Titans has stepped up a notch with the premiership mentor securing a big recruitment win.

Incoming Titans coach Des Hasler has scored his first recruitment scalp, poaching Michael Monaghan from Newcastle to join his team of assistants at the Gold Coast.

And Hasler is set to rubber-stamp a two-year extension for Titans caretaker Jim Lenihan as the premiership winner constructs the coaching unit to break the Coast’s 17-year title hoodoo next season.

This masthead can reveal Hasler has staved off interest from the Cowboys to secure Knights assistant Monaghan, who was poised to fly to Townsville for talks with North Queensland coach Todd Payten.

Monaghan agreed terms on Thursday to be part of ‘Des-neyland’ on the Gold Coast alongside Hasler and fellow assistants Brett White and Lenihan, who will remain at the Titans until the end of 2025.

A veteran of 126 NRL games for Canberra and Manly between 2001-07, Monaghan later served as an assistant to Hasler at the Sea Eagles and the pair are reuniting at the Titans.

The Cowboys had identified Monaghan as a possible offsider for Payten, but Hasler moved swiftly with the backing of Titans veteran Kieran Foran, who was mentored by the 43-year-old at Brookvale.

Des Hasler has signed Michael Monaghan as an assistant. Picture: Getty

“Michael is looking forward to his new challenge at the Titans,” said Monaghan’s manager Chris Orr of PSM.

“He had some interest from the Cowboys and he was due to fly up to North Queensland, but Des has a high opinion of Michael from their time together at Manly.

“Mick was highly recommended by Kieran Foran.

“’Foz’ really enjoyed working with him at Manly, he is very good at pulling apart opposition defences.

“Mick has a lot of experience as an assistant coach and he is highly regarded for the work he does with the edge defence and the halves as a former playmaker himself.”

Hasler vowed not to embark on a cleanout at the Titans and he is true to his word, backing Lenihan to help him resurrect the Coast as a finals force.

Lenihan took charge of the Titans for the final 11 games of the season following the shock sacking of Justin Holbrook and the Gold Coast were competitive on his watch - headlined by an 18-12 boilover of the Broncos in June.

“Jimmy Lenihan is close to an extension with the Titans as well,” Orr said.

“Des Hasler is a very analytical and scientific coach and Jim will learn a lot working under him.

“Jim is a future NRL coach. He speaks well, he understands the game, he has won a premiership in the Queensland Cup and he is looking forward to learning under Des after his time with Justin Holbrook.

“The Titans were in a bit of a mess after Justin left this year and Jim did a good job keeping the club on track for the back end of the season.”

Hasler has wasted no time getting stuck into preparations for the 2024 NRL season.

The five-time grand-final coach doesn’t officially start his new role until November, but he has spent the past week at Gold Coast headquarters at Parkwood.

Hasler has been heavily involved in post-season reviews with Titans players and staff following another bottom-four finish.

A two-time NRL premiership-winning coach, Hasler has been working hard behind the scenes so he can hit the ground running when the Titans commence pre-season training in November.

Hasler won’t be inheriting a squad short on talent, with Gold Coast having four Origin reps this year in Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, David Fifita, Moeaki Fotuaika and AJ Brimson.

It is a roster that shouldn’t have finished in the bottom four of the NRL for the past two seasons.