NRL 2022: Gold Coast Titans grant utility Will Smith release from contract

The struggling Titans have taken another hit after one of their playmakers requested an immediate release.

Cowboys winger Murray Taulagi scores in the corner against the Titans. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

The battling Gold Coast Titans have copped another blow after utility Will Smith walked out on the club in mysterious circumstances.

Smith has been immediately released from the remainder of his contract, despite the Titans needing playmakers after fullback Jayden Campbell suffered a hamstring injury in Thursday night’s 32-6 loss to the Cowboys.

The Titans have lost eight of their past nine games and have plunged into wooden spoon contention.

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Smith hasn’t been sighted at training since starting at five-eighth in the Gold Coast’s round 9 loss to the Roosters.

He was dropped after the 44-16 defeat, with speculation swirling that he wanted to get out of the free-falling club immediately. That has proved to be true, with the Titans confirming Smith’s departure on Friday with a short statement.

Will Smith has been released by the Titans. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

“The Gold Coast Titans have granted Will Smith a release from his contract upon his request,” the club said. “Smith will return to New South Wales on compassionate grounds.”

After playing 75 NRL games for the Panthers and Eels, Smith joined the Titans this year and started at five-eighth in the club’s round 1 loss to Parramatta.

He was coach Justin Holbrook’s first-choice bench utility, but has now strangely quit the club after only nine games.

Cowboys add injury to insult for Titans

The Cowboys could dominate Queensland’s Origin team for years to come after Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Heilum Luki sunk the Titans and sent the Gold Coast crashing into wooden spoon contention.

A hamstring injury to fullback Jayden Campbell compounded the Titans’ eighth loss in nine rounds, a 32-6 defeat which has heaped pressure on Gold Coast coach Justin Holbrook to stop the rot.

Heilum Luki celebrates a try with Cowboys teammates. Picture: Getty Images

The Cowboys didn’t miss a beat with Queensland representatives Reuben Cotter, Valentine Holmes, Jeremiah Nanai and Tom Dearden cheering from the grandstands after Billy Slater brought the entire Maroons team to Cbus Super Stadium on Thursday night.

While the Titans were without captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (Origin) and David Fifita (knee), they failed to fire a shot and are now anchored in the NRL’s bottom four.

In contrast, the Cowboys notched their seventh win in eight games, with their only loss in two months coming against reigning premiers Penrith last week.

Once again, it was North Queensland’s stellar defence that did the job while the Titans crumbled in typical Gold Coast fashion.

Murray Taulagi scored one of the Cowboys’ six tries against the Titans. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

MAROON GROWN COWBOYS

After four lean seasons, the Cowboys have the potential to dominate Queensland’s Origin team for years to come.

With Maroons backrowers Cotter and Nanai watching from the grandstand, Luki showed why he is just as good a talent. At 195cm and 103kg, Luki used his size and power to crash over for the Cowboys’ first try and from there the floodgates opened.

Maroons squad members Murray Taulagi and Tabuai-Fidow crossed in quick succession while Dolphins signing Tom Gilbert troubled the Titans all night.

Tabuai-Fidow bagged his second late in the game and Slater must have been salivating at what he was seeing from the super impressive Cowboys who have top four written all over them.

“Those guys are surely going to be included in the conversation around Origin,” Cowboys coach Todd Payten said.

“Heilum only had his second start and was really strong, he was threatening and defended well. Muzz (Taulagi) was really strong, Gilbert was awesome.

“Everyone was really excited about the boys being selected in Origin. The guys coming in were really excited about their opportunity. Our defensive system is working well and we are a young, athletic team. I’d just like us to be smarter at times.”

Jason Taumalolo was strong for the Cowboys. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

TITANS SINKING QUICKLY

The Titans are now entering the dreaded zone of being a mathematical chance of making the finals. That’s not where you want to be after only 13 rounds, let alone when your club thought it was a genuine finals team.

To qualify for the play-offs the Titans are going to need to win about nine of their last 11 games. With matches against top eight teams South Sydney and Cronulla to come in the next fortnight, the Gold Coast’s season could be over before they have a bye.

This year has been nothing short of a total debacle for the Titans after they made a promising finals appearance last year.

After scoring first, the Titans conceded three tries in an eight-minute blitz to trail 16-6 at halftime. They crumbled in similar fashion in the second half and are in a world of hurt.

“Not at all,” coach Justin Holbrook said when asked if the Titans’ season was over.

“We know we’re miles off but we will keep working at it and string some wins together.

“We’re definitely not giving up. We’re not giving in.

“We’ve got to either not make the errors or defend them. We’re falling short in a lot of areas.

“We’ve got to compete harder.”

Originally published as NRL 2022: Gold Coast Titans grant utility Will Smith release from contract