Blindside: Bulldogs bound? Titans ready to let players walk
New Gold Coast coach Justin Holbrook has finally arrived and his first point of business is rebuilding his player roster, with one star offered up to Canterbury.
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THE Titans are yet to sign a player from a rival club for the 2020 NRL season but that could be about to change following the arrival of new coach Justin Holbrook.
Holbrook made his first public appearance at the Titans and is expected to start making moves on his playing roster.
A number of current players are in the firing line and the Titans would be happy to let many walk following a dismal wooden spoon season.
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The problem for the Titans is finding a buyer on the back of a string of poor performances.
Blindside has been told hooker Nathan Peats’ name has been thrown up to the Bulldogs.
Peats, who is paid $600,000-a-season, is off-contract at the end of 2020 and may leave the Gold Coast earlier if he can secure a longer deal elsewhere.
TITANS GOING NOWHERE
The Titans have put relocation rumours to bed by signing a new deal to remain at their Gold Coast headquarters for at least the next seven years.
The Titans have activated a five-year contract option to be based at Parkwood Village, extending their current tenure to at least 2026.
The Titans have called Parkwood home for the past three years after a purpose-built headquarters was constructed at the golf course precinct. While there was two years remaining on the initial five-year deal, club powerbrokers have extended the arrangement to guarantee they will remain there for at least a decade.
The Titans made an early commitment in order to have some upgrades done at their training and administration base.
Relocation speculation surfaced following a disastrous 2019 season that culminated in the sacking of coach Garth Brennan and the wooden spoon. But the NRL is determined to ensure the club is successful on the Gold Coast and is reluctant to shift the franchise.
The Titans’ owners – the Frizelle and Kelly families – have also reaffirmed their commitment by extending the Parkwood deal.
Executive chairman Dennis Watt confirmed the deal was being finalised.
“We’re certainly looking to extend the deal,” he said. “You can take it as another example of the commitment to the Gold Coast, absolutely, but that was never in question. (Relocation) was never going to happen.”
PARR ON PAR
FIGHTER John Wayne Parr is leaving no stone unturned ahead of his upcoming boxing bout against Anthony Mundine.
Blindside spotted Parr running around beautiful Burleigh on the Gold Coast this week.
Sporting some of his favourite Muay Thai shorts, Parr looked a picture of health as he worked up a sweat on the heartbreak hill at North Burleigh.
The November 30 showdown at Cbus Super Stadium shapes as a fascinating fight for two of Australia’s veteran brawlers.
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SMITH ADMISSION AN EYE-OPENER
STEVE Smith’s remarkable Ashes performances came on the back of next to no sleep.
Smith produced one of the great Test series in England earlier this year when he racked up 774 runs in four matches at 110.57.
And the world’s best batsman revealed he did it having barely slept a wink.
Smith said he was a terrible sleeper and is sometimes awake the entire night during a Test match as his mind ticks over.
“During Test matches I’m pretty ordinary,” Smith told Fox Cricket.
When asked to define what ordinary meant, Smith’s response was shocking.
“Sometimes none, sometimes two hours, three hours,” he said. “It depends what I’ve got on the next day.
“I’m pretty relaxed. I’ve played some of my best innings when I’ve had literally no sleep.”
Smith said his sleep issues stemmed more from excitement rather than nerves.
Imagine what he could do if he was properly rested.
Originally published as Blindside: Bulldogs bound? Titans ready to let players walk