Gold Coast Titans eye monster $4m roster overhaul
With 13 of 25 players off contract at the end of the 2020 season the Titans are preparing for a major roster shake-up, leaving a host of talent fighting for contracts next year.
Titans
Don't miss out on the headlines from Titans. Followed categories will be added to My News.
LATRELL: I want to become a Cowboy
The Titans are weighing up a $4 million roster overhaul as more than half of new coach Justin Holbrook’s top squad faces an uncertain future on the Gold Coast.
Thirteen of the Gold Coast’s top 25 players are off contract at the end of the 2020 season, allowing Holbrook to orchestrate a comprehensive clean-out if he feels necessary.
A host of big-name players are fighting for their NRL futures following a shocking wooden-spoon season which saw the Titans win only four games and culminated in the sacking of coach Garth Brennan.
Stream the 2019 Oceania Cup Live & On-Demand on KAYO SPORTS. Get your 14 day free trial and start streaming instantly >
Among the off-contract players is captain Ryan James, New Zealand Test forward Kevin Proctor and former NSW Origin hooker Nathan Peats.
The Titans have identified rising stars Jai Arrow and AJ Brimson, members of Australia’s recent World Cup 9s winning squad, as priority signings.
But the other 11 players – which includes Anthony Don, Dale Copley, Leilani Latu and Tyrone Roberts – face the prospect of having to prove to Holbrook they deserve new deals as the Titans weigh up another roster overhaul.
Holbrook is the Gold Coast’s third coach in three years, with the club undergoing significant squad changes under former mentors Neil Henry and Brennan.
There is a possibility of the Titans’ squad for the 2020 season also changing, depending on player movement around the NRL.
Culture chief Mal Meninga is playing a lead role in shaping the club’s roster, but he said Holbrook would have the ultimate say on his future squad.
“He’s the head coach and has got some really good people around him in (assistant coaches) Jim Dymock and Jim Lenihan,” Meninga said.
“He’s got good staff and will be in control of all that.
“We’ve got a recruitment and retention committee and (football manager) Anthony Laffranchi has increased his role around salary cap compliance.
“Justin and his team will get a feel for the club and players and what he needs. We’ll make some decisions based on those outcomes.
“We’re not quite sure (if there will be player movement before 2020). It’s dependent on where Justin sees the players fitting in the team, particularly the top 17-20.
“There may be some movement with the players. We’ve got to be patient with what we do.”
The Titans have not offered contracts to 2019 players Jack Stockwell, Brenko Lee and Ryley Jacks, who are yet to secure deals at other clubs.
Former Warriors and Raiders halfback Erin Clark has been offered a train-and-trial contract by the Titans for the pre-season.
Meninga has previously declared he wanted to target some of the NRL’s top players to bring to the Gold Coast.
And he believes the Titans’ poor performances in 2019 won’t hurt them in the recruitment ring.
“We’re really working hard behind the scenes,” he said.
“We’ve improved our development pathway programs and have a really good football department now.
“We’re going from strength to strength.
“Things behind the scenes, beyond the football area of the top 30, are really strong. We’ve got a really good story to tell around recruitment.
“We need to build our foundation to ensure we get sustainable success. We can’t make poor decisions that will impinge on our future.”
SIGN THEM UP
Jai Arrow
AJ Brimson
WAIT AND SEE
Ryan James
Kevin Proctor
Nathan Peats
Phillip Sami
Keegan Hipgrave
Treymain Spry
Sam Stone
FIGHTING FOR LIFE
Dale Copley
Anthony Don
Leilani Latu
Tyrone Roberts
Originally published as Gold Coast Titans eye monster $4m roster overhaul