Northern Rivers to stick with troubled Gold Coast Titans

NORTHERN Rivers Regional Rugby League (NRRRL) will likely continue to work with the Gold Coast Titans, despite the club’s legal and financial troubles.

TITANS TAKEOVER: NRL chief executive Dave Smith confirmed on Tuesday the NRL had taken over ownership of the Gold Coast Titans as the club reels from drug allegations against five players. Picture: AAP

NORTHERN Rivers Regional Rugby League (NRRRL) will likely continue to work with the Gold Coast Titans, despite the club's legal and financial troubles.

The Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission has issued court attendance notices to five Titans players over allegations of cocaine trafficking and its investigations are continuing.

Dave Taylor, Greg Bird, Beau Falloon, Kalifa Faifai Loa and Jamie Dowling have been stood down and will not play in the Titans' opening NRL match against Wests Tigers on Saturday, March 7.

Meanwhile, the NRL has taken ownership of the Titans after the club was placed into voluntary administration.

Speaking from a Country Rugby League meeting, Brian Rix, president of the NRRRL and a CRL board member, said the club's informal association with the Titans would continue - for now at least.

"Generally, I don't know a lot of information at this stage," he said.

"We don't have close ties, except an association with the coaching staff and other personnel. We did have a formal relationship a few years ago.

"They've been trying to get their brand out and about around here for a while though."

Mr Rix said the Titans' troubles would not stop discussions between the NRRRL and the club about possibly re-entering a formal relationship.

"I think they've still got the basis of their club intact," he said.

"I don't think it's good for them, but I'm hoping they can come out of this pretty quickly.

"It is disappointing if it's proven, but nothing has been proven - it's all alleged at the moment."

The NRRRL has acted as a feeder league for the Titans in recent years, with a number of Northern Rivers players signing on to play for the Gold Coast club.

Originally published as Northern Rivers to stick with troubled Gold Coast Titans