Gold Coast Titans release full 20-player squad ahead of inaugural NRLW campaign

Titans fans know about the fab five marquee signings – and a handful of the young guns. But the club has now released the full squad list, and there’s some massive names >>

AFTER months of hurdles and hiccups the Gold Coast Titans’ NRLW squad has finally been revealed.

The Titans have released the list of 20 players that will make ­history as the club’s inaugural NRLW squad.

Fans knew of marquee signings Georgia Hale, Brittany Breayley-Nati, Karina Brown, Crystal Tamarua and Tazmin Gray, and a handful of boom young gun recruits like Tiana Rafstrand-Smith, but not of the stars that would join them in the Titans’ blue and gold – until now.

Eleven of the inaugural squad have NRLW experience, split between former Warriors (six), Broncos (four) and Dragons (one).

The Titans will hand NRLW debuts to nine first-time talents, many of them State of Origin standouts, junior national stars and, in the case of ­former Queensland Reds and Australian Wallaroos halfback Cobie-Jane Morgan, a crosscode international convert.

>> SEE THE FULL LIST OF PLAYERS BELOW

The first-year squad boasts a strong local connection, with exactly half of the list turning out for either Tweed Seagulls or Burleigh Bears in the 2021 BHP Premiership season.

The NRLW season was originally fixtured to begin next week and run in-line with the remainder of the NRL Telstra Premiership. However, it has been pushed back to an early-October start date due to recent Covid-19 outbreaks across the country.

The competition is now expected to begin the same weekend as the NRL grand final.

It will run for six weeks, with every team playing each other once, before the top two sides progress to the NRLW premiership decider to be held in the first week of November.

The Titans will begin official ­training as a full squad in the last week of August.

Georgia Hale – Lock / Halfback / Five-eighth

One of the Titans’ marquee signings, Hale is a versatile player that can fill a number of positions. Formerly with the New Zealand Warriors, Hale played with the Tweed Seagulls in the 2021 BHP Premiership. Off the field, she is a former Veronica White medallist and the 2020 Young New Zealander of the Year.

Brittany Breayley-Nati – Hooker

Brittany Breayley-Nati is a marquee signing for the club and will bring plenty of experience to the Titans. The hooker was voted the best player in the NRLW competition in 2018 and is a Jillaroos and Queensland representative. She missed the 2020 season due to family and work commitments.

Karina Brown – Fullback / Wing

Brown brings a wealth of experience to the Titans having been a key part of the Australian Jillaroos since 2013. Off the field, Brown assisted in building the two women’s rugby league clubs in Queensland – Burleigh Bears and Easts Tigers. Brown was announced as a marquee signing for the club early last month. The winger/fullback is one of the most capped players in the game, having captained Queensland and lifted two World Cup trophies.

Crystal Tamarua – Prop / Second-row / Halfback

Tamarua is another marquee signing and brings international experience to the side after playing for both the New Zealand Ferns and Cook Islands. Tamarua debuted for the Warriors in the inaugural NRLW Premiership competition in 2018.

Tazmin Gray – Second-row

Gold Coast product Gray grew up a stone’s throw from Cbus Super Stadium and there will be few prouder to wear the Titans’ colours. The second-rower has played in every possible NRLW Premiership game since its inception in 2018. She willed Queensland to this year’s State of Origin crown, earning player of the match honours, and also won the BHP Premiership with Burleigh.

Zara Canfield – Second-row

The Tweed Heads tough nut brings a hard-nosed playing style to the Titans. At just 20 years old, Canfield scored three tries in the BHP Premiership this season and averaged more than 100 run metres each game.

Brianna Clark – Second-row / Lock

Clark represented Australia in the Prime Minister’s XIII against Fiji in 2020 where she earned her NRLW contract with the Warriors. Clark played in this year’s winning Queensland Origin side. Transferring this season to the Titans, Clark brings considerable experience to the side.

Destiny Brill – Lock

Brill made her debut State of Origin appearance this year at just 18, scoring a try for the Queensland side. One of the most talented young players in the game, Brill is an exciting addition to the Titans line-up.

Jessika Elliston – Second-row

Elliston played a sole game for the Broncos in her debut 2019 season, backing-up with four games last year including coming off the bench in the 20-10 grand final win over the Roosters. The Palm Beach Currumbin High School product has also represented Queensland at State of Origin level.

Kimiora Breayley-Nati – Halfback

One of the most experienced players in the inaugural Titans squad, Kimiora Breayley-Nati is a well known name in NRLW circles. The NZ test representative scored three tries in the Broncos’ 2018 grand final triumph over the Roosters, earning her player of the match honours.

Grace Griffin – Five-eighth

Griffin is making her debut in the NRLW premiership with the Titans after a successful season in the BHP Premiership with Valleys Diehards, where she played in the halves alongside Broncos and Jillaroos star Ali Brigginshaw. Griffin is also a Queensland representative in touch football.

Lauren Dam – Outside back

In her seven appearances in the BHP Premiership this year for the Wests Panthers, the talented outside back scored seven tries. She represented the Australian Defence Force at the 2021 National Championships.

Jetaya Faifua – Outside back

In just five appearances in the BHP Premiership this year, Faifua scored an incredible seven tries for the Burleigh Bears. Able to play both on the wing and in the centres, the Queensland under-19 representative is one of the most exciting young outside backs in the game.

Shannon Mato – Prop

A former Queensland Reds and Wallaroos player, Mato transitioned to rugby league in 2020 where she made her NRLW and Queensland Origin debut. Following her Maori All Stars appearance in February, she played for North Sydney before returning to Queensland to take her place in the victorious State of Origin team.

April Ngatupuna – Lock

Ngatupuna played for the Queensland under-19 team in 2021 and was part of the Titans’ inaugural under-19’s side that played against Newcastle earlier this year. She joins the Titans after playing three games for Valkyries in the BHP Premiership.

Jasmine Peters – Centre

Peters played alongside Ngatupuna in the Queensland under-19 team this year. She also made her Indigenous All Stars debut in 2021. Hailing from Mackay, Peters was one of the North Queensland Gold Stars’ standouts in the BHP Premiership.

Tiana Raftstrand-Smith – Outside back / Halves

Raftstrand-Smith made her State of Origin debut for Queensland in 2021. At just 18-years-old, she is capable in covering most backline positions and is one of the Titans’ exciting young talents. Another BHP Premiership winner with the Burleigh Bears.

Karli Hansen – Halfback

Hansen announced herself to the international stage when she scored a try just 90 seconds into her Kiwi Ferns debut last year. Hansen was one of the standouts in New Zealand’s test match against Samoa and in a team full of stars, she is one of the Titans’ most skilful.

Cobie-Jane Morgan – Halfback

Rugby convert Cobie-Jane Morgan is as fast and skilful as they come. The former Waratahs, Reds player represented Australia at the 2010 and 2014 Rugby World Cups.

Shaniah Power – Second-row

Power scored two tries in as many matches in her debut NRLW season with the Warriors last year. She is both a Queensland State of Origin and Indigenous All Stars representative.