Gold Coast Titans to celebrate the NRL club’s 100-game players with milestone program

THEY might be the NRL’s newest club but the Gold Coast Titans will set about recognising the stalwarts that have been laying the foundations since 2007 by launching a milestone program tomorrow.

THEY might be the NRL’s newest club but the Gold Coast Titans will set about recognising the stalwarts that have been laying the foundations since 2007 by launching a milestone program tomorrow.

All 16 players in the 100-game club will receive a specially made jersey, with each 50 games played from there earning further recognition.

Players with 100 games will be given white jerseys; 150 games will be signified by light blue, 200 by dark blue and 250 by gold.

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Presentations will be made at Gold Coast’s Round 10 home game against the Bulldogs at Cbus Super Stadium tomorrow.

Titans players Anthony Don and Ryan James with the new jerseys the club will hand to all players with 100 games this weekend. Picture: Richard Gosling

Injured Titans captain Ryan James lauded the program initiative.

“It’s great because we are the newest club in the NRL and you have got to recognise those people that have put in the hard work,” he said.

“It’s a massive achievement to play one game of first grade but to play 100 games at one club is something special and for me to do it at home is even more special.”

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James, whose tally has paused at 144 due to his season-ending knee injury, listed the likes of early milestone men Nathan Friend and Luke Bailey as key influences on his career.

“You just watched those guys, they led with their actions. Everything they did off the field was phenomenal and on the field they were great as well,” James said.

Nathan Friend was the first man to the 100-game milestone at Gold Coast. Picture: Getty Images

“Someone like (Mark) Minichiello, who is like pretty much the perfect athlete and just does everything right, it’s good to have those guys recognised this weekend.”

The club’s most recent inductee into the esteemed club is Anthony Don and he is hoping to celebrate the occasion by playing in a much-needed victory.

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“It’s good that all of the 100-gamers and milestones are getting recognised, even retrospectively. It’s going to be good for the weekend and something I will cherish when I finish playing,” he said.

The 31-year-old winger has played 118 games for the Titans and admits pushing onto the 150 mark – which only Minichiello, Bailey and William Zillman have reached – is a goal.

Mark Minichiello holds the record for the most matches played by a Titan. Picture: Adam Head

“I’ve got next year on the Gold Coast as well so mathematically it is possible but obviously with injury and form and everything, it’s not guaranteed,” he said.

“It’s not something that I am too concerned about at this point.”

Friend, Luke O’Dwyer, Zillman, Kevin Gordon, Matt White, Don, Anthony Laffranchi and James will all be present for the ceremony.

The other eight players being recognised are Minichiello, Scott Prince, Preston Campbell, Luke Bailey, Ashley Harrison, David Mead, Greg Bird and Luke Douglas.