How it all went wrong for the Titans in season 2017

THE Titans won only seven game this year but ultimately, their season will be defined by the feud between coach Neil Henry and star recruit Jarryd Hayne.

Titans season review.

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IT was a titanic failure for the Gold Coast this year with the Queensland based side crashing to their worst finish since 2011.

In a coach killing season, the Titans won just seven games to sink to a five-year low after making a fairytale run at the finals in 2016.

Ultimately, their year will be defined by the ugly feud between former coach Neil Henry and star recruit Jarryd Hayne.

WHERE THEY FINISHED?

The Titans were expected to become a finals’ force this year after storming home to make the top-eight last year and become the NRL’s over achievers. Big name recruit Jarryd Hayne was expected to lead the charge following a full pre-season. He didn’t and Gold Coast slumped to lose 17 games. They were lucky to finish 14th.

WHAT WENT WRONG?

Neil Henry and Jarryd Hayne. A feud between the coach and the star player railroaded the Titans with dressing room dissent ruining the club. Hayne football floundered as he mounted a campaign to have Henry removed. Several other players were caught up in the drama that cost Henry his job and the Titans a premiership shot. Add to that a horror run with injuries at the beginning of the season and looking back now, the Titans never stood a chance.

Titans season review.

WHAT WENT RIGHT?

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Not a lot went right on the Gold Coast. Ashley Taylor continued to develop as a playmaker despite the No. 7 a part of Hayne’s Henry revolt. He will play a key role in the future of the titans as long as powers that be can hold on to him. Ryan James was tireless as per usual.

IT’S A SHAMBLES!

The Titans’ year from hell cost coach Neil Henry his job with the club backing $1.5 million man Jarryd Hayne following his “It’s me or him’’ ultimatum.

The Titans are still without a replacement for Henry. So finding a new coach has to be their top priority with the NRL preseason now only in less than seven weeks. Whoever lands the gig will be taking a standing start.

HIGHLIGHT OF THE SEASON

In round 10, the Titans were battling to stay in touch with the ladder leaders when they pulled off a remarkable win over premiership favourites the Melbourne Storm. Konrad Hurrell scored in the dying minutes for the Titans to prevail 38-36.

LOWLIGHT OF THE SEASON

The Titans’ casualty ward was bulging at the seams week-in-week-out, making it difficult to be competitive. Their round 26 injury list told the tale, it featured 13 players including Konrad Hurrell, Ryan James and Chris McQueen.

They saved their worst performance for the Bulldogs clash just six days after Henry’s sacking. Hayne was made to look like a $1.5m mistake.

Konrad Hurrell goes down injured against the Panthers in round 20.

BIG-NAME RECRUITS

Jai Arrow (Broncos), Brenton Lawrence (Sea Eagles)

BIG-NAME LOSSES

Neil Henry … And Chris McQueen, who heads to the Wests Tigers after his short stint on the Coast.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT YEAR?

Best case scenario — Jarryd Hayne will rediscover the type of form that helped Parramatta to a fairytale final’s charge in 2009 and turn the Titans into a premiership dark horse. His combination with Taylor ignites the Gold Coast to their best ever year.

Worst case scenario — Jarryd Hayne will be released after failing to fire and Taylor quits.

COACH SAFETY RATING

The Titans have assembled a four-man panel of Gold Coast chief executive Graham Annesley, board member Geoff Jones, football manager Anthony Laffranchi and Gorden Tallis to help find a new coach. So far the Walker brothers and former Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire have been touted as possible replacements. Whoever they pick has a mammoth task ahead of them.

Originally published as How it all went wrong for the Titans in season 2017