Titans owner Rebecca Frizelle addresses Des Hasler’s epic spray, slams speculation over Titans’ future as an NRL franchise

Titans owner Rebecca Frizelle had a front-row seat to Des Hasler’s savage dressing-room tirade. Speaking for the first time since the incident, the boss has defended the coach’s epic spray, while also addressing the current state of the club.

New Titans full owner Rebecca Frizelle has slammed speculation about Gold Coast’s future as an NRL franchise as besieged coach Des Hasler fights for his job at the club.

Frizelle insists the Titans can be a premiership force and has broken her silence on Hasler’s dressing-room moment of rage in Sunday’s 21-20 loss to Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval.

Just a week after co-owner Darryl Kelly released his 50 per cent stake, Frizelle found herself at the epicentre of a Hasler storm that has intensified debate over his future as Titans coach.

Hasler launched a savage tirade at Titans players within earshot of new club owners, Frizelle and her husband Brett, who exited the Leichhardt sheds as the Gold Coast coach gave the group another bake.

Speaking for the first time about the incident, Frizelle said it was a sign of Hasler’s commitment to bringing success to the last-placed Titans, who are on track for their third wooden spoon in 14 years.

The Hasler hissy fit came just a week after Frizelle and chairman Dennis Watt held an urgent meeting with all staff to put the entire club on notice in their bid to finally bring success to the struggling Coast.

Des Hasler blows up in the Titans sheds

“We obviously have a coach who cares and hurts as much as we all do,” said Frizelle in her first interview since taking full control of the Titans.

Frizelle would not be drawn on the future of Hasler, who has a clause in his contract that states he can be fired as Titans coach if the Coast fail to make the playoffs this season.

The Titans are now out of finals contention, but Gold Coast hierarchy are hoping the playing group can deliver a win for Hasler in his 500th game as NRL coach against the Warriors in New Zealand on Saturday.

Titans owner Bec Frizelle witnessed Des Hasler's epic spray first hand.

Regardless of Hasler’s future, Frizelle is frustrated by a view the Titans are satisfied with mediocrity, insisting under her regime, the club will do everything possible to deliver the Gold Coast region’s maiden premiership.

There have been calls to not only sack Hasler, but shut down the club in an area that has witnessed several sporting carcasses, but Frizelle is adamant the Titans have a long future in the NRL.

Des Hasler and Rebecca Frizelle. Picture: Portia Large.

“The club is the healthiest it has been in its almost 20-year history,” she said.

“Having a stable business allows us to focus on delivering success on-field.

“We don’t make excuses, the NRL on-field performance has been below what we’d expect.

“Our NRLW side has been exceptionally competitive, making a grand final appearance in 2023.

“However, the health of the club gives us the opportunity to make sure the on-field performance is addressed.”

The Titans have twice gone broke with the NRL having previously taken over the club before entrusting the licence with the Kelly and Frizelle families in December 2017.

The loss of millionaire white knight Kelly is a huge blow for the Titans, but Frizelle is determined to turn the Gold Coast into a financially robust, title-winning NRL powerhouse.

“The Gold Coast is one of the fastest growing cities in Australia,” she said.

“To say the city is unable to support a successful team is disrespectful to the people who call this region home.

“The location has nothing to do with team performance.

Rebecca Frizelle says the club is the healthiest it’s ever been. Picture: Brisbane 2032

“This year, the Suns (Gold Coast’s AFL rivals) are showing that the perception that no Gold Coast team can perform is completely wrong as they push towards finals this year.

“The Gold Coast has had a churn of franchises – but the Titans have been present for almost 20 years.

“To go back to talk about the Giants, Seagulls or Chargers is now a redundant point.

“The Kelly family contribution has ensured the club’s sustainable future.

“We’ve been fortunate to work alongside Darryl and Jo and they’re a big reason why the club is in such a healthy position.

“Our business is achieving some of the highest figures in its history in most of our revenue lines and sits in the top-eight in many of the NRL’s business benchmarking measures.”

Frizelle said the Titans boast one of the most fertile rugby league nurseries in the world capable of supporting the NRL team.

“We are grateful to our community and supporter base here on the Coast and are determined to bring them success,” she said.

“The Gold Coast continues to grow as a great sporting region – we’ll see plenty of the 2032 (Olympics) events hosted on the Gold Coast and at the grassroots level we’re seeing record participation numbers.

“An example of this was the thousands of participants we’ve had in our Titans Schools competition, with the grand finals played this week.

“We continue to invest in our pathways.

“It is worth noting that the Titans had the most players in this year’s under-19s Origin – the most of any NRL club.

“The Titans are here for the long-term.”