NRL 2023 club deep dive: Gold Coast Titans free agency wrap, top eight chances, crystal ball
The Titans have made moves to turn things around after a disastrous fall down the ladder, but will it be enough? Check out our deep dive of the Gold Coast’s 2023 hopes.
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A year after making the finals Gold Coast crashed and burned in 2022 and have their work cut out to climb back up the ladder.
Some key off-season signings will help, so can Justin Holbrook get the Titans back on track and save his job?
Scroll down for the Dolphins and North Queensland Cowboys 2023 deep dives.
2022 RICH 100 REPS: 6
David Fifita (No. 8, $1m), Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (26, $800k), Jarrod Wallace (56, $700k), Mo Fotuaika (71, $600k), Isaac Liu (86, $550k), AJ Brimson (81, $550k).
FREE AGENCY WRAP
After making the 2021 finals, the Titans made some terminal recruitment and retention decisions last year which caused the club to crash in dramatic fashion.
They didn’t show enough respect to the importance of key position players and paid the price after releasing co-captain Jamal Fogarty to Canberra and running with an inexperienced spine.
The decision nearly cost coach Justin Holbrook his job as the Titans crashed to a bottom-four finish last season, but the club showed faith in him.
Holbrook has addressed his team’s playmaking deficiencies by signing Manly veteran Kieran Foran and Roosters hooker Sam Verrills.
He has also beefed-up the forward pack by netting Joe Stimson from Canterbury while Bulldogs centre Aaron Schoupp has plenty of upside.
It’s been a relatively busy off-season for the Titans in the recruitment department, but the jury is out on whether Foran still has another two years of quality footy left in his battered body. Only time will tell.
Rating: B
COACH STATUS AND SAFETY RATING: Justin Holbrook (2024)
Holbrook is entering the fourth and most pivotal season of his NRL coaching career.
After taking over from Garth Brennan following the wooden spoon debacle of 2019, Holbrook made an immediate impact at the Titans in 2020 as they finished ninth.
The Titans took another step forward with a finals berth in 2021, losing a week-one thriller to the Sydney Roosters, and believed they were on track for big things in 2022.
But last season’s dramatic implosion, which plummeted the Titans into wooden spoon territory late in the year before finishing 13th, thrust the spotlight on Holbrook’s future.
After dominating the Super League with St Helens, Holbrook’s win percentage in the NRL is just 36 per cent after three seasons. Titans hierarchy expect a finals return in 2023 and Holbrook must deliver that to save his job given he has had four years to put his stamp on the Gold Coast. He has no excuses.
Safety Rating: C
LIKELY DEBUTANTS
Holbrook has ushered in plenty of new talent over the past few years and has some exciting young prospects at his disposal.
The Titans have snapped up some of Queensland’s best schoolboys players in recent years who are now edging closer to the NRL.
While they have plenty of playmaking options, Tom Weaver is rated as future NRL halfback and is entering his second season with the club.
Flying winger Alofi’ana Khan-Pereira scored 25 tries in the Hostplus Cup for Burleigh last season and should make his NRL debut.
Tino Fa’asuamaleaui’s younger brother Iszac has impressed in pre-season training and will edge closer to an NRL debut.
The Titans also have an electric young fullback in Keano Kini, who dominated this year’s schoolboys competitions and is now training full-time with the NRL squad.
WHO TAKES THE NEXT STEP?
This is going to be a crucial season for a number of Titans players and will determine whether they can be NRL superstars or just average first graders.
After an explosive start to his NRL career, AJ Brimson has stagnated and must decide whether he wants to dominate the game or be an also-ran. Brimson has all the tools to be one of the NRL’s most dangerous players but has lacked consistency.
Fullback Jayden Campbell burst on to the scene in 2021 but fell away badly last season. Campbell’s lack of size and strength was exposed by opposition defences in an average second season. He has the talent to be an NRL force but needs to become more threatening.
Halfback Toby Sexton had a second season to forget as he crumbled under the pressure and expectation placed on him. Sexton is a talented player that needs to be better managed, which Foran could help with.
The Titans have a lot of promising players, but have lacked the culture and attitude to dominate the NRL. It’s now or never for many of them and the club in general.
THE THREE BURNING ISSUES
Have the Titans learnt from 2022?
The crash of the Titans was one of the NRL’s most dramatic stories last season as the club went within a whisker of the dreaded wooden spoon. Some big recruitment blunders and a soft pre-season set up the disastrous season and the Titans got what they deserved.
They have made moves to turn things around next season and time will tell whether the club is up to becoming a premiership contender.
Has Foran still got it?
The Titans have taken a punt on 262-game veteran Foran with what will be the final contract of his NRL career.
A two-year deal for Foran at age 32 seems risky given his injury history and lack of speed as a playmaker. Foran has the experience and knowledge the Titans need in their playmaking division and he needs to make an impact on and off the field to justify the Titans’ decision to sign him.
Where will David Fifita be in 2024?
The future of David Fifita remains a sticking point at the Titans. After a strong first season at the Titans in 2021, which netted a club record 17 tries, Fifita’s form fell off a cliff last season.
It didn’t help that Holbrook managed his highest-paid player poorly, playing him out of position and off the bench.
The Titans want to keep Fifita, but he is facing a mega pay cut from the $1 million-plus salary he is currently on. The longer it drags on, the higher chance Fifita quits the Gold Coast after three years.
CRYSTAL BALL
The Titans will improve after last season’s debacle and edge back into finals contention, but lack the killer instinct to be a premiership contender in 2023.
FINISH FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS
2022: 13th
2021: 8th (eliminated in first week of finals)
2020: 9th
2019: 16th
2018: 14th
2023 ODDS
Premiership: $41
Minor premiership: $101
To make grand final: $19
Top four: $12
Top eight: $4.25
Most losses: $7
REVIVAL OR RETIREMENT HOME? ALL EYES ON DOLPHINS’ BIG GAMBLE
By Travis Meyn
The NRL’s newest team have been tipped to struggle when they debut in 2023, but rugby league’s greatest coach has some tricks up his sleeve.
So what can we expect from the Wayne Bennett and the Dolphins in 2023? Find out here.
FREE AGENCY WRAP AND RATING
The Dolphins enter the NRL next season with a clean slate to work with across the board. They have no salary cap baggage from previous poor recruitment decisions and haven’t splashed ridiculous cash on a big-name signing that may not fire.
While they have struggled to attract a marquee player, the Dolphins have pieced together a solid forward pack and made a few astute young signings.
The good news for the Dolphins is they’ve got plenty of money to spend in 2024 and beyond which should help them land a big fish.
They’ve got a solid base up front with Melbourne trio Jesse and Kenny Bromwich and Felise Kaufusi while Tom Gilbert was a smart pick-up from the Cowboys.
Throw in some young guns like Isaiya Katoa, Harrison Graham and Jack Bostock and the Dolphins have some names to watch out for in the future. They have done well with only a limited time frame to sign players and have a solid base to work from and capped things off with the handy signing of the versatile Tesi Niu from the Broncos.
Rating: B
COACH STATUS AND SAFETY RATING: Wayne Bennett (2025)
The greatest coach in the history of rugby league returns after a one-year break from the fulltime NRL furnace.
After leading South Sydney to the 2021 grand final, Bennett has spent the past 12 months helping the Dolphins put a long-term plan together for sustained success in the NRL.
He is refreshed after moving back to his farm in rural Queensland from Sydney and will head into 2023 with a point to prove given the Dolphins have been written off by many and rated wooden spoon chances.
The only thing Bennett likes more than winning is proving people wrong and he will lead the Dolphins into their inaugural NRL season with a fire in his belly. Even if they don’t win a game and collect the wooden spoon, there is no way Bennett will be sacked, which means he could be the safest coach in the game.
Safety rating: A
LIKELY DEBUTANTS
The Dolphins have been criticised for their recruitment strategy around signing mostly experienced older players and fringe first graders from rival clubs. But they have also nabbed some of the game’s hottest young prospects.
Penrith product Isaiya Katoa is already a Tongan Test player without having made his NRL debut. Katoa is rated one of the best young players to come out of Penrith and has a bright future ahead of him.
He is unlikely to start the season in first grade but should make his debut at some point in 2023.
The Dolphins have also picked up under-19s NSW Origin centre Jack Bostock and young hooker Harrison Graham, who has drawn comparisons with Harry Grant.
Penrith youngster Mason Teague will go straight into the top-30 squad out of school and is another bright prospect. Despite fielding many experienced NRL players, Bennett should get the chance to hand out his fair share of first grade debuts next year.
WHO TAKES THE NEXT STEP?
All eyes will be on the Dolphins next year for a number of reasons. Have their experienced signings like the Bromwich brothers and Felise Kaufusi still got more life left in them or have the Dolphins become a retirement home?
Can Anthony Milford rediscover his best form under old coach Wayne Bennett? Will the fringe first graders like Brenko Lee and Robert Jennings blossom into NRL regulars, or has the Dolphins’ strategy backfired? Which of the Dolphins’ boom youngsters will become an NRL rising star? There are plenty of potentials for the Dolphins and it’s up to Bennett to get the best out of his squad.
If the Dolphins don’t rise to the challenge and improve across the park, it could be a long year.
THE THREE BURNING ISSUES
1. Will the Doplhins flop?
That is the biggest question facing the NRL’s new boys. On the back of massive Covid disruptions, the NRL rushed to introduce the Dolphins for the 2023 season and gave them just 12 months to get ready for their launch.
While they have fared well off the field by compiling a strong sponsorship base and corporate support, the Dolphins haven’t had enough time to put together a quality playing roster – arguably the most important part of a club.
They are up against it and need some sort of immediate success to create a strong supporter base.
2. Has Bennett still got it?
It has been a long time since Wayne Bennett spent a season on the sidelines – probably around 40 years.
After leading South Sydney to the 2021 grand final, where they lost to Penrith, Bennett sat out the 2022 season to put the Dolphins together.
While he has won seven titles, it has been nearly 13 years since Bennett led the Dragons to what was his last premiership. He has lost two grand finals (Broncos 2015, Rabbitohs 2021) in that time.
The Dolphins couldn’t have picked a more experienced coach to launch the club and now he has to prove that he still has the Midas touch at 73.
3. Can the Dolphins sign a superstar?
The biggest talking point of the Dolphins’ launch has been the club’s inability to sign a genuine marquee player.
Despite having a clean salary cap, and making huge bids for the likes of Cameron Munster, Brandon Smith and Kalyn Ponga, the Dolphins failed to land a big fish.
They are now looking for a superstar to head their 2024 campaign and prospective fans may start to go cold on the Dolphins if they aren’t winning and don’t secure a big-name player that pulls crowds.
CRYSTAL BALL
The Dolphins will surprise many and be a competitive team in 2023 that could finish just out of finals contention. While they lack the star power to challenge for the premiership, the Dolphins come into the NRL with a clean slate and Wayne Bennett will have them playing for each other.
2023 ODDS
Premiership: $67
Minor premiership: $201
To make grand final: $29
Top four: $9
Top eight: $7.50
Most losses: $2.75
THE ROOKIE GUNS THAT CAN PUSH COWBOYS TO NEXT LEVEL
By Peter Badel
After a breakout season in 2022, where coach Todd Payten’s long-term goals for the Cowboys appeared to fall into place, there’s plenty of optimism in Townsville.
Boasting some of the game’s brightest talents, a fearsome forward pack and experienced halves, the Cowboys are one team who know who they are - and what they need to do to go a couple of steps better next year.
Peter Badel goes through everything you need to know about the Cowboys in our exclusive club-by-club deep dive series ahead of the 2023 season.
2022 Rich 100 reps: 6
Jason Taumalolo (15, $900k), Valentine Holmes (18, $875k), Jordan McLean (36, $750k), Chad Townsend (44, $710k), Luciano Leilua (74, $600k), Coen Hess (84, $550k)
FREE AGENCY WRAP
Stability is the key for the Cowboys, who have only added a sprinkling of new faces following their fairytale charge to the preliminary final last season. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. But fresh blood is never a bad thing and the signing of James Tamou, who returns to Townsville for a career swansong at age 33 after six years away, will add some premiership knowhow to the Cowboys pack. Jack Gosiewski (Dragons) adds depth to the back row with Heilum Luki (ACL injury) and Luciano Leilua (off-field issues) set to miss the start of the season. The Cowboys have lost two key squad members in Origin firebrand Tom Gilbert and speed machine Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to the Dolphins. Gilbert, in particular, will be a huge loss. The Cowboys have a whopping 15 players off-contract next season, including rising superstar Jeremiah Nanai, who will command huge offers from rival clubs.
RATING: C
COACH STATUS
Todd Payten was originally off-contract next season but is in the advanced stages of brokering a three-year extension, sweet reward for North Queensland’s outstanding revival in 2022. The Cowboys’ shock charge to the top four last season saw Payten hailed as one of the rising stars of the NRL coaching ranks. After a difficult first season replacing Paul Green in 2021, Payten kept faith in his methods and he was vindicated as Cowboys players responded to the harder mental edge he drove in defence. Cowboys hierarchy believe Payten can deliver the club’s second premiership. There is no coach safer in 2023 than Payten.
SAFETY RATING: A
LIKELY DEBUTANT
Riley Price and Taniela Sadrugu. The Cowboys blooded a host of young guns last season and there is more to roll off the production line in Price and Sadrugu. The former is the son of Queensland Origin and Bulldogs legend Steve Price and like his old man, the 21-year-old Riley has impressed with his work ethic and ability to play prop or second row. Sadrugu is a powerfully-built centre or winger who joined the Cowboys last year after defecting from Fijian rugby union. He turned out for Fiji at the World Cup and after scoring seven tries from 15 games for feeder-club Townsville in the Queensland Cup this year, the 24-year-old is keen to make his mark in the NRL.
Who takes the next step: Tom Dearden has only scratched the surface of his talent. The 21-year-old endured two turbulent years at the Broncos but his move to North Queensland has helped Dearden rebuild his game and confidence. In 2022, Payten’s faith in Dearden was vindicated as the Broncos discard flourished as Chad Townsend’s halves partner and was rewarded with his Queensland Origin debut. Dearden brained the Blues to inspire the Maroons’ win in the Suncorp decider and will be a key man in the Cowboys’ premiership assault.
THREE BURNING ISSUES
1. ARE THEY THE REAL DEAL?
The Cowboys shocked the league in 2022 but they will fool nobody next season and there will be enormous expectation on Payten’s troops to fire again. Given that they made the preliminary final this year, anything less than a grand-final appearance in 2023 will be seen as a form of regression.
2. CAN CAPTAIN CHAD SURVIVE?
Former Sharks halfback Chad Townsend was one of the buys of the 2022 season but he will be 32 when the new premiership kicks off. Veterans in their 30s can lose their mojo in the blink of an eye in the NRL and the Cowboys will be hoping Townsend continues to sidestep Father Time. The co-captain enters the second season of a three-year deal and is renowned for his professionalism, so Townsend will be hungry to add to the premiership ring he won at Cronulla in 2016.
3. WILL THE COWBOYS KEEP ‘JUMPING JEREMIAH’?
The classy Nanai is arguably the best teenage forward prospect in the code, but he is off-contract next season and that rings alarm bells for the Cowboys. After 17 tries in a remarkable first full season, Nanai can name his price and NRL rivals are already dangling the carrot with offers upwards of $800,000 a season. Securing the Queensland Origin sensation to a long-term deal can help set up a premiership dynasty for the Cowboys.
CRYSTAL BALL
You get the feeling this Cowboys team is only just getting started. They have a great fusion of youth and experience and in Payten, the Cowboys have a coach capable of taking North Queensland to the promised land. They should be aiming for the top four in 2023 and if they stay fit, a grand-final appearance is not beyond them.
FINISH FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS
2022: 3rd (eliminated in third week of finals)
2021: 15th
2020: 14th
2019: 13th
2018: 15th
2023 ODDS
Premiership: $11
Minor premiership: $13
To make grand final: $5.50
Top four: $2.40
Top eight: $1.35
Most losses: $81
Originally published as NRL 2023 club deep dive: Gold Coast Titans free agency wrap, top eight chances, crystal ball
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