NRL 2024: Des Hasler to kick off Gold Coast Titans era with brutal pre-season

Strap yourselves in. Des Hasler is poised to bring a new level of pain to the Titans, putting Gold Coast players on notice with a cryptic pre-season clue. Plus, a first-look at the club’s 2024 jersey.

Des Hasler has issued a cryptic message to Titans players as he prepares to launch the most gruelling pre-season in Gold Coast’s 17-year history.

The Titans will officially launch the Hasler era on Friday when they unveil their new coach, 2024 NRL season playing kit and a new principal partner – The Lottery Office.

But Titans players won’t be celebrating any jackpots when they hit the training paddock on Monday for the start of pre-season training.

After replacing sacked coach Justin Holbrook, Hasler has commissioned a renovation of the club’s Parkwood headquarters in a bid to turn the Titans into a title force.

The two-time premiership-winner with Manly has had a purpose built wrestling and training tent constructed, nicknamed ‘Des’ Dojo’, and is expected to put the Titans through a taxing four months of training before the 2024 season kicks off in March.

New Titans coach Des Hasler.

When asked what he had in store for the Titans, Hasler offered a vague response.

“Just a bit of this and a bit of that,” he said with a laugh.

“I’m not going to give too much away.

“We’ve got a stack of time to work through things.”

The first task on Hasler’s to-do list should be to fix one of the worst defensive records in the NRL.

Over the past two seasons, in which the Titans have registered back-to-back bottom four finishes, they have conceded 1303 points at an average of 27 per game.

The Titans leaked 650 points in 2022 and backed it up with 653 points this year, prompting club powerbrokers to secretly sign Hasler before sacking Holbrook after three-and-a-half seasons in charge.

In contrast, three-time premiers Penrith only conceded 312 points at 13 per game this year.

Hasler, 62, said he would analyse the team’s defensive systems throughout the pre-season after recruiting former Sea Eagles lieutenant Michael Monaghan to join incumbent assistants Jim Lenihan and Brett White.

Titans players Sam Verrills and Joe Stimson model the 2024 jersey. Picture: Supplied

“We will pour through that,” he said.

“Sometimes it’s not the defence, it’s more the lapses of concentration that comes back to each player.

“We’ve got to get through the pre-season and I’ll have a really good look in the first couple of weeks.

“I’ve identified some areas we want to be a little stronger in around being more consistent.

“It’s about the consistency in performances. It’s about working on the individual parts of our game and our capabilities.

“It’s too early to go making wild predictions. It’s about making ourselves better.”

While a group of mostly younger players will report for training next week, Hasler will have the bulk of his squad on deck from November 13, giving him plenty of time to make improvements.

Star backrower David Fifita is on the comeback from minor surgery but won’t miss much full training while fullbacks Jayden Campbell and AJ Brimson will begin training early in the piece.

David Fifita is returning from knee surgery. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Titans CEO Steve Mitchell said he was thrilled to have The Lottery Office join the club, with former principal partners MyPayNow reverting to a lower level of sponsorship.

“It’s a pivotal time in our club’s journey, and we believe the next few years that our audiences and engagement levels will be the highest the Titans have ever seen,” he said.

“With Des Hasler leading our NRL side in 2024 and Karyn Murphy looking to build on a grand final appearance this season with our NRLW program, we believe The Lottery Office have joined us at a very exciting time.”

Originally published as NRL 2024: Des Hasler to kick off Gold Coast Titans era with brutal pre-season