Des Hasler will take over as the Gold Coast Titans coach in 2024

The decision by the Gold Coast Titans to sack Justin Holbrook and sign Des Hasler blindsided a legend of the game who works at the club.

Gold Coast has dumped coach Justin Holbrook. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Gold Coast Titans senior advisor Mal Meninga could be the next big name out the door with the rugby league Immortal unsure about his future at the club after he was blindsided by the decision to sack coach Justin Holbrook.

The Titans dropped a bombshell with Des Hasler set to be their head coach next year after the club decided to part ways with Holbrook effective immediately.

The Titans are ninth heading into Round 17 and only sit outside the top eight on points differential, but the club decided it was time to move in a new direction based on their lack of finals footy since Holbrook took over.

Holbrook stepped in as coach in 2020 but has led his side to just one finals appearance when they were beaten 25-24 by the Roosters in 2021.

The decision came as a shock to everyone, but no one was as stunned as Meninga,who has been a Titans advisor for several years and was head of high performance and culture. He who only found out after the news broke.

“I didn’t know until today which disappoints me a little bit,” Meninga said on SEN.

“I feel ostracised a little bit.

Head of Performance and Culture at Titans, Mal Meninga (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

“The club rang me this morning and I don’t know how to feel about it to be honest.

“It’s a huge decision in the middle of the year and we are on the precipice of the finals.

“They made a decision based on the measurements they employed over the off-season around their defence.

“(The board) felt we needed to look at the bigger picture.

“Justin is a great person so I’m obviously feeling a little disappointed for him.

“I hope it doesn’t damage Justin’s reputation.”

The Titans have made a decision on the future of the club's head coaching position.https://t.co/DJ51sgKt51

— Gold Coast Titans (@GCTitans) June 22, 2023

Gold Coast’s defence has been a major issue this season with the Titans blowing half-time leads on five occasions, including a game against the Dolphins that saw them give up a 26-0 lead to somehow lose to the league’s newest franchise.

“We are grateful to Justin for his contribution to the club over the past four seasons,” Titans chief executive Steve Mitchell said just days out from their game against the Broncos.

“We are here to bring success to the Gold Coast and in order to do so we feel that this is the change necessary to deliver on our promise which is to win premierships.”

Hasler won’t take over immediately but will be in charge next year where he’s expected to toughen up their defence which features one of the best forward packs in the NRL.

The veteran coach won two premierships with the Sea Eagles and has been in charge of 458 NRL games, while it will be a reunion with five-eighth Kieran Foran who played under him at the Sea Eagles and was signed by Hasler to join the Bulldogs before the wily coach was sacked.

Hasler’s signing rules him out of the NSW job next year with Blues coach Brad Fittler expected to be sacked after game three in Sydney.

“I’m looking forward to joining the Titans and to the 2024 season,” Hasler said.

“The club has a strong playing roster, the region is blessed with emerging talent and the organisation is firmly embedded in the community.

“I’m confident we can deliver success to the region in the coming seasons.”

Originally published as Des Hasler will take over as the Gold Coast Titans coach in 2024