{"id":421018,"date":"2024-09-08T22:01:33","date_gmt":"2024-09-08T22:01:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=421018"},"modified":"2024-09-09T02:09:56","modified_gmt":"2024-09-09T02:09:56","slug":"enigma-plagues-titans-in-uninspiring-start-to-hasler-era","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=421018","title":{"rendered":"'Enigma' plagues Titans in uninspiring start to Hasler era"},"content":{"rendered":"

Gold Coast Titans:<\/strong> 2023 finish: 14th | 2024 finish: 14th<\/p>\n

The Titans<\/a> were an enigma in 2024. A brilliant attacking team bristling with speed and creativity that scored spectacular long-range tries week in, week out.<\/p>\n

Wingers Alofiana Khan-Pereira and Jojo Fifita scored a stunning 34 tries between them, showing just how open and entertaining attacking football the team played.<\/p>\n

\ufeffREAD MORE:<\/strong> Sinner reveals family heartache after US Open triumph<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> Wild Walters question posed by 'bumbling' Broncos loss<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> 'Get rid of it': Bennett unleashes after 'so wrong' Bunker call<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

But defence, normally the hallmark of Des Hasler teams, let the Titans down badly and they conceded over 650 points in 24 games.<\/p>\n

In the end, they finished fourth last – the identical position in which they ended their 2023 campaign.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

To be fair, injuries hit the team hard. Forward leader Tino Fa'asuamaleaui played just two games while key backs Jayden Campbell, AJ Brimson and Harley Smith-Shields missed large slices of the season.<\/p>\n

On the positive, Campbell came of age as a playmaker and is on the verge of becoming a genuine superstar like his illustrious dad Preston.<\/p>\n

Watch the 2024 NRL premiership live and free on Nine and<\/strong><\/em> 9Now<\/strong><\/em><\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Special mention must go to speed demon Khan-Pereira. To score 24 tries in a team that finished 14th is a real feat, and he becomes the first Titan to ever top the league's end-of-season try leaderboard.<\/p>\n

The Titans unearthed one of the best new faces of 2024 in fullback Keano Kini, a brilliant ball runner and crowd pleaser.<\/p>\n

\"Lightning-fast<\/p>\n

Brian Kelly enjoyed his best season in the centres, and in the forwards Chris Randall, Beau Fermor, Erin Clark, Sam Verrills and Moe Fotuaika all made solid contributions.<\/p>\n

Veteran Kieran Foran led the team well and while he has lost some of his pace off the mark, he remains quick between the ears.<\/p>\n

The club has done little in the way of recruitment or cleaning out for 2025, realising they already have the talent within to make an impact next season.<\/p>\n

Best player:<\/strong> Jayden Campbell is a very special attacking talent who will eventually captain the Titans, such is his maturity and leadership. Scored some spectacular tries, and set up many more.<\/p>\n

Needs to lift:<\/strong> David Fifita – the perennial enigma who can be a world-beater on his day but can also go missing when his team really needs him. Needs to find more consistency.<\/p>\n

\"David<\/p>\n

Key signing:<\/strong> Former Wallaby Carter Gordon is the only big signing for 2025 but the lively fly-half could be the long-term replacement for Foran at halfback. Has been training with the Titans since mid-season so should be ready for the code switch come March.<\/p>\n

2025 gains:<\/strong> Carter Gordon (rugby)<\/p>\n

2025 losses:<\/strong> Erin Clark, Isaac Liu (released)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Gold Coast Titans: 2023 finish: 14th | 2024 finish: 14th The Titans were an enigma in 2024. A brilliant attacking team bristling with speed and […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":320533,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/421018"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=421018"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/421018\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":421023,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/421018\/revisions\/421023"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/320533"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=421018"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=421018"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=421018"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}