{"id":493857,"date":"2026-03-05T22:00:01","date_gmt":"2026-03-05T23:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=493857"},"modified":"2026-03-06T00:23:26","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T00:23:26","slug":"cruel-blow-threatens-to-derail-titans-on-eve-of-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=493857","title":{"rendered":"'Cruel blow' threatens to derail Titans on eve of season"},"content":{"rendered":"

Josh Hannay hasn't mucked around in his first NRL<\/a> gig, giving the Titans<\/a> roster an almighty shake-up as he attempts to find that elusive winning formula.<\/p>\n

Gold Coast have had more comings and goings than just about any team over the summer – and few can argue with Hannay's move after the club narrowly avoided the wooden spoon last season.<\/p>\n

Although debuting as an NRL head coach, Hannay has served an excellent apprenticeship at both NRL and State of Origin<\/a> level and appears the right man for the job.<\/p>\n

READ MORE\ufeff:<\/strong> Eels shellshocked as Storm rack up 52 in thumping<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> Former teammates clash as Swans rout Blues at SCG<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\ufeffREAD MORE:<\/strong> Matildas beat Iran, but it could have been by more<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

There's so much talent in the Titans' ranks, they score some fine tries – but they struggle to put rival teams away and stay in the contest for 80 minutes.<\/p>\n

The backline oozes speed and the Titans are as quick as any team in the NRL across the turf.<\/p>\n

Throw young PNG sensation Cooper Bai – a red-hot prospect – into the mix and the tries could be flowing in 2026.<\/p>\n

AJ Brimson, Keano Kini, and Jayden Campbell are all world-class playmakers and have the ability to make breaks themselves and set up their outside men.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Campbell is fast developing into an elite No.7 but his hamstring injury this week is a cruel blow.<\/p>\n

The club has signed players more for depth than to make the starting 17, with only winger Max Feagai and Kurtis Morrin likely to be regulars in the opening rounds.<\/p>\n

Halfback Lachlan Ilias, at his third club in as many years, will get a chance at some stage and could be a handy acquisition.<\/p>\n

With Kieran Foran retired<\/a>, a cool head is required to lead the team around the paddock and Campbell, Brimson and Ilias will all be vying for the job.<\/p>\n

The formidable duo of Tino Fa'asuamaleaui<\/a> and Beau Fermor are the key men in the forwards and if the rest of the big men follow their lead, the Titans could cause some surprises.<\/p>\n

2026 gains<\/strong>: Max Feagai (The Dolphins, 2027), Lachlan Ilias (St George Illawarra Dragons, 2027), Kurtis Morrin (Canterbury Bulldogs, 2027), Oliver Pascoe (2027), Luke Sommerton (Penrith Panthers, 2027), Jensen Taumoepeau (2027)<\/p>\n

Watch the 2026 NRL season live and free on Nine and<\/strong><\/em> 9Now<\/strong><\/em><\/a>.\ufeff<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\"Brimson<\/p>\n

2026 losses<\/strong>: Reagan Campbell-Gillard (London Broncos), Iszac Fa'asuamaleaui (Catalans Dragons), David Fifita (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Kieran Foran (retired), Carter Gordon (rugby union), Brian Kelly (Parramatta Eels), Alofiana Khan-Pereira (New Zealand Warriors), Ken Maumalo (retired), Sean Mullany (Mackay Cutters), Josiah Pahulu (Melbourne Storm), Sam Stephenson (retired), Thomas Weaver (Castleford Tigers)<\/p>\n

Best buy<\/strong>: Kurtis Morrin seems the ideal No.14, fills several positions and comes from a good culture at the Bulldogs.<\/p>\n

It's a big season for<\/strong>: Jayden Campbell, who will have to really step up as a playmaker following the retirement of wily halfback Kieran Foran.<\/p>\n

Biggest question mark<\/strong>: Can Hannay change the culture of the Titans in his first season and get the players focussed on winning games and away from the nightclubs on the glitter strip?<\/p>\n

Finish last year<\/strong>: 16th<\/p>\n

Predicted finish<\/strong>: 17th<\/p>\n

Best 19 man squad<\/h3>\n

1. Keano Kini<\/p>\n

2. Max Feagai<\/p>\n

3. Phillip Sami<\/p>\n

4. Tony Francis<\/p>\n

5. Jojo Fifita<\/p>\n

6. AJ Brimson<\/p>\n

7. Jayden Campbell<\/p>\n

8. Moeaki Fotuaika<\/p>\n

9. Sam Verrills<\/p>\n

10. Jaimin Jolliffe<\/p>\n

11. Kurtis Morrin<\/p>\n

12. Beau Fermor<\/p>\n

13. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui<\/p>\n

Interchange<\/em><\/p>\n

14. Chris Randall<\/p>\n

15. Arama Hau<\/p>\n

16. Keenan Palasia<\/p>\n

17. Klese Haas<\/p>\n

18. Luke Sommerton<\/p>\n

19. Lachlan Ilias<\/p>\n

Odds to win comp<\/strong>: $51<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Josh Hannay hasn't mucked around in his first NRL gig, giving the Titans roster an almighty shake-up as he attempts to find that elusive winning […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":493859,"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\/493857"}],"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=493857"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/493857\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":493862,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/493857\/revisions\/493862"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/493859"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=493857"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=493857"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=493857"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}