Rookie roster rocks Titans

HERE are the remarkable numbers that have Gold Coast’s season on the ropes.

The Titans have blooded 15 club debutants in 15 games this season – almost double any other NRL side’s tally – as injuries and a high roster turnover have taken effect.

Of those, eight had never tasted first grade before.

Jamal Fogarty last week became the latest addition to the list, joining Morgan Boyle, Tyler Cornish, Dale Copley, Joe Greenwood, Chris Grevsmuhl, Max King, Pat Politoni, Kevin Proctor, Tyronne Roberts-Davis, Phillip Sami, Dan Sarginson, Paterika Vaivai, Daniel Vidot and Jarrod Wallace.

Former Titans football manager Scott Sattler said the deluge of new faces has had a “destabilising” impact on Neil Henry’s team.

“It’s destabilising to any club – it would be destabilising to (even competition leaders) the Melbourne Storm,” said Sattler, who was shocked by the high number.

“Admittedly they do seem to find their feet really early, the Melbourne players, but it would still upset their rhythm.

“With the Gold Coast Titans, it has obviously affected their rhythm and their flow.”

Sattler, however, believes the situation can be turned into a case of short-term pain, long-term gain.

“What it does do is it starts planting the seeds for year two, year three, year four down the track,” said the former Queensland Origin back-rower.

“If they are able to retain a lot of those debutants that have shown that they can take the next step up, we have got to look at it as a positive progressive tool that every club has to be confronted by at some stage.”

Henry echoed those sentiments.

“What it does for the future, it sets us up for some good young players that will get some experience this year,” Henry said.

Sattler has particularly been impressed by what rookies such as Fogarty and King have brought to the table.

“I am a massive fan of Jamal Fogarty’s and always have been,” he said.

“I can’t understand why Parramatta never gave him a shot down there.”

There are no new faces in the Titans’ 21-man squad to face St George Illawarra at Robina tomorrow night.