Brennan ready to work
THE Titans will start the preseason with just one assistant coach as Garth Brennan takes a hands-on role with his team.
Gold Coast return to preseason training at Parkwood today, with new mentor Brennan assembling his squad – including new recruits Jai Arrow and Brenton Lawrence – at Parkwood.
The Titans will not start onfield training until tomorrow but Brennan intends to take a hands-on role as he gets to know his players.
“The message that they get, I’m comfortable that it’s coming out of my mouth and it’s explained the way I want it explained,” said Brennan, who will work with Craig Hodges.
“I’ll be very hands-on early in the part anyway.
“That doesn’t mean there won’t be a role at some point, maybe for someone who can fill that transitional coach between us and Burleigh and Tweed. That’ll depend on what I think is needed later down the track.”
Brennan said locking in his physical performance unit – trainer Hayden Knowles, his assistant Scott Campbell and head of health and medicine Craig Catterick – was his top priority.
“My physical performance unit is locked in, which was my priority,” Brennan said.
“Obviously going into preseason, that’s where most of the work’s done. At this stage, it’ll be myself and Craig Hodges but I’m not saying there won’t be someone brought in at some stage if the right person comes along.”
Brennan said having such a close role with the players would help him form a bond, something that helps him get the best out of his troops.
“Sitting back and watching and not talking to them, that’s not (what I’m about), I’m a control freak if anything and I want to be with the boys in the mix of it,” he said.
Brennan is looking forward to footy taking the focus after a torrid introduction to his Titans role with his first Jarryd Hayne drama surfacing last week when rumours emerged the star wanted to leave.
“That’s not something that I can control and someone told me a long time ago, if you’re worried about things you can’t control, it’s just wasted energy,” he said.
“Whether Jarryd’s going to be here or not going to be here, I cant’ worry about that. I’m focussed on the other 29 players in my squad that are coming back on Monday.”