MIRACLE WORKER

Knowles setting Gold Coast on new fitness path

TITANS TAKING LUCK OUT OF INJURIES

RECRUITED Gold Coast conditioning guru Hayden Knowles does not believe the NRL club’s injury crisis last season was “all bad luck” and has set about avoiding a repeat.

The Titans were regularly stretched to the limit this year as injuries swept the squad, forcing then coach Neil Henry to cycle through 34 players, including 10 NRL debutants.

On more than one occasion, they were not even able to name 21 fit players for their preliminary team list.

The overflowing casualty ward contributed to the team’s slump to 15th place and Knowles is determined to make his mark as part of Gold Coast’s new regimen led by Garth Brennan.

“I’m not going to come here and point fingers anywhere,” Knowles said.

“(But) I’m not a believer in that it’s all bad luck.”

Knowles has set a clear mantra for Gold Coast players to follow.

“I have just said we’ll be respecting the game by not taking a shortcut anywhere and usually if you respect the game by working hard on all those little things, usually the game pays you back,” he said.

A number of players remain on restricted duties after offseason surgeries.

Among those to have gone under the knife are Anthony Don (shoulder), Jarrod Wallace (shoulder, groin), Ryan James (ankle), Ash Taylor (shoulder, ankle) and Nathan Peats (shoulder).

Nonetheless, plenty have shone in the opening month of the pre-season.

Knowles hailed Kevin Proctor and Dale Copley as “true pros” while adding recruits including Jai Arrow, Mitch Rein and Brendan Elliot had made a strong first impression.

“Nathan Peats, I already knew how competitive he was and he has just been itching to compete,” he said.

“We have got a young guy Moeaki (Fotuaika), he has blown me away on a daily basis. He’s only just turned 18.”