Titans’ Foundation a base for success
FOUNDATION Titan Preston Campbell detects a strong recipe for success at the Gold Coast, believing the club’s investment in the community will be repaid with support that could prove the catalyst for a maiden premiership.
Campbell, the Titans’ first signing ahead of their 2007 NRL entry, was a talisman for the club in his 103 games.
But it is his off-field heroics that will be best remembered – from the idea that led to the Indigenous All Stars carnival, to the community work that led to the formation of the Preston Campbell Foundation that still helps indigenous Australians.
Campbell believes a commitment to both is necessary to build a truly successful club and that’s why yesterday’s launch of the Titans’ Community Foundation has him convinced the club is on a fast-track to success.
“They don’t have a leagues club, the Gold Coast Titans, but they can survive by having
community (behind them),” Campbell said.
“I think the community of the Gold Coast and surrounding areas need to understand that the Gold Coast (NRL club) survives because of them.
“The Community Foundation is that bit of giving back. The more the community can embrace the Titans, (the more) they’ll be successful as a footy team.
“A premiership wouldn’t be too far away if the community had that same passion about the Titans working in the community that they did (for them) on the field.”
While they have been regarded as NRL battlers in some areas, the Titans are leaders in community work.
The new Community Foundation will build on that, running in partnership with the Australian Sports Foundation to build on community support in its key pillars of health and wellbeing, respect and responsibility and education and skills.
The Foundation was launched at Mudgeeraba Special School yesterday, featuring a video starring Ethan Sloane, a member of the Touch Football Specialised program, who has become a fixture at the club.
The teen, who will feature in a match at halftime of the Titans’ clash against the Cowboys in Round 25, said he loved being around the club.
“Koni Hurrell, Ash Taylor, Ryan James, Karl Lawton, Jarrod Wallace,” Sloane said as he named players he now counts as mates.