IF TITANS TOOK PART...

GOLD COAST’S NRL SIDE MAY TAKE A BACKSEAT IN THE COMING WEEKS BUT CONNOR O’BRIEN EMPLOYED THE CLUB’S HEAD OF PERFORMANCE HAYDEN KNOWLES TO HYPOTHESISE WHICH PLAYERS COULD TAKE PART IN THE GAMES

100M SPRINT: PHILLIP SAMI

Speedy winger Sami even put himself forward to the Bulletin jokingly for the blue-riband event and he is not alone. “He is an excitement machine, would have the swagger of a 100m runner and would probably run with a smile on his face like the great Usain Bolt,” Knowles said of the 20-year-old.

BEACH VOLLEYBALL: JARROD WALLACE

Wallace is up there with Hurrell as a class clown at Parkwood and he has been nominated to be an excitement machine on the sand.

“Loves getting in his budgie’s and throws his body on the line,” Knowles assessed.

GYMNASTICS: ASH TAYLOR

Taylor’s natural talents are not limited to footy. “He turned up for the first session at Jummps (trampoline) centre at Parkwood and casually and easily just runs into a round off into a backflip straight back into a front flip and sticks the landing,” Knowles said.

BOXING: KONRAD HURRELL

Gold Coast have spent plenty of time in recent months with the gloves on in the gym and the barnstorming centre has made the biggest impression of all.

Knowles praised Hurrell’s skill and “ridiculous power” – not to mention that he has the ticker of a true fighter.

DIVING: KEEGAN HIPGRAVE

The rookie forward could be a secret weapon off the 10m platform.

Knowles revealed he sky dives as a hobby.

SHOOTING: WILL MATTHEWS

Teammates refer to the Kyogle product as “Wolf Creek” for his looks and has developed quite the reputation for his hard hitting. Knowles believes it’s the perfect formula: “Doesn’t miss a target and looks the part for the shooting team.”

WEIGHTLIFTING: MITCH REIN

Was talked up in the preseason for his work in the gym and now has been put forward as the Titans’ man to do them proud in the weightlifting arena. Knowles referred to his excellent technique and labelled him “best in the team pound for pound”.

TABLE TENNIS: KEVIN PROCTOR

We hear he is well practised, having made full use of the club’s facilities at their Parkwood headquarters. “He is always on the table tennis table whenever I walk into the change rooms and he always seems to be winning,” Knowles said.

DISCUS: RYAN JAMES

The Titans skipper ticks all the boxes here.

“Has the right physique and arm span, powerful and athletic. Some of best athletes in the world are throwers and he fits this mould,” Knowles said.

BASKETBALL: BRYCE CARTWRIGHT

Could be a risky selection but we’re banking on his freakish talent.

“I haven’t seen him play but could put my house on it that he can,” Knowles declared.

TRIATHLON: MICHAEL GORDON

Age ain’t slowing him down. The fitness freak “never stops”, Knowles said. Say no more.

LAWN BOWLS: NATHAN PEATS

The hooker’s determination is second to none and he would simply refuse to fail, even on the lawn green.

“He is super competitive at absolutely everything so even a friendly game of lawn bowls down at the club he would not be beaten,” Knowles said.