Why Garth pulled the right rein on Wallace
YESTERDAY was the day the power officially shifted hands at the Gold Coast Titans.
Last August, that dreaded phrase “player power” reigned supreme.
All signs pointed to marquee player Jarryd Hayne squaring off with then coach Neil Henry after a well-documented falling out, and subsequent stories followed with players reportedly not wanting to line up under the mentor.
After a drawn-out saga – and despite the wishes of many fans – it was the coach that took the bullet, as so often is the case in the NRL world.
Here, Garth Brennan got on the front foot and showed exactly who is boss, and in a welcome sign of the Titans’ newfound direction, he appeared to have full backing.
Brennan laid down the law to his leading Origin player, Jarrod Wallace, and gave him a strict deadline to sign a rich deal to keep him at Parkwood until the end of 2022.
It was a bold ultimatum by the first-year NRL coach and one which ultimately paid off handsomely, with the Runaway Bay junior agreeing to terms to lock in a crucial piece of Gold Coast’s long-term roster puzzle.
It also marked a sign of what is to come: Show me that you want to be a Gold Coast Titan or move on.
There’s no room for anything in between.
Many players are coming off-contract and have already been challenged to make an irresistible case to stay relevant as Brennan puts his own spin on the club’s roster.
It’s the sort of strong sentiment and leadership that can eventually bring the Titans out of their rut and return them to being a finals force once more.