Titans close to naming new CEO
THE Gold Coast Titans yesterday unveiled the biggest piece of their jigsaw in becoming a rugby league powerhouse.
Now they need to complete the picture – most notably a new boss and building a finalsbound football team.
Chairman Dennis Watt said the club was close to announcing a new CEO to replace Graham Annesley, who has taken up a top job with the NRL in Sydney.
“We are getting to the pointy end on the CEO search,” he confirmed.
“We have a Melbourne Cup field of high-quality candidates but we are very close to a decision now and alerting the successful candidate. Certainly in the next week or two, we should have an answer.”
All up, about 30 local, interstate and overseas candidates applied for Annesley’s position.
“It has been quite heartening, the sort of people who have put their hand up – successful businesspeople who have a passion for sport or rugby league in particular,” Watt said.
“They can see that the club is on the rise. They can see the ownership is very solid and has the right motives and are attracting the right people.”
The other high-priority area for the Titans is the completion of their roster rebuild to ensure off-field appointments trans- late into on-field results.
Coach Garth Brennan last year set about stamping his authority on the club’s list.
Homegrown young guns AJ Brimson and Moeaki Fotuaika became central cogs in the top 17; Englishman Joe Greenwood was among those to be shown the door; and a range of talented players were brought in with varying degrees of success.
Shannon Boyd, Tyrone Peachey and Tyrone Roberts lead the newest batch of recruits, with Brian Kelly also expected to sign in the coming days.
Multiple spots are still available in the club’s 2019 squad and recruitment is an area Mal Meninga’s presence as head of performance and culture is sure to boost.
As he puts it himself: “I guess I have got that profile … so why not use it?”
Brennan added: “He is the Australian coach, he’s watching every game, he is across every player in the NRL so when it comes to recruitment, he’s a massive tool for us.”