COAST GUARD
Meninga warns Brisbane expansion could cripple Titans
MAROONS icon Mal Meninga has warned the NRL of the dangers of introducing a second Brisbane team to rival the Broncos, claiming a fourth Queensland side could threaten the survival of the Titans.
The push for Brisbane to receive another licence is gathering momentum with NRL boss Todd Greenberg, ARL Commission chairman Peter Beattie and Cowboys coach Paul Green all seeing merit in a fourth Queensland team.
But Meninga is prepared to go against the grain, with Gold Coast’s new performance and culture chief fearing expansion in southeast Queensland could hurt the Titans.
While Meninga can appreciate the merits of relocating a struggling Sydney team to the Sunshine State, the Australian coach says adding a team to challenge the Broncos can be dangerous.
“I wouldn’t start up a new Brisbane team unless they had considerable experience of players going there,” the NRL Immortal said.
“We have to be sensible (when considering expansion). The NRL can’t forget the Titans in Queensland.
“We are realistically the second team in the southeast corner, everyone is crying out for a second Brisbane team but we should be the legitimate option for Queensland kids and players that want to stay home.
“We already have two teams in that southeast Queensland corridor and bringing in another team can’t affect the Titans and the importance of that team to the NRL competition.”
Several consortia – led by Ipswich and the Brisbane Bombers – have previously formulated bids for a fourth Queensland licence, but Meninga is adamant the NRL cannot afford more teams.
“I see relocation as probably the best way forward,” he said. “At the moment, the competition is working really well. The 16 teams are competitive, so adding 17th and 18th teams would dilute the competition.”
QRL chairman Bruce Hatcher is adamant the Broncos can no longer enjoy an NRL monopoly.
“There has to be a second Brisbane team sooner rather than later,” he said.
“There are too many teams in Sydney so the answer is relocating one up here.”
TYRONE Peachey has overcome his concerns about moving to the Gold Coast and says he wants to lead the Titans to a breakthrough finals appearance in 2019.
Peachey will start in the centres when the Titans kick off their NRL premiership campaign against Canberra at Cbus Super Stadium on Sunday week.
The NSW Origin utility’s first NRL appearance for the Titans will come more than a year after he inked a threeyear deal with the Gold Coast to leave Penrith.
Peachey’s move to Queensland was far from smooth sailing.
His manager Sam Ayoub was involved in a public slanging match with former Titans CEO Graham Annesley when he tried to prise more money out of the club months after Peachey signed the $1.5 million contract.
The Titans played hardball, refusing the bump up Peachey’s salary and threatened to make him sit on the sidelines for three years if he did not honour the contract. The situation mellowed and Annesley left the club before Peachey arrived.
Peachey, 27, reported for pre-season training earlier than required and has settled into life on the Gold Coast.
“I’m loving it,” Peachey said. “I was always coming up. Ever since moving up, I’ve really enjoyed myself.
“I knew a few of the blokes up here and getting to know everyone over pre-season has been good.
“It’s a new chapter in my life. I can’t wait.”
Peachey left the Panthers after playing 109 games, including six finals matches over the past three seasons.
He arrived on the Gold Coast as an incumbent Origin player and toured with the Kangaroos last year without playing a Test.
The Titans haven’t played finals footy since 2016 and Peachey said it was his goal to lead the club into the playoffs.
“I wouldn’t mind making finals this year. We’ve got a pretty good team and we can do something special,” he said.
“I can’t wait to see how the team goes. I want to see where we’re at.”