Coast’s turnaround offers blueprint to Cowboys, Broncos
IT has been a season to forget for the Cowboys and Broncos but former premiership winner Ben Hannant said the powerhouse clubs could take a leaf out of the typical Queensland strugglers’ book for how rapidly rejuvenation can occur.
Rugby league in the Sunshine State has entered foreign territory, with no side to feature in finals football for the first time since 1991. But in the Gold Coast Titans, Hannant sees a framework for how the light can shine through the tunnel in quick time.
The Glitter Strip club has, in some ways, been the surprise packet of the NRL season, jumping up the ladder to be just outside the top eight after four wins in its past five games.
New coach Justin Holbrook’s influence took time to rub off on the players but now they are playing far from the brand of football that made them regular cellar dwellers in the past.
And Hannant, who won titles with both North Queensland and Brisbane, said they could look to their “younger brother” for inspiration.
“You saw how bad the Titans were last year, and they’ve invested in a new coach who has had success and is leading the way with the style of football he’s got his team playing,” Hannant said. “Look how quick things can turn in 12 months.
“The Titans have recruited really well, and players want to go play under him (Holbrook).”
Hannant said it took leadership, direction and accountability to be a title threat.
For the Cowboys, he sees incoming coach Todd Payten as the man to establish those elements in the squad and bring out the best in a team brimming with talent but lacking execution.
Hannant worked under Payten when the former Wests Tiger was an assistant under Paul Green in Townsville in 2015, and said his impact was crucial in their premiership victory.
“(Payten’s) got great man management skills,” Hannant said. “He’s got an innovative style of training techniques, he’s very smart and thinks outside the box.
“He’s that new style of coach coming through.”