OVERLOOKED ESE’ESE STILL HAS A ROLE
THE Titans insist Herman Ese’ese is part of their plans despite the Newcastle recruit failing to get a game in the NRL this year.
Ese’ese has been languishing in the Intrust Super Cup with Tweed after joining the Titans this season.
He was one of the club’s big signings along with Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and David Fifita but Ese’ese has found himself unable to crack Justin Holbrook’s top side.
Holbrook has opted to promote Tigers recruit Sam McIntyre from Tweed to replace the suspended Fa’asuamaleaui against the Rabbitohs at Cbus Super Stadium on Friday night.
Despite being in the reserves, the Titans insist Ese’ese has a future at the club and will come into calculations at some point during the taxing season.
He has been linked with a move to North Queensland but that is unlikely to happen at this stage.
Meanwhile, ARLC boss Peter V’landys has booked a Magic Round showdown with the Gold Coast Titans to settle the expansion debate.
V’landys will spend the lead-up to Magic Round in Brisbane on May 14-16 meeting clubs along with NRL CEO Andrew Abdo.
And the meeting with the Titans promises to be an explosive one as a decision on expansion edges closer.
While they will not say it publicly – the Titans are opposed to expansion and the introduction of a 17th NRL club in Brisbane from 2023.
A new club in southeast Queensland will be a direct threat to the Titans, who have just only got back on their feet following years of on and off-field struggles.
The Titans are so sceptical about expansion they have commissioned, with the financial support of most other clubs, an independent report into the merits of a new team in the NRL.
Gold Coast officials want to see proof that expansion will benefit the game before they change their minds.
Key figures believe the NRL could spend money in other parts of the game.
V’landys and Abdo have promised a decision on expansion will be made by July and the clubs want to see factual evidence that it is the right move for the game.