HASLER-TOUGH TITANS
NEW COACH TO LIFT GOLD COAST RESILIENCE
A pair of NRL premiership winners are backing Des Hasler to toughen up the Titans and harden their “soft underbelly”, which they say has cost the side success for years.
Hasler was a shock choice to replace Justin Holbrook on the Gold Coast, but the veteran coach has been hired to instil a culture of resilience, which the club has sorely lacked.
The Titans have never struggled to score points but they’ve developed a deserved reputation for giving up leads like no other side in the NRL. Enter Hasler.
The man they call the “Mad Scientist” whose reputation precedes him as a no-nonsense coach who refuses to tolerate mediocrity from his players.
Since their inception in 2007, the Titans have never made a preliminary final and Hasler’s appointment is about making a deep finals run.
Hasler has one of the highest winning rates of active coaches at 56 per cent of his 458 NRL games and he’s made five grand finals – 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012 and 2014.
The former halfback, who turns 63 next week, won two premierships as a player and another two as a coach, in 2008 and 2011, all at Manly.
“The Titans have always had a team that was capable of playing semi-final football, the problem they’ve always struggled with is having some resilience through tough times,” NRL great Corey Parker told foxsports.com.au.
“Statistically, I think they were one of the better attacking teams throughout the competition, they just can’t defend.
“So what does Des bring? He brings resilience, he brings experience, he brings a hard edge, he brings premierships, he brings all that.
“I’ve got no doubt he’ll be focusing more on the finer details of what they’re not so good at as opposed to what they’re very good at because we’ve seen the Titans and the game they had last year when they had a 26point lead against the Dolphins and lost.
“That happened far too often for the Titans, so resilience is going to be their big work-on because there’s an argument that they’ve got a soft underbelly and when the blowtorch hits them they can crumble.
“We saw a couple of years ago when they made the finals, they showed they can play footy and they can play a really good brand. It’s just their inability to defend strong teams for long periods of time.”
Gorden Tallis played against Hasler and said he believed his competitive drive was second to none.
“I think from playi n g against
Dessy and watching him coach, he just brings a competitive edge that only Dessy brings, right,” Tallis said.
“Dessy was a real resilient player that got a lot out of his talent and normally coach’s mirror their careers and he had an unbelievable career.
“They got Kieran Foran, which straightened them last year and got them the experience in the halves, and the forward pack is hardworking and tough.”
STRENGTH
The pack
Titans skipper Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and backrower David Fifita are two of the most destructive forwards in the NRL.
They’ve put their contract sagas behind them and vowed to focus on improving under Hasler after both signed longterm extensions.
Throw in second-rower Beau Fermor, front-rower Keenan Palasia and hooker Sam Verrills and Gold Coast has one of the most dynamic packs in the competition.
IT’S A BIG YEAR FOR
Jayden Campbell and Beau Fermor
Campbell looks set to be given first crack in the No. 1 jersey after pipping rising star Keano Kini, while AJ Brimson will play in the centres.
The Titans are reportedly worried Campbell, who is signed until for 2026, could leave if he does not get regular starting minutes.
The son of rugby league icon Preston Campbell has played 28 of his 43 NRL matches at fullback, but was picked on the bench several times last season.
Beau Fermor was selected in Queensland’s squad in 2022 before an knee injury this time last year ended his 2023 season before it started.
The edge backrower is determined to get himself back in the Origin conversation and he was named in Billy Slater’s 34man pre-season Maroons squad this month.
“Beau Fermor was knocking on the Origin door then did his ACL,” Parker said.
“There are some really good things to like about the Titans but I think collectively as a group they need to improve their resilience.”
WHO’S UNDER PRESSURE
The halves
Kieran Foran was brought in last season to provide a cool head in the big moments, but he played in just seven wins.
Foran missed several games with lingering injuries as the club struggled to find the veteran a regular halves partner.
Tanah Boyd, Tom Weaver and Toby Sexton all got cracks at halfback but none were able to cement their spot, and the latter left for the Bulldogs.
Boyd will wear the No. 7 jersey in the Titans’ season opener but he’ll be under pressure, alongside Foran, to deliver for Hasler from the get-go.
“Let’s be fair, and I’m mates with Foz, if he can stay on the field for 27 rounds I would be hugely surprised,” Parker said.
“So if you want to pin all hopes on Foz then you’re probably doing it the wrong way. He brings wonderful experience and toughness but his body isn’t getting any younger and he struggled throughout parts of last year.”
THE RISING STAR
Alofiana Khan-Pereira
The Titans fastest player proved an excitement machine in a stellar rookie season last year, scoring 20 tries in 23 appearances.
Remarkably, it saw KhanPereira become the first player in the club’s history to score 20 tries in a season.
The 22-year-old winger was then selected in Australia’s PM’s XIII and scored another try in a 30-18 victory over the PNG PM’s XIII.
If Khan-Pereira can pick up where he left off in 2024 then plenty more tries, and further representative honours await.
THE UNLUCKY ONES
Jaimin Jolliffe and Harley Smith-Shields
Keenan Palasia’s arrival from Brisbane likely cost Jolliffe his spot in the 17 after his injury-ravaged 2024.
Jolliffe was restricted to just nine games in 2023 after rupturing his pec early in the season and then fracturing his hand in round 19.
Smith-Shields moved up from Canberra in pursuit of more NRL minutes after making 15 appearances in four seasons at the Raiders.
But the 24-year-old outside back now finds himself competing for a spot in one of the most exciting young back lines in the NRL.
Smith-Shields is battling Jayden Campbell, Alofiana Khan-Pereira, AJ Brimson, Brian Kelly, Phillip Sami and Keano Kini for game time.