Cole in box seat to snatch Luai’s jersey
The Des Hasler era of the Gold Coast Titans will kick off with a bunch of NRL no-names against one of the game’s most fearsome packs.
Hasler will sit in the Titans’ coaches’ box for the first time at Sunshine Coast Stadium on Sunday to watch his new club take the field against the Dolphins.
And he will give Titans fans a glimpse into the future of the Gold Coast in the first round of the NRL Pre-season Challenge.
Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett has named a near fullstrength team for the first NRL trial of the year, with only his injured and All Stars players missing.
That means NRL enforcers Tom Flegler, Felise Kaufusi and Tom Gilbert will start in a stacked forward pack that boasts 784 games of NRL experience to go with 19 Origins and 22 Tests.
On the other side of the field will stand a starting forward pack for the Titans that has never played an NRL game between the six of them.
Hasler has named fringe and developing players Luke Burton, Vaka Sikahele, Jordan Penquitt, Ryan Foran, Seth Nikotemo and Arama Hau to start for the Titans.
It’s sink or swim for the young Titans forwards against some of the NRL’s toughest players in Flegler, Kaufusi and Gilbert along with Mark Nicholls, Jeremy MarshallKing and Euan Aitken.
Hasler has kept his big guns on ice, with the likes of Tino Fa’suamaleaui, Moeaki Fotuaika, Beau Fermor and Sam Verrills set to play next Sunday against the Eels.
Not one player in Gold Coast’s starting 13 this weekend is likely to feature in the first round of the NRL season, but that will give emerging players a chance to shine against a star-studded Dolphins team. Rising fullback Jaylan De Groot said he was relishing the chance to pull on a Titans jersey.
“It’s been a rough preseason,” he said. “It’s been long and it’s been intense, but I think everyone’s just pretty happy for footy to be around.
“I’m pretty excited to get back into trial footy. The young boys don’t really get an opportunity to put that jersey on, so when we do, we know we’re going to cherish it and give it our best when we go out there. Everyone is pretty excited for it.”
After recording back-toback
TALE OF THE TAPE
DOLPHINS STARTING FORWARD PACK
TITANS STARTING FORWARD PACK bottom four finishes under former coach Justin Holbrook, the Titans started preseason training in November.
It’s been a tough threemonth slog to the trials and De Groot said Hasler had put his mark on the club.
“Des is really good,” he said. “He’s very intense in the way he does it, but I think it’s a good thing. He’ll tell you what he wants you to hear, is very vocal and clear. He’ll be very good for the future of this club and turning everyone around.
“Everyone is stoked with the way he’s going. He’s been very helpful this pre-season.”
Unheralded half Jack Cole is threatening to upstage some of his more experienced teammates by securing Jarome Luai’s coveted No.6 jersey as Penrith prepares to board a plane for England to play against Wigan in the World Club Challenge.
Cole, 20, who played his lone NRL game against North Queensland in round 25 of the 2022 season, has been a star in the Panthers’ NSW Cup side but has had to bide his time behind Luai when it comes to cracking the NRL.
His opportunity may now arrive on the other side of the globe as the Panthers prepare for Luai’s injury-enforced absence in England.
Brad Schneider and Daine Laurie are also believed to be under consideration to partner Nathan Cleary against Wigan but Cole may usurp both after playing a prominent role at training in the pre-season.
Cole had his contract upgraded and extended at the beginning of last year but his path to first grade has been blocked by Luai.
However, the NSW Origin star will miss the game against Wigan as he recovers from shoulder surgery.