HASLER TO TEST BEST TITANS
Klese Haas will be given first crack at replacing Queensland star David Fifita after new Gold Coast coach Des Hasler named his best Titans team.
Haas will start in the back row alongside returning Maroons hopeful Beau Fermor in Gold Coast’s final NRL Preseason Challenge trial against Parramatta on Sunday.
The younger brother of Broncos superstar Payne Haas, Klese made his NRL debut for the Titans in 2022 and has featured 17 times in the top grade.
Now he can cement more first-grade appearances with a strong performance against the Eels at North Ipswich Reserve following the Titans’ promising first-up performance in their trials loss to the Dolphins last weekend.
Fifita was expected to miss at least the first four rounds of the 2024 NRL Premiership as he continued his return from a torn pectoral muscle he suffered in December.
The reigning Dally M second rower of the year is a major loss for Hasler as he kicks off his first season in charge of the Titans.
While Fifita will be missing, Fermor returns from a year on the sidelines against the Eels.
Fermor’s last match was a trial against the Dolphins on February 19 last year before he badly injured his knee at training, which ruled him out of the entire 2023 premiership.
“It’s pretty much 12 months to the day since I last played footy,” Fermor said.
“Hopefully I still remember how to do it.
“I’m really looking forward to it. I’ve been itching to play for six months and hopefully I can hit the ground running and start really well.
“It’s been a long 12 months and I want to fast forward to Sunday because I’m really excited to be back out there.
“The knee has been 100 per cent since before Christmas so I’ve had two months of full training in everything.
“We’ve been doing pretty heavy opposed sessions like games for four weeks and I haven’t been thinking about it at all.”
With fullback Jayden Campbell (knee) unavailable, rising star Keano Kini will wear the No.1 jersey for at least the opening month of the season.
Incumbent Maroons fullback AJ Brimson will make his first appearance at centre against Parramatta while Broncos recruit Keenan Palasia has been named in the front row, but could feature at lock instead of captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui.
Fermor said he has been training on both sides of the field and wasn’t sure where he would start the season, but his preference was to play on the left as he also sets his sights on a Queensland jersey after he was invited to the recent Maroons camp by coach Billy Slater.
“It was a bit of a surprise to be honest (to be picked in the Queensland squad). After not playing for 12 months, I didn’t think I’d be part of that,” he said.
“To be back among that group was really exciting and something I was proud and grateful to be invited. It’s something I’m still striving towards.”