Last stand for the Titans

Gold Coast boss says new coach crucial for survival

RUGBY LEAGUE: Gold Coast executive chairman Dennis Watt has labelled the appointment of the club’s next coach as “the last stand” – crucial to the Titans’ NRL survival. Watt revealed it was he who decided to sack coach Garth Brennan following Friday’s 24-2 loss to Penrith, which left the Titans rooted to the bottom of the ladder after 17 rounds. The pair met on Saturday morning when Watt told Brennan his time at the Titans was up, less than two years into the role. With the process to find Brennan’s replacement under way, Watt pulled no punches about the importance of getting the right man in to deliver elusive sporting success to Australia’s sixth-largest city. “We’re in no doubt that this is it,” Watt said. “This is the last stand, we have to get it right. “There are plenty of other people banging on the door who would probably like to launch teams elsewhere.” Rugby league immortal and Titans head of performance and culture Mal Meninga presented the report from his mid-season review to the club’s board yesterday. Watt said Meninga’s report had not sounded the death knell for Brennan, that was more to do with the club’s poor on-field performance in 2019. “At the end of the day the results aren’t there,” Watt said. “We certainly thought we’d be a top-eight side this year and we’re not, we’re bouncing around the bottomof the table.” Watt said the club had already received a number of expressions of interest in the position since Brennan’s sacking was made public on Sunday. Despite distancing himself from the position, Queensland coach Kevin Walters is clearly in the sights of NRL club Gold Coast. Within hours of the Titans announcing they had parted ways with Garth Brennan on Sunday, Walters said he was committed to themaroons and had unfinished business at State of Origin level. “Clearly if Kevvie was putting his hand up to be in the running he would be a very strong candidate,” Watt said of the six-time premiership winner. “The way he’s led his life has been quite inspirational. “I think he showed on Wednesday night in the Origin decider that he was able to extract more than anyone thought from that Queensland side. For them to still be in the running at the end of the game, was, I thought, an outstanding coaching effort. “If he was willing and available and prepared to put his hand (up) he’d be strongly in consideration.” Watt said the club had already received a number of expressions of interest with brother pairing Shane and Ben Walker, Sydney Roosters assistants Craig Fitzgibbon and Adam O’brien and St Helen’s coach Justin Holbrook among those reportedly in the running. Anthony Griffin presents an attractive option, having coached ATNRL level with Brisbane and Penrith and being available.