WE’RE ONLY GETTING STARTED

THE Gold Coast Titans have boldly declared Justin Holbrook will become an NRL premiership-winning coach as the club’s owners forecast a bright future for the resurgent franchise.

Holbrook will lead the Titans into their first NRL finals appearance since 2016 when they face the Sydney Roosters in Townsville.

The elimination clash has been four years in the making since the Frizelle-kelly consortium took ownership of the Gold Coast licence following a turbulent 10 years.

The Titans were on the brink of collapse in 2015 when a drugs scandal and financial issues forced the NRL to take ownership of the club, costing white knight saviours Darryl and Joanne Kelly more than $5m after they initially stepped in to save it in 2012.

With the help of Gold Coast car dealership moguls Brett and Rebecca Frizelle, the Kellys dipped into their pockets again to buy the Titans from the NRL in late 2017.

The owners’ first big move was appointing Garth Brennan as coach to replace the sacked Neil Henry, a decision which failed as Brennan was axed in 2019 on the way to collecting the wooden spoon.

But the Mal Meningainspired selection of Super League title-winning coach Holbrook saw the Titans finish ninth last year before they were able to sneak into the top eight this season, albeit with a 10-14 record.

With a stable front office, financial certainty and an improving player roster, Darryl Kelly believes the Titans have the coach that could lead them to the promised land in years to come.

“It’s difficult to find the next premiership-winning coach and every club that hasn’t got one is trying to do that,” he said.

“You have to take a punt sometimes. We did that with the previous coach and it didn’t work out.

“With Justin we’ve found a highly intelligent and very reasonable individual who can think his way through it and will eventually evolve into a premiership-winning coach.

“He did show faith in us. He was Mal’s choice. Mal (head of performance and culture) was the one who pushed his case.

“He did take a gamble on coming to a club that was running 14th at the time. But there were a lot of people that recognised the potential of this club and hopefully we’re starting to fulfil it.”

It is difficult to ascertain the financial contribution the Kellys and Frizelles have made to keep the Titans afloat.

Kelly has pledged more than $35m in the form of financing a leagues club development that will generate revenue for the Titans and help them further expand.

After years of on and offfield struggles, Kelly said the club’s drought-breaking finals appearance provided “vindication” for what they were trying to achieve.

“We’ve got good people and we’ve committed to them. We are confident they will deliver for us in the long-term.

“We did a very detailed submission on what we were going to do and how we would do it in 2017. I was always more confident because it was our plan.

“This year we committed to the women’s competition. Three years ago we committed a lot more money to our junior development programs. We’re not standing still at all. There is a lot to be done and we’ll keep doing it.”

The Frizelles have held a 15-year association with the Titans, starting as foundation sponsors before Rebecca became the club’s first chairperson in 2014.

She senses the Gold Coast public’s attitude to the club is shifting after losing faith during the turbulent times.

“What I saw on Sunday leaving the stadium was our supporters truly happy,” she said. “Often enough they have been on the wrong end of the commentary but they were walking out celebrating.

“I think it gives the city a sense of pride and we have been maligned for many years up here that we couldn’t sustain a sporting team.

“Well we can and we will – and we will sustain a successful one. It will get more and more successful. We are young but we are growing and building a strong foundation.

“It is so important – it gives young people something to aspire to. You can see what it does for young kids. That is incredibly important.

“It is really early days, we have a long way to go and we know it, but it is a wonderful result for the hard work that happens off the field as well.”

The Kellys and Frizelles flew to Townsville on Friday together and will be in the stands at Queensland Country Bank Stadium for the biggest moment since they took control of the Titans.

Win or lose, they believe it is only the start of things to come.