New coach rebuilding the Titans

RUGBY LEAGUE: Not even the race that stops a nation will halt Garth Brennan’s plans to rebuild the Gold Coast Titans.

The Titans reported for the first day of pre-season training yesterday under their new coach following the debacle of 2017, which led to the sacking of Neil Henry.

Brennan welcomed new recruits Brenton Lawrence (Sea Eagles), Jai Arrow (Broncos), Brendan Elliot (Knights), Jai Whitbread (Broncos) and Jack Stockwell (Knights) while Penrith hooker Mitch Rein will arrive later this week.

Brennan laid down the law to the Titans of 2018 during a meeting and his new-look fitness department of Hayden Knowles, Craig Catterick and Scott Campbell will put them through their paces today.

The new coach has scheduled a training session under the searing sun at 1pm, which means the Titans will likely miss out on watching the Melbourne Cup (2pm), a tradition among most NRL teams.

It is the type of sacrifice the Titans are hoping will see them improve on last season’s 15th-placed finish.

“He was up-front,” Arrow said of Brennan’s meeting.

“He said what our goals are and where he wanted us to be. If we don’t give it our all we won’t be in the team.”

There was an elephant in the room as doubt continues to linger over the future of star fullback Jarryd Hayne, currently on World Cup duty with Fiji. At this stage Hayne remains committed to the Titans and Lawrence said there was no point worrying about his future.

“If he wants to go he can go, if he wants to stay he can stay,” Lawrence said.

“It doesn’t matter what I think or what my opinion is. It’s his decision.”

Arrow, a Gold Coast junior, said he was focused on securing the No.13 jersey full-time next year after leaving the Broncos.