Gold Coast Titans Discussion

[The Don]

In all seriousness, do you think you guys would benefit from Andrew McCullough? Would be great for experience and club culture.

I'm not against it, but I feel like we either need a C Smith or a young hooker we can hold onto into the future. McCullough would only really prove a stop gap with arguably Smith being the same with the exception of him being leagues above McCullough for the next couple years while we find a long term hooker. Not sure how he has gone at the Cowboys but was definitely painful missing out on Robson. Sounded like he had some real potential.

 

[Huge]

I'm not against it, but I feel like we either need a C Smith or a young hooker we can hold onto into the future. McCullough would only really prove a stop gap with arguably Smith being the same with the exception of him being leagues above McCullough for the next couple years while we find a long term hooker. Not sure how he has gone at the Cowboys but was definitely painful missing out on Robson. Sounded like he had some real potential.

I wouldn't worry about your hooker or centre. Holbrook will mold his version of the role from the clay at hand. I was wondering about that post over on the other thread where your team lists were mentioned.

Run on squad, game 1 2021?
Particularly interested in starting pack and full forward reserves including long term injured (if any)

Seeing a potential, best case run on team ,1 through 17 would make for interesting viewing, at least to me. I'd like to see which players Holbrook trains or rather repurposes to meet his needs. He'd probably have to try at least 4 or 5 guys out for his problem areas.

Interesting times ahead and I wish our team and set up was on a similar level and with as few problems .

 

[The Don]

I wouldn't worry about your hooker or centre. Holbrook will mold his version of the role from the clay at hand. I was wondering about that post over on the other thread where your team lists were mentioned.

Run on squad, game 1 2021?
Particularly interested in starting pack and full forward reserves including long term injured (if any)

Seeing a potential, best case run on team ,1 through 17 would make for interesting viewing, at least to me. I'd like to see which players Holbrook trains or rather repurposes to meet his needs. He'd probably have to try at least 4 or 5 guys out for his problem areas.

Interesting times ahead and I wish our team and set up was on a similar level and with as few problems .

Might get this done for you after team list is released tomorrow. I would like to see what Holbrook has planned for Peachey with Arrow back. Whether Peachey starts at 13 or not could indicate his plans for lock next year with both Tino and Ese'ese also having played a little there this year for their respective teams.

Note: Prior to a couple games ago I wouldn't have wanted Peach near the side but he has actually done fairly well at lock surprisingly. Cut out the penalties etc and he could be solid moving forward.

 

[The Don]

By Titans juniors, I assume you mean any promising young Bronco coming off contract?

You took Haas, we took Fifita, I call it even trade!

Didn't want to 'hijack' the thread again.

 

[WASSHHH]

You took Haas, we took Fifita, I call it even trade!

Didn't want to 'hijack' the thread again.

Selective memory doesn’t allow me to recall that sorry...

 

[Huge]

You took Haas, we took Fifita, I call it even trade!

Didn't want to 'hijack' the thread again.

You do whatever the **** you like in this thread @The Don , you started it. There's an article on nrl about Taylor and Holbrook. No surprise to me though, I wrote about it months and months ago pointing out that Holbrook must have some magic about him because getting Taylor on the field and happy would have taken some effort.

I would be a very optimistic Titan fan now if in fact the Titans were my club. To take someone else's team from the absolute bottom and get even a very modest improvement is an achievement but Holbrook has done so much more than that. With the new troops next year and the superstructure reinforced already 2021 should be the first finals year for a long time.

 

[Dexter]

Just had to close all of Taylors betting accounts to get him on track

 

[Huge]

Just had to close all of Taylors betting accounts to get him on track

Symptoms of a larger problem. I know you're making a joke but I think Holbrook must have facilitated help for AT and maybe some guidance and wisdom. Whatever he did AT has publicly acknowledged it and as he has also said Holbrook has simplified ATs role. Sounds Bennett like.

 

[The Don]

You do whatever the **** you like in this thread @The Don , you started it. There's an article on nrl about Taylor and Holbrook. No surprise to me though, I wrote about it months and months ago pointing out that Holbrook must have some magic about him because getting Taylor on the field and happy would have taken some effort.

I would be a very optimistic Titan fan now if in fact the Titans were my club. To take someone else's team from the absolute bottom and get even a very modest improvement is an achievement but Holbrook has done so much more than that. With the new troops next year and the superstructure reinforced already 2021 should be the first finals year for a long time.

Haha it's all good I was diverting his comment from another thread that was getting too Titans based admittedly. Other than the obvious F/A, we've beaten every bottom 8 team except Manly who we play this week, and challenged most of the top 8 teams except the Storm and Eels who we probably played a bit early in the season. I always kept faith that someone could bring back the old Ash and Holbrook seems to be making headway there. He had coached him before for I believe Aus U/20s and had been credited by many as a particularly knowledgeable half back in the day. The one thing I would like to see though is his short kicking game return as it used to be arguably his biggest weapon and has mostly disappeared of late. I reckon the birth of his kid has definitely grounded Ash and probably helped a lot with the gambling too in knowing he has the means to set up his family financially.

We're definitely not out of the last two games of the season and would be interesting to see if we could go as high as 9th this year. Turbo back might prove difficult and Knights seem to be hit and miss. I am cautiously optimistic of a finals appearance next year though. If Rein can lock down that hooker role consistently, I don't see why not. Centre position still seems particularly flimsy, not that I know who we want instead.

 

[Huge]

Haha it's all good I was diverting his comment from another thread that was getting too Titans based admittedly. Other than the obvious F/A, we've beaten every bottom 8 team except Manly who we play this week, and challenged most of the top 8 teams except the Storm and Eels who we probably played a bit early in the season. I always kept faith that someone could bring back the old Ash and Holbrook seems to be making headway there. He had coached him before for I believe Aus U/20s and had been credited by many as a particularly knowledgeable half back in the day. The one thing I would like to see though is his short kicking game return as it used to be arguably his biggest weapon and has mostly disappeared of late. I reckon the birth of his kid has definitely grounded Ash and probably helped a lot with the gambling too in knowing he has the means to set up his family financially.

We're definitely not out of the last two games of the season and would be interesting to see if we could go as high as 9th this year. Turbo back might prove difficult and Knights seem to be hit and miss. I am cautiously optimistic of a finals appearance next year though. If Rein can lock down that hooker role consistently, I don't see why not. Centre position still seems particularly flimsy, not that I know who we want instead.

You can take heart with the knowledge your team will be up for it every game next year. Holbrook has taken a team with a terrible 4 games won the previous season to a mid table team with a future and that's without adding firepower. It's probably coach of the year qualification. Seeplod will get a participation award.

 

[Financeguy]

Haha it's all good I was diverting his comment from another thread that was getting too Titans based admittedly. Other than the obvious F/A, we've beaten every bottom 8 team except Manly who we play this week, and challenged most of the top 8 teams except the Storm and Eels who we probably played a bit early in the season. I always kept faith that someone could bring back the old Ash and Holbrook seems to be making headway there. He had coached him before for I believe Aus U/20s and had been credited by many as a particularly knowledgeable half back in the day. The one thing I would like to see though is his short kicking game return as it used to be arguably his biggest weapon and has mostly disappeared of late. I reckon the birth of his kid has definitely grounded Ash and probably helped a lot with the gambling too in knowing he has the means to set up his family financially.

We're definitely not out of the last two games of the season and would be interesting to see if we could go as high as 9th this year. Turbo back might prove difficult and Knights seem to be hit and miss. I am cautiously optimistic of a finals appearance next year though. If Rein can lock down that hooker role consistently, I don't see why not. Centre position still seems particularly flimsy, not that I know who we want instead.

Watching Taylor as a neutral fan i definitely feel he needs an attitude adjustment if you guys are really going to challenge for top 4 or even a premiership. He just seems a real niggly prick on the field just for the sake of it, often a bit extra in some tackles and is mouthy in the push and shove moments. I can't think of many premiership winning key position players that have got away with that attitude constantly on the field except maybe Ennis at the Sharks and at times Munster, but he can control himself to a point with the leadership around him.

Cronk, DCE, Thurston, Morgan, Keary, Smith, etc can all control their emotions to get consistent results. @The Don whats your (potentially) more biased view on Taylor and his attitude in order to get your side competitive for the title?

 

[Broncapz]

I think everyone is going to be dissapointed by a Titans team just squeeking into the 8 next year.

 

[The Don]

Watching Taylor as a neutral fan i definitely feel he needs an attitude adjustment if you guys are really going to challenge for top 4 or even a premiership. He just seems a real niggly prick on the field just for the sake of it, often a bit extra in some tackles and is mouthy in the push and shove moments. I can't think of many premiership winning key position players that have got away with that attitude constantly on the field except maybe Ennis at the Sharks and at times Munster, but he can control himself to a point with the leadership around him.

Cronk, DCE, Thurston, Morgan, Keary, Smith, etc can all control their emotions to get consistent results. @The Don whats your (potentially) more biased view on Taylor and his attitude in order to get your side competitive for the title?

I'm not saying they're premiership winning players but J Hughes and J Luai both strike me as niggly pricks as well and they're travelling alright for the time being. I won't assume to know the amount of Titans games you have watched but the game on Saturday was the first time I recall having seen Ash really in players faces (I could honestly just be overlooking it, if so feel free to call me out). Generally he has seemed to me as particularly 'soft' in that he has never recovered well from taking hits. Not meaning this to be offensive as it is well warranted but I can only assume a number of our players just dislike the 'arrogance' surrounding Broncos v Titans matches. Hence why they get up for the games. I think Ash was just really fired up during the game and I am just happy to see a competitive side of him personally.

I don't think Ash has the defensive ability of Munster or Ennis to back up such a trait though so would prefer he stick to his natural game. In terms of getting us competitive for a title I actually think he might be building towards that. He used to rely on his strong short kicking game in order to get us points, whereas now he has developed a solid cut out pass along with the vision to put surrounding players through the line. Admittedly, he has regressed a bit with the short kicking, however there is no reason he can't find that again. I will admit to probably being extremely bias but I see him slowly becoming a very well rounded half. His kicking game in general has also been solid and he has more 40/20s than the stats show (fb etc touched but couldn't keep in).

I think the biggest indication of his attitude has come through his defence. Recently, his edge has barely leaked points and his contact has been a lot stronger. Fifita did get passed him although mostly due to Young T rushing up and isolating Ash 1 on 1 (new defensive combination could be to blame?). Against the dragons he shut down Frizell particularly well. I like to think this shows his willingness to improve and he is seemingly doing that.

All in all, competing for the title is probably more likely in 2022. By then, 2021 should show whether Ash has the skill and mentality to become an elite half. There really shouldn't be any excuses next year with the forward pack and weapons he has around him. I've seen Fifita on both sides of the field so won't admit to knowing whether he will be on the left edge, but Ash already has Kelly who is firming as a top notch centre and Sami who can definitely finish. Add Fifita/Tino along with Brimson scheming and that left edge should be a nightmare.

Hopefully for our sakes he kicks on next year as I would love nothing more than to see him be with us the rest of his career. I have no idea how our halves will look going forward though with Weaver, Boyd and Sexton all coming through with big wraps.

 

[Foordy]

Proctor has signed a new 12 month deal with the Titans with a 1 year option

 

[jd87]

im still unsure on all the titans hype the media and some fans are going on about. to be fair if i was a titans fan i would easily be more optimistic compared to a broncos fan.

but in saying that i really have not seen that big of an improvement from them. truly if it wasn't for the broncos and dogs being some of the shittest teams to ever play the game this year then the titans would have more of a spotlight on them and i think holbrook would not be getting the praise he has.

sorry if im out of touch but i truly just dont see how what there dishing up now is cause for celebration. they have performed far better in the past and there was never any hype around i just dont get it.

you also have to remember there is going to be a bit more pressure put on them next year. especially with the messiah fafita goin down there. no one knows how they or there coach will perform under pressure especially if there expected to be the #1 qld team.

hope im wrong for the long suffering titans fans but i really would not be surprised if next year they are a bottom 4 side again. (along with us unfortunately)

 

[Big Pete]

Proctor has signed a new 12 month deal with the Titans with a 1 year option

Or as our mate Pete Badel puts it: Convicted biter makes big decision on future.

 

[The Don]

Cartwright has been officially released supposedly with announcement due this afternoon according to Badel and Meyn. House is also up for sale etc. so I'd say they're right.

 

[upthebroncs]

This is a great thread. GO THE TITANS!!!