Titans selling to PNG

[Porthoz]

The CC have done a better job and they aren't even in the comp. So Big Pete, say what you want about the subject but the fact is, the Gold Coast Titans have failed miserably before and they are heading in the same direction again. If you think it's purely because of mis-management then lol.

If you think the CC has more resources than the GC for an NRL team, then double lol. :finger:

 

[Big Pete]

What I want to know is, how have the CC done a better job? They're not even in the competition yet and at this stage of their development the Titans basically gave the NRL no other choice.

 

[Coxy]

What I want to know is, how have the CC done a better job? They're not even in the competition yet and at this stage of their development the Titans basically gave the NRL no other choice.

Honestly I LOL more at the notion that John Singleton is behind CC so it must be good. Apart from the Tina Turner advertising campaign, what experience has he ACTUALLY had in managing rugby league, let alone a club?

 

[Big Pete]

Singo isn't even managing them.

He's just a sponsor.

EDIT: Unless he's talking about back in the day in which case I echo your thoughts.

 

[dukey]

The Central Coast already have almost 8000 paid members, a coach, and a number of sponsors. At the time the Titans were admitted they had none of these things. In addition, games at Bluetongue have been selling out despite the lack of a home team.
The Bears are well aware that they don't offer a geographic advantage like Perth, so they've focused on strong community involvement and a watertight business case.
Compare this to the Gold Coast bid, which was accepted on account of the region's growth and perceived need for another Queensland team, not the club's business plan.
If Flo and co were running the Titans, they'd at least be stable off-field.

 

[Big Pete]

Good post as usual dukey and my stance has certainly softened. The only point that I dispute in regards to the CC is that they should have been included in 2005 ahead of the Titans. This certainly wasn't your point though.

One thing I did want to point out is that the Gold Coast region was also producing sell outs before they were admitted for trial matches. And before their launch they were producing sell outs for Bulldogs/North Queensland games.

But the final point, which I've never wavered on is that at the end of the day the Gold Coast is of much greater value to Rugby League than the Central Coast. For the games sake, I want to see them succeed and help the game grow to where it should be.

 

[Coxy]

Good post as usual dukey and my stance has certainly softened. The only point that I dispute in regards to the CC is that they should have been included in 2005 ahead of the Titans. This certainly wasn't your point though.

One thing I did want to point out is that the Gold Coast region was also producing sell outs before they were admitted for trial matches. And before their launch they were producing sell outs for Bulldogs/North Queensland games.

But the final point, which I've never wavered on is that at the end of the day the Gold Coast is of much greater value to Rugby League than the Central Coast. For the games sake, I want to see them succeed and help the game grow to where it should be.

This. Gold Coast is one of Australia's fastest growing cities. Central Coast? Can't see it growing THAT much.

I have no problem with Central Coast coming in at the expense of another Sydney team (Sharks, Souths, Roosters, don't care who).

 

[Porthoz]

This. Gold Coast is one of Australia's fastest growing cities. Central Coast? Can't see it growing THAT much.

I have no problem with Central Coast coming in at the expense of another Sydney team (Sharks, Souths, Roosters, don't care who).

Yep, exactly my thoughts.

I live on the GC and I know how valuable a local team is for the NRL, but more importantly for the local community and strong RL grass roots.
Coxy said it already, the Titans board (especially that idiot Searle) have totally missed the ball by basically ignoring the local supply of talent, and try to buy success...

The same goes for a new Brisbane/Ipswich franchise.
There is a wealth of resources and talent that can be explored in the SEQ corner, and I hope one of those bids wins and takes advantage of it.

Having said that, I have no doubt the Bears bid deserves a spot. But it will have to be at the cost of one of the Sydney teams imo.

 

[Coxy]

Yep.

I think every team that has come into SE Qld has looked at the Broncos' on field success and thought "we need to get success early to replicate them".

While that's true to a point, look at how the Broncos did it. That team in 1988 was built on local talent (plus token cockies in Chris Johns and Terry Matterson). Sure, it was star studded local talent, but they were Queenslanders. And a fair smattering of quality young Queensland players too (Hancock, Langer, Kerrod Walters etc).

From that point, they blooded more young local guys and when they recruited, it was a specific need they were filling and even then they tried to fill it with Queenslanders (Peter Jackson, Kevin Walters, Sam Backo, Trevor Gillmeister). The only real exception was Glenn Lazarus, but again, that was a specific need the Broncos had and it was a marquee player you don't say no to.

Because the club "grew up" with these young local kids, the fans "grew up" with the club and that attachment formed. The success followed.

So it wasn't, as Searle et al seem to believe, about buying a star studded premiership winning team from the outset. It was building a nucleus of a team around local talent people can relate to.

 

[john1420]

And playing for the broncos for those Qld young men was a dream come true, not about a pay packet

 

[Coxy]

And playing for the broncos for those Qld young men was a dream come true, not about a pay packet

Yes, but in the early days that was because it was really the only option to stay in Brisbane/QLD, these days there's other options.
But starting with that culture of rewarding local talent will develop that desire to be part of it. Right now clearly young players have no desire to go to the Titans because they feel that no matter how good they are, the club will hunt the next big name that's being shopped around.

 

[john1420]

Yes, but in the early days that was because it was really the only option to stay in Brisbane/QLD, these days there's other options.
But starting with that culture of rewarding local talent will develop that desire to be part of it. Right now clearly young players have no desire to go to the Titans because they feel that no matter how good they are, the club will hunt the next big name that's being shopped around.

Yep, agree with you Coxy

 

[Coxy]

And I think we'd also agree that the Broncos' weakest period of time as a club was 2008-2010. Look at what the Broncos did in that time? Ditched their foundation coach, and recruited such stars as Ashton Sims, Joel Clinton, Israel Folau (ok, he was a star) and let go of a lot of local players.

I think that culture is turning around with our reliance on our youth program again.

 

[Big Pete]

I actually don't think their recruitment became a problem until this year where they made a couple of good signings (Jamal Idris, Aiden Sezer & Luke Douglas) before going nuts and signing everyone with the first name of Beau except Ryan who is coming in 2013.

Their initial recruitment was actually very good and balanced. They brought in guys with some prior affiliation to the Coast like Mat Rogers and Preston Campbell. Queenslanders such as Scott Prince, Chris Walker, Brad Meyers and Nathan Friend. Then handy signings such as Jake Webster (Played junior footy for Qld too), Luke Bailey and Anthony Laffranchi. And even from there signings such as William Zillman, Ash Harrison and Joseph Tomane suited their location.

But as you put it Cox, where as the Broncos hooked people in with these big name local signings - it was watching these star juniors grow that kept us interested. Aside from Kevin Gordon, David Mead, Matt Srama and to a lesser extent Ryan James, Bodene Thompson and Ben Ridge who do the Titans have to show for all their junior development?

Their inability to take Shannon Walker to the next level or retain Chris Sandow has hurt them. Those players are money spinners and now one is wasting away in Rugby 7's because he wasn't developed properly and the other is kicking goals for Souths (who had the most members than anybody in 2011) and soon Parramatta.