The Gold Coast Titans have embarked on a major recruitment drive, signing seven young NRL players in a bid to build a long-term foundation for the club.
New coach Josh Hannay said the youth-focused approach is a critical part of his plan to reshape the club both on and off the field.
The influx of talent coincides with the appointment of former Dally M winner Todd Carney in a pathways and mentoring role, overseeing the development of the club’s emerging players and pathways.
“Bringing in these young players, alongside the work Todd is doing, shows how serious we are about solidifying our pathways and giving our juniors the best chance to succeed in the NRL,” Hannay told the Daily Telegraph.
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The Titans have been criticised in the past for losing talented Gold Coast juniors to rival clubs, including Reece Walsh, Xavier Coates and Jahream Bula, but the club hopes the new signings mark a turning point.
The signings include Penrith hooker Luke Sommerton, Panthers centre Siale Faeamani, Dragons prop Jett Liu, Raiders winger Jensen Taumoepeau and Queensland Cup player of the year Oliver Pascoe from Ipswich.
The Titans have also added Keebra Park standouts Justus Lowndes and Cooper Murphy, who starred in the school’s National Schoolboys Cup victory this season and worked with the recently recruited Todd Carney during his time helping young Keebra Park players.
Football boss Scott Sattler said the club is focused on giving the contracted juniors aged 15 to 19 the coaching and guidance needed to become NRL players as the next generation of Titans players.
With seven emerging talents added to the system, the Gold Coast are laying the groundwork for a future where local products can thrive and the club can establish a premiership-winning core.
Hannay has made his intentions very clear — he is not focused on quick fixes to improve the Titans overnight, but on building a winning club for the long term.
It is a fascinating rebuild unfolding, with more changes than any other NRL club, and several big-name contracts still to be secured, including livewire halfback Preston Campbell and captain Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, who has indicated his intent to test the open market on November 1.
If Hannay can re-sign those two stars while continuing to strengthen the Titans’ youth pathways and front-office structure, the club could be set for significant improvements both now and for many years to come.