Hannay pledges to ‘find identity’ for wayward Gold Coast franchise

Incoming rookie coach Josh Hannay has pledged to develop an identity for the Titans that resonates with the Gold Coast, admitting it’s an “enormous challenge” but one he wants to overcome.

Hannay is set to replace Des Hasler as Titans head coach next season after Gold Coast powerbrokers, including owner Rebecca Frizelle, decided to pull the plug on the veteran helmsman a year early.

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There’s no sugarcoating it: The Gold Coast Titans coaching job has felt like a poisoned chalice for some years now, but Hannay believes there’s been an issue at the heart of the whole thing – no one has worked for the future (and no, he doesn’t count that “four prems by 2030” interview). To solve that, the Sharks assistant-turned-top-coach will work on style.

“The best teams have a clearly identifiable style of play… It’s there for everybody to see when they take the field,” he said. “I want to develop an identity for the club that resonates with the people of the Gold Coast and all the fans.”

He added he “doesn’t have rose-coloured glasses on” coming into one of the NRL’s hardest jobs.

“There’s an opportunity to do something that’s just not been achieved before by the club, which is A: Go to a grand final and B: Win a competition,” he said. “Where the club sits currently, that naturally looks a long way away.”

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One place Hannay will go to first for inspiration is the Queensland Maroons. The 45-year-old has been an assistant coach in Billy Slater’s setup for the State of Origin side for the last four years. In that time, Slater and Hannay have guided the representative squad to three victories, including an incredible against-the-odds series win earlier this season.

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The Maroons have had a distinct style of play for as many years as the rep squad has existed, Hannay explained, and that’s exactly what he wants to implement on the Gold Coast – for when he’s there and long after he leaves.

“Queensland have been synonymous for the way they play, the grit they play with — very identifiable traits,” Hannay said.

“That’s something that started in 1980,” he added, “and it’s still there today.”

He’ll also look to the Gold Coast nursery, which he called “rich” and relatively untapped.