Titans 2023 preview: So many questions loom over Gold Coast

The Gold Coast Titans certainly have the pieces to make the finals, but is the sum of the Queensland club’s parts enough to finally break them away from the bottom of the table?

Since 2013, the Gold Coast Titans have struggled to play with the big boys. Two eighth place finishes in 2021 and 2016 have seen them taste finals footy, but the last decade has mainly—especially 2019–been quite rough.

They’ve made some of the right moves, including trusting Justin Holbrook to rebuild systems at training and on the park, and adding David Fifita to their stable, but neither have panned out quite how Gold Coast powerbrokers would have expected, especially when it comes to Fifita and his game-changing ability.

This season, hope turns to new recruits Sam Verrills and Kieran Foran.

The pair, both slotting into key positions, could be the key to unlocking stars across the park like Fifita, AJ Brimson, and Jayden Campbell, all of whom have swung from rocks to diamonds and back in recent years.

Winning 25 percent of games in 2022 just simply isn’t good enough for a team that boasts strong young talent—they have to aim higher this campaign.

Last year’s finish: 13th, six wins and 18 losses

Last ten NRL campaigns: 13th, 8th (Elim), 9th, Spoon, 14th, 15th, 8th (Elim), 14th, 14th, 9th

Predicted Round 1 lineup

1. Jayden Campbell
2. Phillip Sami
3. Aaron Schoupp
4. Jojo Fifita
5. Patrick Herbert
6. AJ Brimson
7. Kieran Foran
8. Moeaki Fotuaika
9. Sam Verrills
10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
11. David Fifita
12. Beau Fermor
13. Erin Clark
14. Tanah Boyd
15. Joe Stimson
16. Isaac Liu
17. Jaiman Jollife

Coach: Justin Holbrook

Biggest loss: Greg Marzhew, Jarrod Wallace Biggest gain: Kieran Foran, Sam Verrills

How 2023 is looking for the Gold Coast

After several difficult years and just one finals run (ended in the first round) to speak of in recent history, things have gotten relatively dour on the Gold Coast.

Heading into 2023, however, things may be on the up. Verrills and Foran are two strong pickups in the spine and could do wonders to digging out the talent hidden among the blue and and gold ranks.

The problem there is both are very injury prone.

That leaves three things looming over the Titans: Can they keep their two star signings on the park for long enough to get the engine running, can they awaken Fifita after a very down year from him, and can young guns AJ Brimson and Jayden Campbell find the right note.

There’s plenty to ask and for that reason The Sporting Base can’t see finals for the Gold Coast, but there’s every chance they lift if things go right early.

Predicted 2023 finish: 13th

First five: Tigers (A), Dragons (A), Storm (H), Cowboys (A), Bye

TopSport odds: Premiers $51, Make Top 4: $15, Make Final 8: $4.20, Miss The Top 8: $1.23

Pass mark: Avoid slipping into spoon battle. Download Our Free NRL App

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