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Hagley Park In Stadium Live FeedGold Coast 2024 season review: Can Hasler get the best out of their stacked roster?
Sam Kosack • December 12th, 2024 2:49 pm
Questions around squad balance headline Michael Carayannis's season review for the Gold Coast Titans after a disappointing 2024 season.
Expectations were high on the Gold Coast after the appointment of two-time premiership coach Des Hasler until the club slumped to six straight losses to start the year.
The Titans lost captain Tino Fa'asuamaleaui to an ACL injury in Round 3, and had stars Jayden Campbell, AJ Brimson, and Phillip Sami spend extended stints on the sideline through injury.
Injuries to Campbell and Brimson, however, did allow for the emergence of Keano Kini, with the young fullback making the fullback jersey his own, going on to represent New Zealand during the end of season Pacific Championships and being nominated for the prestigious Golden Boot award.
It gives Hasler a good headache moving into next season as he tries to figure out how to play Kini, Campbell, and Brimson in the same team. The Brimson-centre experiment at season's start didn't work, and thus a new plan must be established to get the best out of their strike trio.
Both Kini and Campbell will be able to negotiate with rival teams come November 1, 2025, while Brimson inked an extension at the start of the season to make him a Titan until the end of 2030.
There were also headlines around the contract status of David Fifita. The star second rower signed with the Sydney Roosters on a four-year deal in May, but backflipped a week later to recommit to the Gold Coast.
With their stars now locked in, and arguably the strongest forward pack in the competition, the pressure is now on Des Hasler's men to turn their potential into points and make a run towards the finals.
Signings: Carter Gordon (Rugby Union), Reagan Cmpbell-Gillard (Parramatta Eels)
Losses: Erin Clark (Warriors), Seth Nikotemo (Trinity Wakefield), Tanah Boyd (Warriors), Keenan Palasia (Leeds Rhinos), Isaac Liu (Leigh Leopards)
Carayannis's Grade: E
