Gold Coast Titans
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| Gold Coast Titans | |
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| Full name | Gold Coast Titans |
| Nickname(s) | Titans |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2007 |
| Ground | Carrara Stadium Carrara, Gold Coast |
| Capacity | 18,000 |
| CEO |  Michael Searle |
| Coach | John Cartwright |
| League | National Rugby League |
| 2006 | Did not play |
The Gold Coast Titans are the 16th Team in the National Rugby League, playing their inaugural season in the upcoming 2007 NRL Competition. As their name states, they are based on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
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[edit] History of the Titans' bid
In 2003 Michael Searle and Paul Broughton began pushing for the re-instatment of a Gold Coast Team in the National Rugby League in 2006. In the second quarter of 2004 the Gold Coast Consortium, as they had become known, announced their team name and jersey at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre during an episode of Channel 9's The Footy Show. The team was to be known as the Gold Coast Dolphins and their colours would be white, jade and orange. The Dolphins moniker was very popular, however the Redcliffe Dolphins, which is the Queensland Cup's most successful team, threatened legal action if the Dolphin's name was used in the Gold Coast team.
In mid-2004 the NRL announced that after viewing submissions from the Gold Coast Dolphins, the Central Coast Bears and the Wellington Ocras (Killer Whales) bids, there would not be a 16th team in the 2006 NRL Competition. The major hurdles for the Gold Coast team, which was by far the favourite to get the nod if the 16th license was granted, was the use of the Dolphins name, and that their homeground, Carrara Stadium, was an oval and only seated 16,000.
[edit] Acceptance
Since the rejection of the Gold Coast's bid in 2004, the consortium did not give up in their quest for a Gold Coast NRL team. They dropped the Dolphins nickname, and the Queensland Government announced that they would spend $100 million on a new, rectangular stadium for the Gold Coast Team, should they be accepted. On May 27, 2005, the NRL CEO David Gallop announced that the Gold Coast had been accepted into the 2007 NRL competition. This coincided with the announcing of a new television deal with Channel 9, taking effect from 2007.
[edit] Search for a name
The Gold Coast RLFC, along with a Gold Coast radio station, set up a competition where listeners could submit possible names for the new team. This was shortlisted into 10 names, and people could vote on which of the ten they most preferred on the team's then-website, www.goldcoastrugbyleague.com.au. These 10 names were narrowed down to 3, which were:
- Gold Coast Titans
- Gold Coast Stingers
- Gold Coast Pirates
The most popular name was the Titans, and the team name Gold Coast Titans was announced on 21 September, 2005.
[edit] Current squad (for 2007)
As of 16/09/2006 the club has officially signed 26 players for the 2007 season. These players being:
| Player | Position | Height | Weight | Previous Club | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ritchie Mathers |  |
Full Back | 180 cm/5'11" | 84 kg/185 lb | Leeds Rhinos |
| Steve Turner | |
Full Back/Wing | 180 cm/5'11" | 84 kg/185 lb | Melbourne Storm |
| Brian Carney |  |
Wing | 180 cm/5'11" | 90 kg/198 lb | Newcastle Knights |
| Matthew Petersen |  |
Wing | 181 cm/5'11" | 91 kg/201 lb | Parramatta Eels |
| Brett Delaney | |
Centre | 186 cm/6'1" | 96 kg/212 lb | Parramatta Eels |
| Josh Graham | |
Centre | 190 cm/6'3" | 98 kg/216 lb | Western Force |
| Luke O'Dwyer | |
Centre/Lock | 181 cm/5'11" | 88 kg/194 lb | Parramatta Eels |
| Lelea Paea | |
Centre | 183 cm/6'0" | 96 kg/212 lb | Sydney Roosters |
| Jake Webster |  |
Centre/Wing | 182 cm/6'0" | 94 kg/207 lb | Melbourne Storm |
| Preston Campbell | |
Five Eighth | 165 cm/5'5" | 75 kg/165 lb | Penrith Panthers |
| Matt Hilder | |
Five Eighth | 186 cm/6'1" | 100 kg/220 lb | Cronulla Sharks |
| Scott Prince | |
Half Back | 177 cm/5'10" | 81 kg/179 lb | Wests Tigers |
| Luke Bailey | |
Prop | 189 cm/6'2" | 108 kg/238 lb | St George Illawarra Dragons |
| Michael Henderson | |
Prop | 186 cm/6'1" | 100 kg/220 lb | St George Illawarra Dragons |
| Michael Hodgson | |
Prop | 187 cm/6'2" | 102 kg/225 lb | Canberra Raiders |
| Frank Puletua | |
Prop | 190 cm/6'3" | 103 kg/227 lb | Penrith Panthers |
| James Stosic | |
Prop | 183 cm/6'0" | 112 kg/247 lb | Cronulla Sharks |
| Nathan Friend | |
Hooker | 172 cm/5'8" | 90 kg/198 lb | Melbourne Storm |
| Gavin Cooper | |
Second Row | 196 cm/6'5" | 104 kg/229 lb | North Queensland Cowboys |
| Anthony Laffranchi | |
Second Row | 184 cm/6'0" | 102 kg/225 lb | Wests Tigers |
| Brad Meyers | |
Second Row | 191 cm/6'3" | 108 kg/238 lb | Bradford Bulls |
| Mark Minichiello | |
Second Row | 180 cm/5'11" | 95 kg/209 lb | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
| Luke Swain | |
Second Row | 185 cm/6'1" | 98 kg/216 lb | Penrith Panthers |
| Clint Amos | |
Lock | 182 cm/6'0" | 94 kg/207 lb | North Queensland Cowboys |
| Daniel Conn | |
Lock | 182 cm/6'0" | 101 kg/223 lb | Canterbury Bulldogs |
| Kris Kahler | |
Second Row | 191 cm/6'3" | 100 kg/220 lb | Canberra Raiders |
| David Myles | |
Utility Back | Toulouse Olympique | ||
| 2008 | |||||
| Mat Rogers | |
Utility Back | 182 cm/6'0" | 85 kg/187 lb | NSW Waratahs |
- There remains some conjecture about the signing of Melbourne Storm winger/fullback Steve Turner. Turner was originally publicised as one of the Titans' key signings on June 11, 2006 however he has since had a change of heart and signed a contract extension with the Storm on August 15, 2006. The Titans maintain that they had an ironclad agreement with Turner that he must honour, whilst the Storm claim that no contract or letter of intent had been signed. The NRL have initially indicated that they intend to support the Titans in the contract wrangle by refusing to register Turner's contract with the Storm.[1]
[edit] Coaches
John Cartwright 2007 -
Billy Johnston, a renowned strength and conditioning trainer began pre-season training for the 2007 season on Monday November 6.
[edit] Sponsorship
The Gold Coast Titans officially became the “Jetstar Gold Coast Titans”, on the 20th September 2006, with the announcement of a five year multi million dollar naming rights sponsorship.
Also, James Frizelle's Automotive Group & Audi Centre Gold Coast signed on as the first major sponsorship partner for the franchise, a deal signed for the next 3 years.
[edit] Home ground
The Gold Coast Titans were expected to play their debut season at Carrara Stadium, but this is now in jeopardy due to a dispute with the local council. Mayor Ron Clarke has denied the placement of portable seating on the ground, which would create the rectangular stadium required for NRL games that the Titans claim was agreed upon. This was done in order to protect the surface for a series of Australian rules football games, featuring the Kangaroos, to be played at the ground over the next 3 years.[2] The Titans will play out of the new Skilled Park to be built at Robina in 2008
[edit] Records and Trivia
- Preston Campbell was the very first signing to the Gold Coast Titans.
- There have been suggestions that the Titans intend to include the playing records of a previous club based on the Gold Coast, the Chargers[3].The official NRL position regarding this remains to be seen.
- Preston Campbell, Scott Prince or Luke Bailey will be the 2007 captain.
[edit] Famous Fans
[edit] References
- ^ "NRL to force winger to honour contract in Titanic struggle", Sydney Morning Herald, August 17, 2006.
- ^ "Titans attack on council", Courier Mail, July 22, 2006.
- ^ "Gold Coast to integrate player records", Titans Official Forum, January 19, 2006.
[edit] External links
- Official Gold Coast Titans Website
- Official Gold Coast Titans Forum
- Titans selected as name for Gold Coast team
- Gold Coast Rugby League Official Website
- National Rugby League Official Website
| Gold Coast Titans |
|---|
| The Club Representatives | History | Records Honours | Players |
| Titans Seasons 2007 |
| Titans Stadiums Carrara Stadium | Skilled Park |
| Titans Captains TBD |
| Titans Coaches John Cartwright (2007-present) |
