http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23947581-10389,00.html
Gold Coast Titans wield the axe
Article from: The Courier-Mail
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By Matt Marshall
June 30, 2008 12:00am
GOLD Coast's desire to push through its promising batch of homegrown stars has left six NRL squad members on the scrap heap for next season.
Former Test prop Brad Meyers will be the last off-contract Titan to be handed a deal for 2008, with half a dozen players told to pack their bags.
The Titans' cleanout will claim regular first-grader Michael Hodgson plus Gavin Cooper, Luke Swain, James Stosic, Kris Kahler and Josh Lewis - who have all failed to find permanent spots this campaign.
Hodgson, who has played 15 first-grade games this year, is set to link with the Bulldogs next year alongside Broncos duo Ben Hannant and Michael Ennis.
His five off-contract teammates are still searching for new homes, having fallen victim to the club's policy to nurture its own development system.
The stocktake will see emerging under-20s trio Shannon Walker, Will Matthews and Kayne Lawton join the top squad in '09 with key signings Will Zillman and Sam Tagataese.
Meyers, who played three Origin games and four Tests in 2001, is in the final stages of negotiating a two-year deal, likely to be his last.
Cooper's exit will end a disappointing two-year stint with the Titans after the Murgon product arrived from Townsville earmarked as a future Origin star.
Despite a stunning debut season with North Queensland in 2006, Cooper has failed to hit top flight as a Titan, despite 32 appearances.
"I'm getting limited opportunity," Cooper said. "It's frustrating but I'm biding my time. You can't walk around with your lip on the ground."
Swain, who claimed a premiership with Penrith in 2003, has been squeezed out of the NRL squad since the arrival of Maroons utility Ash Harrison.
The 26-year-old, limited to just eight NRL hitouts this campaign, is now hunting a new deal.
Lewis - who played 11 games in 2007 after joining the Coast from the Roosters mid-year - has failed to cut the mustard this season.
Stosic (18 games) and Kahler (17) will also go after limited opportunities in the club's second year.
