How well will the Gold Coast Titans do in 2012 ?

[RL The greatest game]

I think the Gold Coast Titans will just miss out on the top 8, but after last season that will seem a like a triumph

 

[babyg]

If they go worse than tenth it is the coach.

 

[Kirky]

they can't do any worse than last year. They've recruited well, and it'll be interesting to see how quickly the team gels. I'm predicting this may take a while, and real success won't be seen 'till 2013.

 

[Lambretta]

Take the quality of Friend, Laffranchi and Rogers out of any team and they'd struggle. They were three of the best players at the Titans and they were never going to adjust to their absence in the short term.

Attack was a Titans deficiency last season and their recruitment shows they have attempted to address this. Champion is a good player and I think he'll find a place up at the Titans. Idris needs someone to take him under their wing and protect him from the media and the nightlife (and mid morning, midday, mid afternoon and midnight snacking). He has the potential to be a great player, or a great fat useless lump. I cant make up my mind which he's going to be. Personally I think he'll end up growing round the middle and becoming a prop - so in the long term, he's not the answer in attack, but for this season he could well cause teams problems.

Srama showed some promise early, but the pressure of playing in a losing team got to him and he ended up looking lost at times. That's not surprising when you're playing in a team that is beaten before kick off every game, so I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, but he has a nuggety look about him and his stamina to play the full 80 might be tested as the season wears on.

They've bought a good prop, an excellent second rower, a good winger and a centre that could do anything.

I voted 13th to 15th, but I think I voted wrong. I'm prepared to say they'll finish 10th

 

[Ronnie Dobbs]

Take the quality of Friend, Laffranchi and Rogers out of any team and they'd struggle. They were three of the best players at the Titans and they were never going to adjust to their absence in the short term.

Attack was a Titans deficiency last season and their recruitment shows they have attempted to address this. Champion is a good player and I think he'll find a place up at the Titans. Idris needs someone to take him under their wing and protect him from the media and the nightlife (and mid morning, midday, mid afternoon and midnight snacking). He has the potential to be a great player, or a great fat useless lump. I cant make up my mind which he's going to be. Personally I think he'll end up growing round the middle and becoming a prop - so in the long term, he's not the answer in attack, but for this season he could well cause teams problems.

Srama showed some promise early, but the pressure of playing in a losing team got to him and he ended up looking lost at times. That's not surprising when you're playing in a team that is beaten before kick off every game, so I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, but he has a nuggety look about him and his stamina to play the full 80 might be tested as the season wears on.

They've bought a good prop, an excellent second rower, a good winger and a centre that could do anything.

I voted 13th to 15th, but I think I voted wrong. I'm prepared to say they'll finish 10th

10th isn't an achievement unless its Souffs.

 

[mene]

10th isn't an achievement unless its Souffs.

:lol:

 

[redvscotty]

Titans back in the Top 8.

 

[God-King Dean]

anjado - I really rate Srama, I think he's the perfect replacement for Friend. Plenty of ticker and isn't afraid to ask questions of the defence.

Tough to say how the side will shape up let alone how they'll fare in 2012. They have a strange mix of over the hill players, raw young players, decent club players and players who could go either way. If they had a Bellamy or a Hasler at the helm I'd be confident of a Top 8 finish but Cartwright is more or less in that Neil Henry category for mine. Has his moments, but hasn't discovered that consistency great coaches need.

Idris is a good signing, they've always lacked in the three quaters and I rate Idris as one of the best young centres in the game. He was in for a big season last year until it was stunted by a nagging injury. With Prince around I believe he'll get much more time and space.

Forward pack is good but I wouldn't say great. Bailey is in the twilight of his career and while he's still one of the better props in the game I don't think he has the ability to step up in the tougher games. Similar story with Douglas but he's never shown it before. Will the move up north help his game? With the exception of 2010, Myles hasn't impressed me at club level. He'll still be a solid hand and better than Laffranchi post 2008 but not by that much. Like his former Sharks team mate, Bird is an interesting one to watch. He's been dicked around a lot at the Titans having been moved to and from the halves on a consistent basis. With some stability in the position and an improved pack around him maybe he'll be able to rediscover his 2006-08 form. Harrison is solid, Mini is inconsistent and the young forwards coming through could be anything.

The spine will surely depend on how well that pack performs but it's hard to nail down who will exactly play where. All we know is Prince will be the halfback and Srama will be his hooker. The latter is a good gain for the Titans and should make life a lot easier for Prince. We hear a lot about worst hookers in the competition...none of the names thrown around had anything on Riley Brown. That guy was ridiculously bad for the Titans. The Tits didn't fair much better in the five eigth position last year so you'd have to think Sezer or Henry would be welcome additions. But the biggest head scratcher is fullback. Now from where I sit there's two options. Short term, Zillman who has enough speed, agility and acceleration to scare people. Then there's Rankin who's raw but showed some promising signs last year and I think could be a better playmaker. It's going to be interesting to see who he goes with. If it was up to me, it'd be Zillman as I already have enough young players in the side and I'd prefer his speed but it's hardly an ideal situation for Johnny.

Already touched on the backs but I think Gordon is a big return and I think Champion might fit in at the Titans.

Ultimately, there are too many question marks for me to be confident of their chances. I'd say about 10th-11th.

My mouth is full of blood from biting my tongue lol.

I've already made my thoughts on Idris pretty clear.

http://forums.leagueunlimited.com/showthread.php?t=386438&highlight=idris

If Idris didn't have dreadlocks, I don't even think he'd be in first grade. But that's another thread.....

 

[Big Pete]

On the other hand, if Idris didn't receive the media attention he does I don't think he'd receive as much hate as he does on here.

Lots of tall poppy syndrome around this place.

 

[Hutty1986]

On the other hand, if Idris didn't receive the media attention he does I don't think he'd receive as much hate as he does on here.

Lots of tall poppy syndrome around this place.

Very true, but he is f**king awful!

 

[age.s]

Prince's problem last year was a lack of desire. He still had the goods when he put some effort in, but when something went against him or the team he just relaxed and went with it. The lack of fight in the captain seemed to ripple through the entire team on occassion. Bird was the only one that seemed to give a shit consistently.

They'll be downhill skiers imo. The new blood in the squad could well rejuvenate Prince and give him a second wind in his career. If that happens I could see them making the 8 as they have the talent in nearly all positions (though they're short a quality fullback). But if they get early injuries and/or a couple of tough results I could see the fight going out of them and the spoon beckoning again. Went with 9th-12th as the middle ground.

 

[Hoekstra]

Will finish around 10th imo.

There seems to be a myth that their bad year on the field caused a financial problem. Reality is their crowds were only down 14% on the previous year and sponsors would not be pulling out mid season becuase of on field performance. Of course they may have found it harder to attract sponsors for this year as spooners but that is just speculation.

14 % is still a hike downwards. I think there attendance problems have more to do with the fact that it’s a hard ground to get to and costs a bomb in ticket, food and drink prices. It’s a decent stadium and all but they need to find a way to make it more accessible if they are keeping an eye on their long term viability.

 

[firechild]

Even when the Titans were finishing well inside the top 8 they never looked like a potential premiership winning side. I think they'll spend a few years outside the 8.
10-12th for 2012.

 

[AuDragon]

14 % is still a hike downwards. I think there attendance problems have more to do with the fact that it’s a hard ground to get to and costs a bomb in ticket, food and drink prices. It’s a decent stadium and all but they need to find a way to make it more accessible if they are keeping an eye on their long term viability.

More accessible? It's got a train and bus station right outside the door, extra trains and busses on game day, and the transport is free with the game tickets or membership, which is why they are more expensive in SE Qld... It's basically as accessible as Suncorp in Brissy. How more accessible do you want it to be? :crazy:

 

[Darren Britt]

Close to last.
Disappointing season last year - recruited poorly.

 

[Ronnie Dobbs]

Close to last.
Disappointing season last year - recruited poorly.

QFT Darren.

 

[Sans Souci Sainter]

Tits will be shit spattered this season.

13th-16th.

Idris is poison and I can't see Princess turning it around.

Bird will focus on SOO with an eye on the Shire.

Champion was ok at Souths enjoying a bit of a finger-pointing profile, but struggled in Melbourne. Titans will have to keep an eye on him and Dudris.

Cartwright first coach under the pump.

The Titans premiership window has passed them by.

 

[Moffo]

bird to 6?

if prince plays out of his skin they'll go ok, apart from that they are farked. but attitude

13-16th

 

[Eddie.]

I think they are in for another long year on the Coast.

Recruited big but did they recruit smart. Prince will surely play a lot better this year.

Anyway, 15th.

 

[get amongst it]

Give Kane lawton a run at 5/8