NRL - Gold Coast Titans 2017 Season Review
Gold Coast Titans' Season Review -
Much was expected of the Gold Coast Titans in 2017, after they made the finals in 2016 despite starting the year as Wooden Spoon favourites. With Jarryd Hayne having a full Pre-Season under his belt, and with Kane Elgy fit again, the Titans were a popular pick to play finals. However, a terrible run with injuries and poor performances saw their season unravel quickly.
Season Finish - 15th (7 Wins, 17 Losses, 448 Points Scored, 638 Against)
Season Ranking 2/10 - You could only describe it as a disastrous season for the Titans, both on and off the field, finishing 2nd last. I had them as a Top 8 team coming into this season, having finished 8th last season and with Jarryd Hayne added to their roster. Whilst Hayne was a huge flop, the whole side just looked disorganised, unmotivated and a mess for most of the season, which resulted in Neil Henry being fired late in the season.The Titans forged their identity in 2016 as a hard working, ultra competitive team. It was a team with no superstars, but generally a great attitude. However, that was nowhere to be seen this year as the side conceded 638 points at an average of over 25 points per game. Injuries certainly were not kind to them for large parts of the year, with Coach Neil Henry rarely able to put out a full strength side until late in the year when they were virtually out of contention. However, even then they flattered to deceive.
Coach Ranking 4/10 (Neil Henry) - I do feel for Neil Henry in that he had this team firing last season, and injuries were cruel to them this season. However, I don't buy into the fact that Jarryd Hayne ruined everything at the Titans. It's the Coach's job to get the best out of all his players, including his highest paid player at the Club. The Titans' home record was awful this year and, to my eye, Henry appeared to have lost more than Hayne with a number of senior players underperforming throughout the season. Henry has proven to be a good Coach at developing and rebuilding Clubs, to an extent, over the years including the Raiders, Cowboys and now the Titans. However, with a 43% career win you have to question whether he was a coach capable of taking that extra step with a Club. His old school methods of treating everybody the same way were never likely to click with Hayne, and that played a part in his downfall, but can't be blamed totally for the Club's poor season.
Best Win - Round 10 Melbourne Storm 36 Gold Coast Titans 38 @ Suncorp Stadium
The Titans did have a few good wins amongst the carnage this season, beating the Sharks twice, as well as the Eels at home. However, I picked this game as the Storm were, without doubt, the best side in the competiton in the regular season. Played in front of a massive crowd at Suncorp Stadium for the double header, the Titans had to come from 8 points down with 5 minutes to play to pull off a high scoring upset. They showed the type of attacking football the side was capable of here, to stun the Minor Premiers, and briefly give life to their season.
Worst Loss - Round 22 Gold Coast Titans 0 Brisbane Broncos 54 @ CBUS Super Stadium
There were many listless displays by the Titans this year, including being flogged by the lowly Tigers and Warriors at home, and losing to the Knights in Newcastle. However, I felt their worst performance of the year was reserved for the local Derby where they laid an egg, losing 54-0 to the Broncos in front of their home fans. Down 16-0 at halftime, the Titans raised the white flag in the second half conceding 7 unanswered tries, with a number of them being runaway, long distance tries. This was the biggest loss in the Club's eleven year history, and an embarrassing night for many of their senior players.
Best Player - Jarrod Wallace - Unwanted by the Broncos, I thought Jarrod Wallace was really strong for Titans in the middle of the field. He played with aggression and intent and deserved the Origin jumper he won. Wallace was consistent in the toughest position on the field, being the front row, racking up 21 performances for the Titans and making his debut for the Maroons playing in both Origin 2 and 3 victories.
Most Disappointing Player - Jarryd Hayne - I am not a Jarryd Hayne hater, however it's hard to go past him here given the expectation and the fact he is the Titans' highest paid player. Hayne barely fired a shot all year, with many subdued performances, and the highlight of his season was probably a 2-try display against the lowly Tigers at his junior home of Campbelltown. Hayne looks to have lost a yard of speed, which made him magic, and I think is now behind him. However, I still think he is capable of adapting his game and contributing more to the team in different ways. To be honest, he has never looked totally happy since returning to the NRL after his desired Parramatta return never eventuated.
2018 Prospects (Sceptical) - The Titans currently have no Coach, and no big signings, for next season, which throws doubt on whether they can climb back up the ranks in 2018. Plenty will depend on whether the new Coach can get some of the senior players in Hayne, Elgey, Taylor, Peats, James and Proctor playing their best football again. My immediate thought is they should improve from 15th with the talent on their roster, but I don't think they can get back into the finals without a signing or two.