2015 in review - Gold Coast Titans

It was a rocky lead in to the 2015 NRL season for the Gold Coast Titans.

Firstly there were the likes of Luke Bailey, Ashley Harrison, Mark Minichiello, Albert Kelly, Steve Michaels and Brad Takairangi who were in the club's top 17 that departed.

The gains list looked slim in comparison, with Josh Hoffman the only addition who was a starter for an NRL club in 2014.

In December 2014, Greg Bird was dumped as co-captain and fined $15,000 by the club for public urination beside a police car.

Promising second rower Paul Carter had his contract terminated after his second drink driving infringement in one year.

Just weeks out from the start of the season two former players (Ashley Harrison and Steve Michaels) and five current players (Bird, Dave Taylor, Beau Falloon, Jamie Dowling and Kalifa Faifai Loa) were involved with an alleged drug scandal.

The Titans would have to begin the season without these players being investigated by police.

February also brought about the club going into voluntary administration, and their NRL licence termination. The club would from here on in be run by the NRL.

During this tumultuous time the club was in serious contention for the services of Daly Cherry-Evans. On March 6th, the day before the Titans first regular season game, the club got some great news with Daly Cherry-Evans agreeing to a four-year, $4 million deal.

Turning point
Kane Elgey was injured in the Gold Coast's round 13 matchup with the Wests Tigers and he would miss the next five rounds.

While the Gold Coast went on to win 28-14 the week after against the Canterbury Bulldogs, his halves partner Aidan Sezer was injured in round 15 and missed four rounds to overlap with Elgey's absence.

The Titans were in eighth spot on the ladder through 14 rounds, but lost their next five games to fall to fifteenth on the ladder.

The good
Arguably the two best players from the Gold Coast Titans season, Kane Elgey and James Roberts, were re-signed through to the end of 2017. A clear emphasis has also been put on building their junior ranks and elevating them into the first grade squad.

Securing Ashley Taylor from the Brisbane Broncos and Tyrone Roberts from the Newcastle Knights will give coach Neil Henry options to fill the void left by Daly Cherry-Evans and Aidan Sezer. Taylor has been the junior Kangaroos halfback and the U20s player of the year in 2015.

If Henry wants experience to compliment Elgey in the halves he can play Roberts, or if he wants Taylor to learn alongside Elgey they can form one of the best young halves combinations in the NRL.

The mid-season acquisition of Nene MacDonald from the stacked Sydney Roosters roster looks like it could be a steal. MacDonald excelled in attack and at making metres; if his defensive skills can lift he will cement the starting left centre spot.

The Titans have been incident free after a turbulent offseason. Throughout the season they've been able to sign multiple sponsors and their major front of jersey sponsorship was filled when Aquis came on board mid-way through their campaign.

Their Mad Monday celebrations have also been in-check.

The bad
The Daly Cherry-Evans contract back flip saga has set the Titans back significantly in becoming a top eight contender. The Titans had $1 million in their available salary cap committed to Cherry-Evans, which meant Aidan Sezer was no longer needed or affordable.

Subsequently, Sezer signed a three year deal with the Canberra Raiders.

They also didn't have the available funds to re-sign captain and origin representative Nate Myles, who joins the Manly Sea Eagles ironically on a three year contract.

Home crowd figures have been falling every season since 2009 and after the Titans started with an average of 21 489 in 2007, this season they averaged just 11 251. Results are certainly linked to it as only once in the last five seasons have the Gold Coast Titans won more games than they've lost at Cbus Super Stadium.

The Gold Coast will enter the 2016 NRL season with thin forward stocks. Winning the forwards battle was difficult for the Titans each week this season and the departure of Myles and Dave Taylor will leave a bigger hole in the line-up.

With Myles gone a new captain is also required.

Best players
Aidan Sezer established himself as one of the most organised and mature young halves in the competition. In most of the Titans wins this season if Sezer was not the best on the field, he wasn't far from it.

If the Titans had the opportunity to sign Sezer after missing out on Cherry-Evans, they would have offered him as much money as required to keep him on the Gold Coast.

James Roberts emerged as a sensational strike weapon with his alarming speed and agility. As a centre he was one of the Titans most consistent players and his achievements were recognised.

Roberts was the winner of the 2015 Dally M centre of the year, and was voted the Gold Coast Titans member's player of the year.

What could be most exciting for Roberts' fans next season is he said he'll be doing all he can in pre-season training to play his way into the fullback role, a similar switch to that of Greg Inglis.

Nate Myles had a massive job on his hands as the Titans captain and spearhead of the forward pack. For him to get through the workload of that all season, on top of his Queensland Maroon's commitments was a quality effort.

Disappointing players
Since Dave Taylor left the Broncos in 2009 he hasn't reached the potential footballer he could be. The sky is the limit with Taylor due to his physical gifts and his 120kg plus frame. He was constantly in and out of first grade in 2015 and he never returned to the form that saw him play eight State of Origin games.

Gold Coast Titans ambassador Gorden Tallis put it simply.

"Dave Taylor potentially could have been the best forward to ever play the game, bar none, just on ability he's a freakish talent but he doesn't want to do it," Tallis said.

Greg Bird was suspended for eight games due to a dangerous throw this season which significantly dented the Titan's team performance. With this suspension Bird became the fourth most suspended player in NRL history; having now missed a total of 29 weeks.

Josh Hoffman wasn't able to make an impact on the field most thought he was capable of. After shuffling around the backline at the Brisbane Broncos Hoffman had the opportunity to shine, playing every game for the Titans. However, he certainly hasn't locked down his fullback spot and with James Roberts to contest it in the pre-season, Hoffman will have tough competition to stay at the back.

Rookies
Kane Elgey made a sensational difference to the Gold Coast during his rookie season. Similar to Sezer in how he showed maturity beyond his years, nothing seemed to rattle the 21-year-old. His game management, kicking and try assisting ability was superb this season for many to know he's got a long NRL career ahead of him.

Agnatius Paasi hasn't received as much publicity, but his performance in the forward pack this season was promising from the 23-year-old. He was a member of the New Zealand Warriors 2011 NYC grand final winning team and was 18th man for the Junior Kiwis. With his first grade career beginning on the Gold Coast, next season he'll most likely be replacing Nate Myles in the front row and will have ample opportunity to develop.

2016 Chances
The current roster is one clearly in the middle of a reshuffle and in the process of phasing more of their junior talent into the squad. Over the past two years a lot of senior players have left the club leaving a rather unexperienced side, particularly in the halves.

This leaves the Titans chances of making the eight in 2016 slim.

One thing the Titans fans will expect from their team next season will be an improved win-loss record at home. At Cbus Super Stadium this year the Titans won five and lost seven games. Five of those seven losses were by 10 points or less.

The good news is there aren't any major injuries in the squad that will prevent anyone from being ready for 2016.

I'm backing Roberts to earn the fullback role and for Hoffman to complete a straight swap to the centres. Ash Taylor and Kane Elgey are both primarily halfbacks but for both to play one must be five-eighth, I think this will be Taylor and that he'll get the opportunity to play before Tyrone Roberts.

Best 2016 line-up

1. James Roberts
2. William Zillman
3. Josh Hoffman
4. Nene MacDonald
5. David Mead
6. Ash Taylor
7. Kane Elgey
8. Luke Douglas
9. Kieran Moseley
10. Agnatius Paasi
11. Ryan James
12. Zeb Taia
13. Greg Bird

14. Ryan Simpkins
15. Edward Pettybourne
16. Lachlan Burr
17. Daniel Mortimer