Searle says don't bother coming
for a party

NRL players hoping to join the new Gold Coast franchise for hard-core partying or an extended holiday are in for a rude shock after tough conditioner Billy Johnstone signed a three-year deal with the Titans.

The Kangaroos, Queensland Origin and North Queensland conditioner will head to the tourist strip at the end of this season to help the Titans prepare to enter the 2007 competition. Titans boss Michael Searle expects Johnstone's signing will frighten off some players but says he doesn't want them on the Gold Coast if they're not prepared to train under a strict regime.

Johnstone was the Gold Coast Giants' inaugural signing and captained the first national rugby league team in the region.