2026 preview - Gold Coast Titans

A new dawn begins on the Gold Coast

The Gold Coast Titans will head into 2026 full of hope and optimism as Josh Hannay looks to turn the club's misfortunes around.

The 2025 campaign was a disappointing one for the Titans to put it lightly as the club managed 6 wins and 18 losses, narrowly avoiding another wretched wooden spoon on the last day of the season in the process.

However, with a new season comes a new coach, new players and a new exciting brand of football. Josh Hannay arrives in Robina as one of the most promising assistant coaches in the game and has already made his mark on the club before a ball has been kicked.

Hannay has recently locked down the futures of Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Cooper Bai, as well as showing the door to eleven players from last year's top 30. He has also recruited the likes of Lachlan Ilias, Max Feagai, Kurtis Morrin and Luke Sommerton.

The Titans will begin their 2026 campaign with a difficult away trip to the Shire as they take on the Cronulla Sharks.

Why'll they win it

For a team that has struggled to put wins together over the last few seasons the Gold Coast boast one of the most electrifying spines in the competition - Keano Kini, AJ Brimson, Jayden Campbell and Sam Verrills.

When these four are on the park together, points usually end up on the scoreboard but the true test for the Titans spine will be if they can stay on the park long enough to win games. Each of them have struggled with their own injury problems over the past few years, particularly Kini who managed just six games last season, four of those coming off the bench.

Why they won't

History tells us that the Titans will struggle to ascend up the ladder this year purely due to a lack of experience. The Hannay rebuild is in full swing but it will take time for the team to gel to the new system as well as a host of new players entering the frame who will need time to settle in.

With the club spending most of 2025 in last place it is expected they will struggle, add the injury concerns in the spine and the departure of David Fifita and it will likely be a long season full of lessons for the Gold Coast but they will be better for it.

2026 fixtures

Key Player

If there's one guy the Titans will be banking on this year to help them turn things around it's Tino Fa'asuamaleaui. The representative forward is fresh off a new re-commitment to the club as he dismissed offers from other ventures and opted to buy into the Hannay project.

Tino enjoyed an impressive 2025 campaign on the field despite the club's woes with the star forward averaging 146 running metres, 56 post contact metres, 30 offloads as well as scoring 3 tries and tackling at nearly 92%.

The stats speak for themselves and there's no words I can put on here that could explain what Tino is to the club. Plain and simple he is crucial to the team in 2026 and him staying on the Goldie for the foreseeable future will be a huge sigh of relief for long suffering Titans fans.

Key rookie

With a huge exodus of players leaving the Titans at the end of last season it opens up a plethora of opportunities for young players to make their mark and stake a place in the team but there is one player that rises to the top in these conversations - Cooper Bai.

The news that he has recently re-committed to the club amidst interest from Melbourne Storm should be a huge green tick for Titans fans. They got a small glimpse of him at the end of last season when he made his debut against the Tigers in Round 27. The middle forward ran for 76 metres and produced a line break in just 29 minutes.

His Queensland Cup stats also show the early signs of a gun forward as he averaged 148 metres, tackled at 94.5% and scored 5 tries in 7 games. The one to watch for 2026.

Player movement

GAINS: Kurtis Morrin (Canterbury), Luke Sommerton (Penrith), Lachlan Ilias (St George Illawarra), Adam Christensen (Burleigh), Jensen Taumoepeau (Canberra), Max Feagai (Dolphins)

COACH: Josh Hannay
CAPTAIN: Tino Fa'asuamaleaui

Contracted for 2026: Adam Christensen, AJ Brimson, Beau Fermor, Brock Gray, Chris Randall, Jaimin Jolliffe, Jayden Campbell, Jaylan de Groot, Jojo Fifita, Josh Patston, Keano Kini, Klese Haas, Kurtis Morrin, Lachlan Ilias, Luke Sommerton, Max Feagai, Moeaki Fotuaika, Phillip Sami, Sam Verrills, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, Tony Francis, Tuki Simpkins, Zane Harrison

LOSSES from 2025: Alofiana Khan-Pereira (Warriors), Isaac Fa'asuamaleaui (Catalans), Reagan Campbell-Gillard (London), Tom Weaver (Castleford), Carter Gordon (rugby union), Kieran Foran (retired), Ben Liyou, Harley Smith-Shields, Jacob Alick-Wiencke, Ryan Foran, Tony Francis, Sean Mullaney (released), David Fifita (South Sydney), Brian Kelly (Parramatta)

Best 19

1. Keano Kini
2. Sialetili Faeamani
3. Phillip Sami
4. Max Feagai
5. Jojo Fifita
6. AJ Brimson
7. Jayden Campbell
8. Mo Fotuaika
9. Sam Verrills
10. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
11. Josh Patson
12. Beau Fermor
13. Chris Randall

14. Luke Sommerton
15. Kurtis Morrin
16. Klese Haas
17. Cooper Bai
18. Lachlan Ilias
19. Jaylan De Groot