Des Hasler has been brought to the Titans to win them a maiden premiership, but he needs to get the best out of David Fifita and solve the club’s halfback dilemma to do so.
Fifita was earmarked as potentially the best forward in the game and something the NRL has never seen before, but he has so fair failed to deliver consistently on the hype.
And the time has come for Tanah Boyd to step up and own the team at halfback or Hasler may have to go to market to bring in a No.7 that can lead the team to a title.
Read on for Titans’ State of Play.
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NRL releases full 2024 season draw | 02:31
COACHES: Des Hasler
The Titans specifically went after Des Hasler to replace Justin Holbrook for his hard-nosed approach and proven record of making grand finals and winning titles. Since their inception in 2007 the Titans have never made a preliminary final and Hasler’s appointment is about making a deep finals run and going all the way. The 62-year-old has won 258 of his 458 games in the NRL at Manly and the Bulldogs since his first year in 2004, including five grand finals in 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012 and 2014 and two premierships. However, Hasler won titles back in 2008 and 2011 with Manly and his last grand final appearance was in 2014, so it remains to be seen if his best years as a coach are behind him. However, Hasler knows how to build a tough, hard-working football team and the knock on the Titans for a long time is that they don’t know how to tough out games. Their penchant for surrendering big leads and only playing half a game of football will be over under Hasler, who prioritises hard work and fitness above all else. Joining Halser is former Manly captain Michael Monaghan, who will work alongside other NRL assistants Brett White, last year’s interim coach Jim Lenihan and transition coach Brad Davis.
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2024 squad: Aaron Schoupp (2025), AJ Brimson (2026), Alofi’ana Khan-Pereira (2026), Beau Fermor (2026), Brian Kelly (2026), Chris Randall (2026), David Fifita (2024, PO 2025, 2026), Erin Clark (2025), Isaac Liu (2024), Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui (2025), Jaimin Jollife (2026), Jayden Campbell (2026), Joe Stimson (2024), Jojo Fifita (2025), Josiah Pahulu (2025), Keano Kini (2026), Keenan Palasia (2025), Ken Maumalo (2025), Kieran Foran (2024), Klese Haas (2024), Moeaki Fotuaika (2027), Phillip Sami (2026), Ryan Foran (2025), Sam Verrills (2026), Tanah Boyd (2025), Thomas Weaver (2024), Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (2026, PO 2033), Tony Francis (2025), Treymain Spry (2024)
Development players: Arama Hau (2025, CO 2025), Ben Liyour (2025), Jaylan de Groot (2024, CO 2025), Oskar Bryant (2024), Seth Nikotemo (2025)
PLAYERS IN: Keenan Palasia (Broncos)
The Titans prioritised a couple of key re-signings in skipper Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and David Fifita and haven’t been that active in the player market for 2024. However, former Broncos forward Keenan Palasia will add a new dimension to their already impressive forward pack. The second-rower will join David Fifita and Beau Fermor in a powerful back row rotation with Fa’asuamaleaui potentially switching to front row to partner fellow Queensland forward Moe Fotuiaka permanently. The Titans have a formidable forward pack and with 53 games for the Broncos including the 2023 Grand Final, Palasia will create more competition for spots in the starting pack and bring that winning mentality from Brisbane. The 26-year-old is entering the prime of his career, which makes the Titans pack an even scarier beast in 2024.
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PLAYERS OUT: Kruise Leeming (Wigan Warriors), Joe Vuna (unsigned)
WHERE THEY NEED TO IMPROVE: Halfback
No disrespect to the Titans, but they have struggled to find an elite halfback since Scott Prince was last at the club in 2012. The club let Jamal Fogarty and Toby Sexton leave in recent seasons and brought in veteran Kieran Foran to add some much needed experience to their halves. However, Des Hasler has refused to move Foran to halfback and he is likely in the last year of his career in 2024, so he is defenitely not the future. Tanah Boyd has been earmaked as the future for some time, but it is fair to say he hasn’t quite lit up the NRL consistently to date. The 23-year-old has seven tries in 60 NRL games since his debut in 2019, but only cemented the No.7 jersey last season after being used as a dummyhalf early in his career. Boyd is a solid player with plenty of potential, but the time has come for him to realise it and there are doubts he is in the elite class that can lead a team to a premiership. If Boyd can’t consistently create opportunities for his teammates with his kicking and passing games in 2024, the club may have to go to market.
WHO THEY COULD SIGN: Ben Hunt
He may be contracted to the Dragons for another two seasons, but there is no doubt Ben Hunt wants to return home to Queensland and the Titans look to be the ideal destination for both parties. Unfortunatly for Gold Coast, the Dragons blocked Hunt’s release request last season with new coach Shane Flanagan backing himself to turn the club around and convince Hunt to stay. However, if the Dragons continue to struggle in 2024, Flanagan may have little choice but to let Hunt go early if the Dragons can get something in return. A potential player swap with the Titans could again be on the cards, while getting Hunt off their books could free up cap space to enable a rebuild at the Dragons. The 33-year-old has 312 games of experience and while he is getting towards the end of his career, he is still motivated to win a prmiership before he retires and he may be the missing piece to the Gold Coast’s premiership puzzle.
PLAYER UNDER MOST PRESSURE: David Fifita
David Fifita came to the Titans in 2021 on a monster three-year deal worth $1.25 million a season and was regarded as potentially the best forward in the game. And while no one would begrudge Fifita taking that money, it is fair to say he hasn’t lived up to the price tag and given the Titans consistent bang for their buck. The 23-year-old has now scored 45 tries in 106 NRL games, including 32 in 62 games for the Titans and he has eight Origins for Queensland and four Tests for Tonga to date. However, he hasn’t lived up to the hype of his early career, which had him earmarked as the most damaging and destructive forward in the game. Fifita’s ridiculous $1.25 million contract is now a thing of the past and he has signed a new three-year deal for less money which involves options in his favour in 2025 and 2026. Now is the chance for Fifita to let his footy do the talking and repay the faith the Titans have put in him and become a leader of the pack. Kieran Foran helped Fifita rediscover his form last season, but now he needs to take some ownership of his training and performance to reach the heights that were predicted early in his career.
YOUNG GUN TO WATCH: Alofi’ana Khan-Pereira
The Titans have no shortage of youn guns in their backline including Jayden Cambell and Keano Kini, but of the players set to start next season Alofi’ana Khan-Pereira looks to be the one to watch. Khan-Pereira scored a whopping 20 tries in 23 games in his rookie season and is set to get even better in 2024 with another full pre-season under his belt. The 22-year-old New Zealand native has brilliant footwork and blinding speed and if he can add some bulk to his frame he can be even more damaging. Provided his halves and centres can do their jobs inside him, Khan-Pereira should score plenty more tries in 2024 and the try-scoring leader is not out of the question for the youngster.
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