We’re entering year two of the Des Hasler era at the Titans, but it’s fair to say that they are still one of the toughest teams in the NRL to figure out.
The only place to watch both games of the Las Vegas opening double-header live is Fox League, available on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >
There were many peaks and troughs in the first season under Hasler, but enough there to suggest they can climb up the ladder this year following a 14th-placed finish in 2024.
Talent wise, the Titans have plenty of it. Their forward pack is outstanding and very deep, while their backline consists of several of exciting stars such as Keano Kini, Jayden Campbell, AJ Brimson and Alofiana Khan-Pereira.
Simply put, they should not be finishing anywhere near 14th, but instead closer to the top eight with the talent they have on their roster.
In what is a massive boost, Titans skipper Tino Fa’asuamaleaui will be back in the line up for the team’s first game of the season in Round 2 (Titans have the bye in Round 1).
Fa’asuamaleaui ruptured his ACL in Round 3 of last year, and the Titans struggled in his absence, especially early in the season.
Fa’asuamaleaui believes the Titans have made great strides in the off-season and can improve sharply in the second season under Hasler.
“There is a sense (we’re close to making the eight) but we just have to focus on training hard and mentally preparing hard,” the Titans captain told foxsports.com.au.
“We have to go out there and really believe in it to put ourselves in the best position to play well.”
As 2024 was essentially a write-off for Fa’asuamaleaui, he’s looking forward to his first full season under Hasler.
Even though the jury is still out on Hasler following a poor 2024 and a shellacking at the hands of the Broncos in the club’s first trial match this season, Fa’asuamaleaui has no doubt the dual premiership winning coach is the right man for the job.
“He’s definitely the guy to take us to the top. We just have to believe it as players. The confidence piece for us is probably the big piece missing for us,” Fa’asuamaleaui said.
“It’s probably year one for me to be honest because I’ve been out.
“I’m just excited to be getting out on the field, being sprayed by Des and getting tips from him and what not.
“It’s been exciting and I just can’t wait to grow with him.”
STRENGTH
Forward pack.
It’s easily one of the best in the NRL. Headlined by Fa’asuamaleaui and David Fifita, the Titans forward room packs plenty of punch. Moeaki Fotuaika was one of the Maroons’ best in 2024, Klese Haas has gone from strength to strength each year, Josiah Pahulu is an exciting youngster and now you add in veteran prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard, who joins from the Eels. To give a snapshot on just how strong their forwards’ depth is, back rower Beau Fermor and prop Jaimin Joliffe will likely start the season on the bench. Both are easily good enough to be starters.
WEAKNESS
Halves.
Maybe a little unfair to pinpoint but it’s more due to the many question marks surrounding the likely halves partnership of Jayden Campbell and AJ Brimson. Campbell has yet to play halfback in the NRL while Brimson’s first choice position is fullback, however to accommodate Keano Kini, coach Des Hasler has elected to put Brimson in the halves. Campbell impressed at five-eighth in 2024 and while halfback is a new challenge, he showed enough last year that suggests he’ll be able to direct a team around the park. For Hasler, it’s important to have his three best backs (Kini, Brimson, Campbell) on the park at once, but the jury is out on how two former fullbacks in Brimson and Campbell will mesh as a halves pairing.
WHO’S UNDER PRESSURE
David Fifita.
For a few reasons, 2024 probably wasn’t Fifita’s best year in the NRL. In addition to the scrutiny he received around his decision to backflip on the Roosters, Fifita wasn’t picked in the Queensland side for the series loss to NSW despite a pretty decent start to the season individually. Also, his form was shoddy in the back half of the season but it must be said that he was dealing with an ankle injury which clearly had an impact. Fifita isn’t the only Titan required to step up in 2025, but he needs to play up to his best standard if the Gold Coast are to make any top eight noise this year. He’s a wrecking ball who can win the game on his own when he’s on, but can just as easily go missing. On $1m a season, Fifita needs to prove a headache for opposition defenders more often to justify the hefty price tag.
THE RISING STAR
Josiah Pahulu.
Keano Kini, coming off a Titans Player of the Year award, was probably too obvious to put down here even though he’s still just 20 years old, so we’re highlighting another 20 year-old in Pahulu. There were rumblings in the off-season that Pahulu was angling for an early release following a contract dispute, but his Titans teammates vow he’s working the house down. In his rookie season, Pahulu played in 19 games, starting in a handful of those. He runs and tackles hard and once he improves his fitness levels, he’ll be a force to be reckoned with. He’s also learning invaluable lessons from some of the best forwards in the game.
THE UNLUCKY ONES
Carter Gordon.
By all reports, the ex-Wallaby has been training the house down during Titans pre-season training. “He’s training anywhere in the backs really just because he is that bigger body,” Titans star AJ Brimson said on Gordon. However he will probably be on the outside looking in to start the season. Gordon adds versatility to the Titans, being able to play in the halves and in the centres and there’s no doubt he’ll get a crack in the NRL at some stage this season, but it’s unlikely he is picked in the centres over the proven Brian Kelly and Phil Sami. With Des Hasler set to roll with Brimson and Jayden Campbell in the halves, Gordon will have to bide his time and continue to progress his game in the QLD Cup. There’s a minor chance he’s picked on the interchange bench in the No. 14 jersey, but given how deep the Titans are at forward, that also seems unlikely at this stage.
PREDICTED FINISH –
BEST 17
1. Keano Kini
2. Alofian Khan-Pereira
3. Brian Kelly
4. Phil Sami
5. Jojo Fifita
6. AJ Brimson
7. Jayden Campbell
8. Moe Fotuaika
9. Sam Verrills
10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard
11. David Fifita
12. Klese Haas
13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
14. Chris Randall
15. Josiah Pahulu
16. Jaimin Jolliffe
17. Beau Fermor
2025 squad: AJ Brimson (2030), Alofi’ana Khan-Pereira (2026), Beau Fermor (2026), Ben Liyou (2025), Brian Kelly (2026), Carter Gordon (2026), Chris Randall (2027), David Fifita (2026), Harley Smith-Shields (2025), Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui (2025), Jacob Alick-Wiencke (2025), Jaimin Jollife (2026), Jayden Campbell (2026), Jaylan de Groot (2025), Jojo Fifita (2025), Josiah Pahulu (2025), Keano Kini (2026), Ken Maumalo (2025), Kieran Foran (2025), Klese Haas (2027), Moeaki Fotuaika (2027), Phillip Sami (2026), Reagan Campbell-Gillard (2027), Ryan Foran (2025), Ryder Williams, Sam Verrills (2026), Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (2026, PO until 2033), Tony Francis (2025)
Development players: Arama Hau (2025, CO 2026), Sam Stephenson (2025), Tukimihia Simpkins (2026), Zane Harrison (2025),
2025 gains: Reagan Campbell-Gillard (Eels), Carter Gordon (upgraded), Sam Stephenson (Development contract), Zane Harrison (Development contract, Tuki Simpkins (Development contract, from Norths Devils)
2025 losses: Erin Clark (Warriors), Seth Nikotemo (Trinity Wakefield), Tanah Boyd (Warriors), Keenan Palasia (Leeds Rhinos), Aaron Schoupp (Sea Eagles)
Coach: Des Hasler (2026)
Discussion about this post