Home Ground: CBUS Super Stadium

Coach: Josh Hannay

The Gold Coast Titans' 2025 NRL season was largely a disappointing struggle, marked by poor defense and coaching upheaval, despite flashes of exciting attack from players like Jayden Campbell, ultimately finishing near the bottom of the ladder and leading to Des Hasler's departure, with new coach Josh Hannay tasked with building resilience and fixing their leaky defense for 2026. They won only six games, avoiding the wooden spoon by a narrow margin, and spent significant time at the bottom of the ladder. In essence, 2025 was a season of wasted potential for the Titans, full of attacking flair but undone by defensive frailty, setting the stage for a significant rebuild under new leadership. 

Chock-full of entertaining attacking players, the Titans played some sparkling football with ball in hand but their defence and attention to detail were woeful. The disastrous season cost veteran coach Des Hasler his job, with rookie Josh Hannay having the enormous task of whipping the Titans into a winning football team. The loss of fullback Keano Kini (neck injury) early in their campaign was a cruel blow, but injuries weren't too unkind to the club apart from that.

Tino Fa'asuamaleaui was a tower of strength up the middle, leading the Titans bravely, but it seems only a matter of time before he moves to another club - potentially Perth. Beau Fermor was another to shine in the forwards - the only Titan to play all 24 games - and was rewarded with Queensland Origin selection. David Fifita had another frustrating season, playing like a world-beater at times and going missing at others. He haa signed with Souths for next season in a move that will probably be good for both him and the Titans

One of the key selection disputes regarding the Titans in recent years has been around what position AJ Brimson should really be playing in. He has spent his best days playing at fullback, but has, in recent times, been used at either centre or five-eight. Despite all of that, he was back at the number one for much of 2025 owing to a serious injury to Keano Kini, and again looked to improve the team at both ends of the park. It means Brimson likely needs to line up in the number six jumper again with the retirement of Kieren Foran.

The Titans have added Lachlan Ilias from the St George Illawarra Dragons during the off-season. Ilias could also find a role on the bench, but with Chris Randall and Kurtis Morrin already likely to feature there, it may be that the Titans need a bit more size from the remainder of their pine. Hannay will have his own ideas, though, to begin the retransformation of the squad, and that has to start with consistent selections, faith in his playing group, and the right replacements being found for departing stars.

Fifita's departure does leave a gap for the Titans. While the recently re-signed Beau Fermor will line up on one edge, Klese Haas will likely have to stand up and take the other. Beyond Fermor and Haas, young gun Arama Hau and little-known Josh Patston are likely the next two in line, while Brock Gray could also feature. There are enough players there, but the Titans are certainly short a star on the edge heading into 2026.

The Titans still have plenty of spots to fill, and it's fairly clear they need reinforcements. In the backline, Max Feagai, Phillip Sami, Brian Kelly, Jojo Fifita, Jaylan De Groot and Toby Francis are set to fight over the four wing and centre spots. The addition of Feagai from the Dolphins - which happened late in the 2025 calendar year - is a solid addition, but you could argue they are still a player short.

The middle third is yet to replace Reagan Campbell-Gillard, and while Klese Haas is likely to move into the starting second-row following David Fifita's off-season release. The skinny of the situation is that additions for 2026 are likely going to be internal, and it could well be another 12 months before the Titans can start to mount a serious charge off the bottom. Realistically, it does look like another tough year on the glitter strip and they likely fight out the wooden spoon with the Dragons.

PREDICTED SEASON FINISH - 16TH