Matt Pritchard reviews the 2022 Season of the Gold Coast Titans where they finished thirteenth on the ladder.
Stats
Wins: 6
Losses: 18
Most Tries: Beau Fermor (11)
Most Points: Tanah Boyd (59)
Club Player of the Year: Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
Titans Unable to Replicate 2021 Effort, Sliding Down the Ladder
There was plenty of expectation that the Gold Coast Titans could build on their first NRL finals appearance since 2016 and back up their 2021 week 1 finals performance.
With Isaac Liu the key signing from the Roosters, that strengthened their bid to play at the back end of the season.
In February, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui became the youngest captain in the competition at twenty-two years old and with 49 appearances to his name for both the Titans and the Storm.
Straight up the Titans stretched the Eels going down by four points after trailing 26-12 after 33 minutes. They went LWLW for the first four weeks including their 8-6 win over the Wests Tigers which has been described as one of the worst games of 2022.
Despite being competitive in most matches the Titans were win-less in April, however they pushed defending premiers Penrith Panthers 18-4 after leading 4-0 at half-time. Their winning drought ended when they won a thrilling golden point Magic Round clash in the Brisbane wet.
The Titans would hit rock bottom after Magic Round and lost their next ten on the trot which put head coach Justin Holbrook under pressure. While Fa’asuamaleaui was trying to do his best and lead from the front, there was frustration around David Fifita’s role in the team and subsequent efforts. Their 35-24 loss against the Broncos after squandering a 24-4 half-time lead was frustrating for their legion of fans.
Wins against Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, Newcastle Knights and a sensational come-from-behind in the final round against the New Zealand Warriors all but assured the Titans they’d end 2022 in thirteenth place, four points away from the bottom placed Wests Tigers.
Jojo Fifita gave Titans fans something to be excited about with the nineteen-year-old impressive in his eight appearances for the club.
Ahead of 2023 Holbrook has recruited experienced five-eighth Kieran Foran, former Rooster Sam Verrills and ex-Storm forward Joe Stimson.
If they are to work out how best to use Fifita in their game plan, the Titans should be a finals contender in the new season.
NothingButLeague Titans Player of 2022: AJ Brimson (18)
Embed from Getty ImagesMatches: 22
Tries: 9
Try Assists: 16
Line Breaks: 11
Other Points: 9 Tino Fa’asuamaleaui; 6 Toby Sexton; 5 Beau Fermor; 3 Greg Marzhew; 2 David Fifita, Jarrod Wallace, Tanah Boyd
