Gold Coast Titans facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Names
Full name	Gold Coast Titans
2024 season season
Club details
Founded	27 April 2005; 20 years ago (2005-04-27)
Colours	Light blue      Gold      White      Navy
Competition	National Rugby League
CEO	Steve Mitchell
Captain(s)	Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
Premierships	None
Ground(s)	Robina Stadium (capacity: 27,400)
Uniforms
Home Away
Current season

The Gold Coast Titans are a professional rugby league team from the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. They play in the National Rugby League (NRL) premiership. This is Australia's top rugby league competition. Since 2008, the Titans have played their home games at Robina Stadium in Robina, Queensland.

The Titans were the first national team from the Gold Coast since the Gold Coast Chargers. That team played from 1988 to 1998.

History of the Gold Coast Titans

How the Team Started

The idea for a Gold Coast team to return to the National Rugby League began in 1998. The Australian Rugby League (ARL) decided to remove the Gold Coast Chargers. This was even though the Chargers were doing well financially. The ARL wanted a second big team in Brisbane. They thought removing the Gold Coast team was the best way to do this.

However, the plan for a second Brisbane team didn't work out. In 1999, Michael Searle, a former Chargers player, formed a Gold Coast Bid Team. They worked hard to convince the NRL to bring a team back to the Gold Coast. They even hosted pre-season NRL games. Over 16,000 fans came to watch these games. This showed how popular rugby league was on the Gold Coast.

Many people believed the Gold Coast needed an NRL team. They pointed out how many young players were in school teams in the area. Having a local NRL team would give these young players something to aim for.

In August 2004, the NRL first said no to the Gold Coast team. The team was initially going to be called the Gold Coast Dolphins. But another team, the Redcliffe Dolphins, threatened legal action. So, the Gold Coast team had to change its name. The NRL also worried about the quality of their home ground, Carrara Stadium. It was an oval and only held about 16,000 people.

The team kept pushing for a spot in the NRL. In 2005, the Queensland Government promised $100 million for a new, 25,000-seat stadium in Robina. This promise was enough for the NRL. On May 27, 2005, the NRL announced that the Gold Coast team would be the 16th team in the 2007 NRL season.

After being accepted, the Titans started signing players. They hired John Cartwright as their first head coach. They also signed famous players like Preston Campbell, Scott Prince, Luke Bailey, and Mat Rogers.

First Seasons: 2007–2008

In February 2007, the Titans played their first ever trial game. They lost to the Melbourne Storm. But they won their next two trial games against the Parramatta Eels and Penrith Panthers. These wins showed good signs for their first season.

The Titans played their first official NRL match on March 18, 2007. It was against the St. George Illawarra Dragons at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. Over 42,000 fans watched. The Titans played well but lost a close game 20-18. A week later, they got their first official win, beating the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 18-16 at home.

The team had some ups and downs in their first year. They won four of their first ten games. Then they had a great five-week streak, winning four games and having a bye. This put them in the top four teams. However, they then lost five games in a row. They finished their first season in 12th place.

Even though they played at an older stadium, the Titans had the second-highest average fan attendance in the NRL in 2007. At the end of 2007, Luke Bailey and Anthony Laffranchi won the club's first Paul Broughton Medal for best player. The club also made $16 million in their first year.

The 2008 NRL season was the Titans' second year. They signed Ashley Harrison from the Sydney Roosters. The Titans played their first game at their new stadium, Skilled Park, against the North Queensland Cowboys. They won 36-18. Rookie Jordan Atkins scored four tries in his first game, which was a rare achievement. The stadium was full with almost 27,000 fans.

The Titans even reached the top of the NRL ladder for the first time after Round 6. They stayed there until Round 11. Their star player, Scott Prince, was selected for State of Origin. But he broke his arm in Game 3, which ended his season. After that, the Titans lost four games in a row. They finished the season in 13th place. The club's income grew to $22 million, and they made a profit of $1.5 million.

First Finals Appearances: 2009–2010

For the 2009 NRL season, the Titans signed new players like William Zillman. Many young players from the Titans' junior team also started playing in the main team. These included Esi Tonga, David Mead, and Kevin Gordon.

The Titans had their most successful season yet in 2009. They finished in third place. In the finals, they lost their first game to the Brisbane Broncos. Then they lost the semi-final to the Parramatta Eels, ending their season.

In the 2010 NRL season, the Titans signed Greg Bird. For the second year in a row, they made it to the finals. They finished 4th on the ladder. They won their first finals game against the New Zealand Warriors. This win meant they got a week off and would host a preliminary final at Suncorp Stadium. However, they lost this game to the Sydney Roosters, 32-6. This meant they missed out on the Grand Final. After 2010, Mat Rogers retired from the team.

Tough Times and Changes: 2011–2012

The 2011 NRL season was a very tough year for the Titans. They lost four of their first five games. They never really recovered and only won 6 games all year. They finished last on the ladder, receiving the "wooden spoon". This is an award given to the team that finishes last in the competition.

For the 2012 NRL season, the Titans signed new players like Jamal Idris and Nate Myles. They also lost some important founding players like Preston Campbell. The team started 2012 with a good win against the North Queensland Cowboys. But then they lost five games in a row. They had a good run in the middle of the season, winning seven games. But it wasn't enough to make the finals.

The club also faced big money problems in March 2012. They were in $35 million of debt. The team had to fight in court to avoid being shut down. Luckily, they managed to survive. By 2013, the club's new CEO announced that they were debt-free.

Ups and Downs: 2013–2014

In the 2013 NRL season, the Titans signed Dave Taylor and Albert Kelly. They lost their captain, Scott Prince. The team started well, winning four of their first six games. They were in the top 8. They had some good wins, including beating the Canberra Raiders by 36 points. But an injury to Jamal Idris hurt their season. They finished in 9th place, just missing the finals.

The 2014 NRL season also started well for the Titans. They won five of their first six games and were first on the NRL ladder. This included a close win against the Brisbane Broncos. However, after this strong start, the team lost six games in a row. They also suffered a big 42-0 loss to the New Zealand Warriors. This was the first time the club had been held to zero points since they started.

In Round 24, Luke Douglas missed his first game since 2006. He was suspended because of an old issue from when he played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. His amazing streak of 215 straight games ended. Coach John Cartwright coached his last game in Round 22. Assistant coach Neil Henry took over for the rest of the season. The Titans ended the tough year with a surprising win against the Bulldogs.

The NRL also investigated the Titans and other clubs for breaking rules about player payments (called a "salary cap breach"). The Titans were fined AU$300,000.

New Ownership and More Challenges: 2015–2019

In February 2015, the club faced more financial trouble. The NRL took over the club's ownership to help manage it. This showed that the club was having difficulties managing its money.

Before the 2015 NRL season started, star player Daly Cherry-Evans announced he would join the Titans in 2016. This was big news for the club. However, in June 2015, Cherry-Evans changed his mind and decided to stay with his old team.

After this, the Titans signed new players like Tyrone Roberts, Ashley Taylor, and Nathan Friend. In August, they signed superstar Jarryd Hayne.

The 2016 NRL season saw the Titans have a shaky start but they improved. They made it to the NRL Finals for the first time since 2010. They finished 8th on the ladder. In the elimination final, they lost to the Brisbane Broncos, ending their season.

The 2017 NRL season was a difficult one. The team finished 15th. There were also problems between coach Neil Henry and Jarryd Hayne. This led to Neil Henry leaving the club. The Titans also suffered their biggest loss ever, losing 54-0 to the Broncos. In October 2017, Garth Brennan became the new coach. Jarryd Hayne left the club at the end of 2017.

Many experts thought the Titans would finish last in the 2018 NRL season. But they surprised everyone by winning three of their first five games. They ended up finishing 14th.

The 2019 NRL season started badly, with the team losing their first four games. In July 2019, coach Garth Brennan was let go. The club's CEO said that the Titans would stay on the Gold Coast and that choosing the next coach was very important for the club's future.

In July 2019, the Gold Coast announced that Justin Holbrook would be their new head coach starting in 2020. In Round 20, the Gold Coast suffered their second heaviest defeat, losing 58-6 to the Sydney Roosters. This was a very tough loss for the team.

In August 2019, co-captain Kevin Proctor wrote a letter to the fans, apologizing for the team's performance. He said the players were "humiliated, embarrassed and appalled" by the result. In Round 22, the Titans lost to the Parramatta Eels, which meant they would finish last and get the wooden spoon for the 2019 NRL season. This was a bad year for Gold Coast sports, as their AFL team, the Gold Coast Suns, also finished last.

Holbrook and Inconsistency: 2020–2023

At the start of the 2020 NRL season, the Gold Coast lost their first three games. But then they beat the Wests Tigers, which was their first win in almost a year. The team improved a lot in Holbrook's first season, finishing 9th. This was their best finish since 2016. They ended the season with a five-game winning streak.

For the 2021 NRL season, the club signed strong players like David Fifita and Tino Fa'asuamaleaui. The team finished 8th, making the finals again. They secured their spot with a big 44-0 win over the New Zealand Warriors on the last day of the season. They needed other teams to lose and to win their game by a certain amount, and they did it!

In the first week of the 2021 Finals, the Gold Coast played the Sydney Roosters. They lost a very close game 25-24, which ended their season. After the season, the club's CEO said they planned to win two premierships by 2030 and have sold-out home games. This was a very ambitious goal, as no Gold Coast team had ever reached a Grand Final before.

The 2022 NRL season was tough for the Titans. They aimed to make the finals again but only won two of their first four games. Then they lost 16 of their next 18 games. By Round 20, they were last on the ladder. However, they won three of their last four games to finish 13th.

In Round 8 of the 2023 NRL season, the Gold Coast had a big lead of 26-0 against the new Dolphins team. But they ended up losing 28-26. This was one of the biggest comebacks in rugby league history. On June 22, 2023, the Gold Coast announced that they had let go of coach Holbrook. They replaced him with Des Hasler, who would start in 2024. The team was just outside the top eight when this decision was made. After Holbrook left, the team only won two of their last ten games. They finished 14th.

The Gold Coast started the 2024 NRL season by losing their first four games. They were the first team in 22 years to give up 28 points in eight straight games.

Season Highlights

The Gold Coast Titans have had a mix of good and tough seasons since they started.

• Finals Appearances: They have made the finals four times: in 2009, 2010, 2016, and 2021.
• Wooden Spoons: They have finished last on the ladder twice, receiving the "wooden spoon" in 2011 and 2019.

Team Look and Colours

When the team was first accepted into the NRL, they didn't have a name. They held a competition for fans to suggest names. The top three names were Titans, Stingers, and Pirates. Fans voted, and "Gold Coast Titans" was chosen on September 21, 2005. Fans also voted for the team's first jersey design.

In October 2021, the Gold Coast Titans updated their logo. The new design uses the team's main colours and makes the famous emblem look more modern. This was the first time the club changed its logo since it began in 2007.

Home Stadium

For their first season in the National Rugby League, the Titans played at Carrara Stadium. This was while their new 27,000-seat stadium in Robina was being built. Carrara Stadium was an oval and only held about 16,000 people. This was one reason the Gold Coast's first bid to join the NRL was turned down.

Work on the new stadium started in late 2005. It was ready for games before the 2008 NRL season. The stadium was built by the same company that built other big stadiums in Australia. The new stadium, now called Robina Stadium, can hold 27,690 fans.

Titans TV

The Gold Coast Titans have their own TV channel called Titans TV. It shows game highlights and stories about the players.

Players and Stats

All NRL teams have a top 25 squad of players at the start of each season. Here are some of the Titans' top players and records.

Most Tries Scored

(as of round 27, 2024)

• 85 tries: Anthony Don (2013−2021)
• 67 tries: David Mead (2009−2016)
• 58 tries: Kevin Gordon (2009−2015)
• 55 tries: Phillip Sami (2017−present)
• 44 tries: Brian Kelly (2017−present)
• 44 tries: Alofiana Khan-Pereira (2023−present)

Most Points Scored

(as of round 27, 2024)

• 719 points: Scott Prince (32 tries, 293 goals, 5 field goals)
• 365 points: Aidan Sezer (12 tries, 156 goals, 5 field goals)
• 342 points: Anthony Don (85 tries, 1 goal, 0 field goals)
• 327 points: Ashley Taylor (16 tries, 130 goals, 3 field goals)
• 268 points: David Mead (67 tries, 0 goals, 0 field goals)

Most Games Played

(as of round 27, 2024)

• 173 games: Mark Minichiello (2007−2014)
• 151 games: William Zillman (2009−2017)
• 150 games: Luke Bailey (2007−2014)
• 147 games: David Mead (2009−2016)
• 144 games: Ryan James (2010−2019)

Coaches of the Titans

Since their first season in 2007, the Titans have had 9 coaches. The current coach is Des Hasler.

Team Statistics: Win-Loss Records

The Titans have played many games against other NRL teams. Here's how they've done against each opponent:

Opponent	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Win %
Tigers	27	17	0	10	62.96
Bulldogs	24	12	0	12	50.00
Eels	26	13	0	13	50.00
Knights	30	13	0	17	43.33
Sea Eagles	28	12	0	16	42.86
Raiders	31	13	0	18	41.94
Warriors	34	14	0	20	41.18
Cowboys	33	13	0	20	39.39
Dragons	30	11	0	20	36.67
Broncos	37	13	0	24	35.14
Sharks	28	9	1	18	32.14
Roosters	25	8	0	17	32.00
Panthers	25	7	0	18	28.00
Rabbitohs	23	6	0	17	26.09
Storm	28	7	0	21	25.00
Dolphins	4	1	0	3	25.00

Club Honours and Awards

Team Achievements

• Premierships: None
• Minor Premierships: None
• Finals Series: 2009, 2010, 2016, 2021
• Wooden Spoons: 2011, 2019

Player Awards

The Paul Broughton Medal is a special award given each year to the Titans' best and fairest player. It's made of pure titanium. 'The Preston' award is named after founding player Preston Campbell. It goes to the player who best shows what it means to be a Titan.

Team Sponsors

One of Jetstars' Airbus A320s had Titans badges and large images of several Titans players on both sides of the fuselage

Many companies have supported the Gold Coast Titans over the years. Jetstar was a major sponsor for many years, even having the team called "Jetstar Gold Coast Titans". Other sponsors have included iSelect, Aquis, TFH Hire, and NEDS betting. Different companies have also sponsored parts of the jersey, like the chest, back, sleeves, and shorts.

Supporters and Fans

The official fan group for the Gold Coast Titans is called "The Legion". It started in late 2006 with a few fans. They grew and became a strong group of supporters. In 2020, the Titans officially embraced the name "Legion" for all their fans. This name represents strength and a call for all Titans supporters to join together.

The Titans have had different numbers of members and fans attending their home games each year.

Famous Fans

• Michael Caton, TV personality
• Joel Parkinson, Australian surfer
• Margot Robbie, Actress
• Samantha Stosur, Australian tennis player
• Bernard Tomic, German-born Australian tennis player
• Kenny Wallace, Australian canoeist

Cheer Squad

The Gold Coast Hogs Breath Cafe Sirens are the cheerleading team for the Gold Coast Titans.

Feeder Clubs

Since joining the National Rugby League in 2007, the Titans have worked with other rugby league clubs. These "feeder clubs" help develop young players who might one day play for the Titans.

• Tweed Heads Seagulls (Current)
• Ipswich Jets (Current)
• Burleigh Bears (Former)

The Burleigh Bears were a feeder club for many years but joined the Brisbane Broncos in 2024. The Ipswich Jets then became a feeder club for the Titans for the 2024 season.

Titans in Netball

In December 2021, it was announced that the Gold Coast Titans would also have a netball team. This team started playing in the 2022 Sapphire Series.

See also

In Spanish: Gold Coast Titans para niños