20 of the Best: Gold Coast Titans

As we wait for season 2011 to get underway, the Making The Nut team will take a look back over the last 20 years to name the 20 best players at all sixteen teams. Merged teams will take account of both clubs pre-merger and the only rule is that a player must have played at least three years post-1990. A player's time at the club is the only time that is taken into account.

Here, Alex Madge breaks down his beloved Gold Coast Titans.

When looking at the top 20 in the league’s newest franchise, it canbe hard to separate good players from players who have made a good contribution to the club. In putting this list together, some balance between the two is required and the order may not please everyone. A minimum of 20 games was required to be considered in this list.

20. Josh Graham

As a foundation member of the club, Graham’s 66 matches for the Titans warrant his inclusion in the list. The fact he only managed 4 tries in the centres during this time reflects his rugby union pedigree but his ability to hit a gap or cause trouble in the defensive line was valued by the Titans.

19. Luke O’Dwyer

A local junior, O’Dwyer has been at the club since day dot having been blooded in the NRL at the Eels. In a standout second row, O’Dwyer looks like the lame duck. However, it has been his ability to slot in to numerous positions which has made him an important player in an aging side with its fair share of injury concerns.

18. David Mead

The young PNG winger has proven to be one of the real excitement machines of the NRL. His contribution to the PNG national side in the 2008 World Cup at 20 showed he had genuine promise and the wing pairing with fellow lightning bolt Kevin Gordon is the quickest in the NRL. Watch this kid ipluck kicks off Scott Prince’s pinpoint boot.

17. Brett Delaney

A handy scoring option in the centres and (very) part-time goal-kicker, Delaney helped the Titans reach their first finals series in 2009. Having achieved this after three years of hard work with the team, it was a shame to see Delaney miss out on the straight sets finals’ defeats through injury.

16. Michael Hodgson

Rugby League journeyman Hodgson found yet another new home in the fledgling Titans side in 2007. Finding a place up front with captain Luke Bailey, Hodgson laid the groundwork for the Titans hard-working forward pack which has seen them make two consecutive finals series since his departure to the Dogs.

15. Matthew White

Better known as Luke Bailey’s doppelganger, Matthew White has proved to be a competent front rower in his first two years at the Titans. White has been effective in the starting side or off the bench and was an apt replacement for Hodgson.

14. William Zillman

A much maligned player for a number of high pressure failures, Zillman has often had big shoes to fill. Whether through taking the place of fan-favouritem pocket rocket Presto, when he was required in the halves or breaking through out wide, Zillman has made contributions which far exceed his more recognised failures.

13. Michael Henderson

While Michael Henderson’s chief contribution to the Titans has been in the form of his tireless work up front since the club’s start in the NRL, his inclusion in this list is more due to his high quality Wikipedia page  (note this has since been edited, check the page history for more details). He has been a stalwart in the Titan’s front row since 2007, but it is “Va Jay Jay’s” animation skills and Tolkienesque grasp of literature which see the ladies of Hollywood showgirls swooning on a regular basis.

12. Brad Meyers

Big Red needs no introduction in Rugby League circles. A ten year veteran of the Broncos, Super League and Titans, Meyers added to the view that the Titans were the nursing home of the NRL. However, it was often the opposition front row reaching for the big red emergency button as his strength and terrifying red-beard-power sent them scattered like ten pins. 2010 was no different and despite hitting the big 3-0, Meyers will remain dangerous for little while yet.

11. Greg Bird

Bird’s 22 games for the Titans see him narrowly making the cut for this list. Bird’s role in the Titans team has been a little controversial, with his position in the halves seemingly at odds with the Titan’s attacking strategy. Towards the end of the year his true potential started to shine through. With Presto coming forward and playing a more dynamic five-eighth role, Bird is free to go out and cause the sort of trouble he was known for as part of the infamous Bash Bros. Zillman’s ability to slot in at full-back makes this an ideal strategy for Cartwright to play around with.

10. John Cartwright

Carty’s probably not eligible under strict Making the Nut rules (editor's note: he is not) but his exclusion from the top 10 would be criminal. Coaching the Titans to their second top four appearance in four years in the NRL, Carty has proved to be a solid coach as well as a deft strategist. Willing to take a chance with older players or those with chequered pasts, Cartwright has shown himself to be an excellent manager of people. The Titans certainly could have done without Chris Walker but Carty has done an excellent job of turning the old men of league into a winning side.

9. Mark Minichiello

Long the younger brother of NSW and Rooster’s legend Anthony, Mark has certainly made a name for himself from under the shadow of ‘The Count’. An exciting ball runner and solid defender, Mini’s performances for the Titans have seen him selected for City origin selection. Mini forms part of one of the strongest second rows in the league and his contribution is often equal to that of his far more fancied fpartner Anthony Laffranchi.

8. Kevin Gordon

Speed and raw talent have seen Gordon score some of the most miraculous tries in the NRL. The kick out from the base of the scrum to a fleet-footed Gordon last year would have been one of the highlights of the season had it not been denied by a last ditch ankle tap and dropped ball metres from the try line. However, it reminded fans of the potential for the combination of such a gifted speedster and world-class half. If he stays uninjured, this 21 year old winger will make headlines.

7. Mat Rogers

The dual international Rogers came back to League in tragic circumstances but fans of the code are all the better for it. His booming left boot and ability to step in as a goal-kicker has been invaluable to the team. Further, in spite of being well and truly on the wrong side of 30, 2010 proved to be probably his best year for the Titans. 2010 also saw him take Titan’s ‘all-time’ leading try-scorer gong. Unfortunately his retirement will mean this record will not be held for too long but his contribution to the new team cannot be forgotten.

6. Luke Bailey

An inspirational captain due to his great work ethic and wealth of experience. While he hasn’t aged as gracefully as Queensland prop Petero Civinoceva, the Titans are better for having him around full-time. On the eve of his retirement, the Bear has more to contribute to the Titans.

5. Ashley Harrison

It takes a pretty tough bastard to keep fellow Queenslander and tackling machine David Stagg out the state side. Harrison, as part of an all-star second row, has not failed to disappoint, either for the Titans or for the state side. The Harrison drink-a-tackle drinking game has left many a Titans fan groggy-eyed and sickly.

4. Nathan Friend

Having played few games for the Storm despite a four year stint, Friend has proved a real surprise package for the Titans. Failed contract negotiations with Robbie Farah cast a cloud over Friend’s future at the Titans, yet his outstanding 2010 season put the doubters to shame. Playing every game for the Titans in 2010, Friend was outstanding. Widely regarded as one of the best players not to have played rep footy and still one of the fittest in the NRL at 30, Friend is truly deserving of a top five position at the Titans.

3. Preston Campbell

Well-liked, dynamic and versatile, Presto’s small stature belies his ability as a player. A Dally M winning half-back for the Sharks, and member of three Making the Nut Top 20s, Campbell thoroughly deserves a place in the top three. It has been Preston’s versatility that have kept the team alive in periods without Prince and without him they would not have made the top four for the past two years.

2. Anthony Laffranchi

Likely to resume the mantle of top try-scorer in 2011, Laffranchi has been dominant in both attack and defence for the Titans. Laffranchi’s ability to exploit a defensive gap close to the line has pushed him to the top of the attacking second-rowers in the NRL. Powerful and aggressive, Laffranchi is always a good option for last try-scorer and has really found a home at the Titans.

1. Scott Prince

Club leading points-scorer and all round team leader, Prince is a deserving number one. Prince’s contribution to the side can be seen from its record without him. Winning a miserable dick-all games from the 20-odd matches Prince hasn’t played, oppositions are justifiably confident playing a Prince-less Titan’s side. Despite going some way to rectifying this in 2010, the Titans key playmaker has already cemented his place as the dominant force in the Titans rise from new kids on the block to title contenders.

 

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