Gold Coast will undergo yet another coaching change in 2024, with the arrival of two-time premiership winner Des Hasler set to shake things up at the struggling club.
After spending close to four years in charge of the Titans, Justin Holbrook was sacked mid-way through the season, finishing with a winning strike-rate of less than 40 per cent and making the finals just once.
Despite an unfortunate ending to his second tenure at Manly, Hasler will bring plenty of experience to the club and has already started to make huge decisions on the recruitment and retention front.
The 62-year-old has a knack for turning sides into premiership forces, taking the Bulldogs to grand final appearances in 2012 and 2014, as well as helping the Sea Eagles to titles in 2008 and 2011.
MORE: Titans star AJ Brimson lifts the lid on long-term position
Titans star AJ Brimson ready to welcome Des Hasler challenge
Speaking on the latest edition of The Sporting News/YKTR's EBBS AND FLOWS, Titans fullback AJ Brimson believes the coaching change was necessary for the club in order to become a finals fixture.
"I’m pretty scared to be honest, but I’m also keen – we need that hard edge sort of coach," he said.
"Dessy is probably going to bring a hard edge that most of us haven’t really had yet in terms of copping really bad sprays and holding each other very accountable.
"I’ve heard from Fozzy [Kieran Foran] that he is very detailed and not gonna let little things slide. I’ve probably got a bit comfortable in the last few years in terms of my relationship with Justin and knowing I would be in that 13.
"Now I really want to impress Dessy... I’m actually looking to the challenge that the team has in terms of him just not really letting s**t slide and having a coach there that’s won at NRL level before.
"Our team probably needs someone like Dessy who is not gonna give too much of a s**t about feelings – he just wants a footy team that wins.
"There’s different types of coaches for different teams that can work better and I guess the organisation just thought Dessy would get the best out of us and probably challenge us."
Having coached over 450 games in the top grade for almost two decades, Hasler has encountered more than most in the NRL could imagine and will be hoping to get the best out of a talented Gold Coast roster.
With the likes of Brimson and Jayden Campbell bringing speed in the backline, and the recently-extended duo of Tino Fa'suamaleaui and David Fifita bringing punch in the forward pack, Hasler will no doubt have plenty to work with.
However, he will have to buck an ugly trend at the Titans, with all four head coaches in the club's 16-year history having a less-than-stellar winning record.
Gold Coast Titans NRL coaching history
Excludes interim coaches Jim Lenihan, Luke Burt, Craig Hodges and Terry Matterson.
| Years | Coach | Games | Wins | Losses | PCT |
| 2007-2014 | John Cartwright | 186 | 86 | 100 | 46% |
| 2014-2017 | Neil Henry | 75 | 28 | 46 | 37% |
| 2018-2019 | Garth Brennan | 40 | 12 | 28 | 30% |
| 2020-2023 | Justin Holbrook | 82 | 31 | 51 | 38% |
