Gold Coast Titans - 2012 Preview

And so it came to pass that the calamity that was Season 2011 neared its use-by date. The Titans faithful gathered solemnly on the Tallebudgerra rocks and made small insertions into the palms of their left hands with glinting oyster shucks. They watched as the resultant droplets first mixed with the froth of the pounding surf and then were swirled away by the irrepressible tide, thus completing an ancient ritual not witnessed since the evening prior to the announcement of the sixteenth club being admitted into the NRL.

Expectations are running high on the glitter strip and the fans are building to the type of frenzy rivalled only by the Jupiter's Saturday night buffet. New faces, new attitudes and not one ball kicked in anger as yet but hope springs eternal for the 2011 easy beats and not without good cause.

Injuries ravaged the team last season but not perhaps as fatally as the infectious migration epidemic. With twelve of their number lost to other clubs during the season, the motivation players require to keep getting up off the ground for their mates was tested to its limit. In 2012, the return from serious injury of Harrison, the dynamic Ryan James and flyer Kevin Gordon will bring some much-needed character back to Skilled Stadium.

At this time last year who but only the very most one-eyed Sea-Eagle supporters gave their misfiring squad any more than an outside chance of taking home the bacon? This fact alone is enough to give every team belief; however, the Gold Coast has some other very good reasons to support their optimism.

Where they can win it
No team can compete in the salary cap induced environment of the NRL without a winning forward pack. Boasting not one, not two, not even three