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2025 Season General Discussion

Titslover said:
Genuine question, correct me if I’m wrong but have we actually looked a try through nice shape and ball movement this year? Closest would be the play with Fifita on the right last week and last night for Sami, but jeez its not much
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Sami last night? 2 block Tino - JC - JDG - Sami

I did mention this in another chat it’s something we lack to create this is that mobile ball playing lock creating space on edges we just seem to look to bash through the middle, I think with JC and AJ in the halves we need that 13 to make the defence have to decide
 
I really want to see JC handling the ball more at first receiver and feeding outside straight runners or forwards cutting back under.

Think we need to stop playing 1 out running with our hooker just shovelling it to one of the forwards to get mauled.

At least puts the opponents defence in 2 minds and allows for more attacking options in the red zone.
 

Tino’s Width​

You wouldn’t know Tino Fa’asuamaleaui missed the majority of last season due to injury. He’s started this one as a top-tier middle forward in the game and has added more of a threat to his already dangerous running game.
We can become obsessed with ballplaying forwards2 . This pass, though…
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That looks like a 197cm and 107kg halfback firing a pass across his body to his five-eighth. The width of the pass is excellent and something we don’t often see from a forward. It’s ultimately where the try is created as the pass puts Jayden Campbell outside the three-man with room to move and players outside him.
“Tino is elite” isn’t groundbreaking analysis, but if he’s adding this pass to his game, the big forward might still have another level to reach.
 

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Jayden Campbell Creating Doubt​

Des Hasler and the Gold Coast Titans had to find a spot for Jayden Campbell somewhere. They’ve put too much into him in the past and still have such high hopes for his future that they couldn’t use him in an inconsistent role for another NRL season.
The move to halfback is a surprise, but it is exciting based on what we’ve seen in 2025.
Like most halfbacks in the NRL, he looks a lot better behind a strong pack. The Titans middle couldn’t do it for him in Round 2, but in Round 3, behind a rampant Tino Fa’asuamleaui, Campbell showed glimpses of a promising future in the #7 jersey.
I’ll have to watch how he organises a game more closely—it’s difficult to get a good read from the close broadcast view. However, his reading of a defensive line presenting cues is more than up to the task.
His drop play here isn’t an accident. He’s moving the defence to put himself one-on-one with the opposition edge backrower.
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They’ve either drawn this up, or Beau Fermor already has an excellent understanding of his halfbacks movements, but his fade line to Jack Cogger’s outside shoulder drags the three-man out just far enough for Campbell to burn his defender and fall over the line.
If Campbell can develop a consistent reputation as a run threat3 , he will give himself time to learn the nuances of halfback play.
 
I’d imagine AJ Brimson’s try for the Gold Coast Titans on Saturday might become a teaching moment for him.
How the Roosters treat their goal-line defence is something to keep an eye on in the coming weeks, but his desperation to get home1 gave Brimson a clear passage to the line.
The Titans shifted the ball to the right edge, bringing Nawaqanitawase into the tackle.
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Jayden Campbell motions to play the ball back inside to Reagan Campbell-Gillard - at Nawaqanitawase tracking across from marker - but takes the line on himself to generate a quick play-the-ball.
I’d love to know if this is something the Titans spoke about because Brimson leaps into action incredibly quickly, flipping to the shortside and making a line to the space Nawaqanitawase or Nafahu Whyte (depending on what Trent Robinson wants to do here) should be filling.
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That amount of space around the ruck on the line isn’t by design. Something has gone wrong in the organisation and communication. It’s great footy from the Titans, and there is some detail in the Roosters' defensive line that is worth keeping an eye on.
 
Am I getting roasted now? 😂 We’ve scored what 3 tries from shape out of like 15. That Sami try against the Dolphins was hot and I liked the play with Fifita out the back against the Roosters, but let’s be honest our attack is far from slick most the time and a lot of our tries are coming from solo efforts or unorthodox shit.

Whether that is due to coaching, our lock (that was really nice from Tino against Dolphins though), Brimmo as a 6, JC still learning the role, I don’t know but it is just one of the many concerns we have as a team. Sure we can score points (and sometimes pile them on) against shit teams but there are also many times where we look clueless-the constant one out hit ups against the Dolphins were doing my head in. Just thought i’d bring it up, I know it is far from our biggest concern but didn’t realise everyone thought we were a well-oiled machine.
 
We are anything but a well-oiled machine which I find very perplexing considering how tight the group seems to be.

Also I have a question: there are many amazing things about our players but under the umbrella of rudimentary rugby league skills where does kicking fall? We are a kickless squad. With the exception of JC and a few low-percentage trick options we appear to have nothing, nada, nil, zip, zero, nought and bugger-all.
 
Coaching staff and players said we were going to attack differently to previous years, That's more what I'm getting at and just some evidence of what they're trying to do in most cases, It does look clunky which I think we all expected though but it has looked good at times.

The one up hit ups have been an issue for years at this point and when we use shape in our zone it tends to go to BK and that's when you can get BK rocks or diamonds. Add not having Lofi right now who despite his issues, teams have to stay very honest with his speed/finishing which keeps the line less compressed or they get punished.

I completely agree with the one ups, Those issues have been around for years even when we had shape or whatever which is why we always saw Tannah doing the same kick over and over and we've never really put points on top 8 teams with our former attack. I think that the thing is there's plans/attacking that are there when we get into the right area but similar to always we struggle to get to those spots.

It's probably also I guess what's shape??? To me plays like from Verrills to Tino and things like that are kind of shape. Fermors try against Knights was JC doing the same thing basically but getting Fermor one on one, Is that shape? Tino is doing small things around the ruck to get himself into areas where we're getting into spots after it.

I agree with you, It's more the defence that's 100% my concern hahaha.
 
Titanic said:
We are anything but a well-oiled machine which I find very perplexing considering how tight the group seems to be.

Also I have a question: there are many amazing things about our players but under the umbrella of foundation rugby league skills where does kicking fall? We are a kickless squad. With the exception of JC and a few low-percentage trick options we appear to have nothing, nada, nil, zip, zero, nought and bugger-all.
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This why I think CG was/is going to be important as even a centre, He's going to take pressure off JC being able to come in one spot and AJ moving out + AJ has a good kick chase.
 
Didn’t get much time to reflect on Zane’s performance on debut because our NRL boys went out and stunk it up but all in all I thought he acquitted himself very well.

Tweed aren’t a great side and PNG are about as physical as you’ll get at that level. He didn’t shy from taking the ball to the line and got his body in front on D. Had to make 22 tackles with only 1 miss. Played his role without overplaying and took the line on to score a nice try. He’ll have more impact with the ball as he gets more reps at cup level.

For some perspective - he’s playing cup at a younger age than Tommy did. Or Toby. Club won’t rush him in any case but at his age he’s ahead of any of the other young halves we’ve had, and rightly so - his resume and ability IMO is ahead of them too at the same age.

Expect he’ll bump back down once Tom returns and he’s got another state title to try and win with Tweed MM anyway but the more exposure he gets at cup the better
 
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Vale Hudson Wicks

The Gold Coast Titans are deeply saddened to announce the passing of long-serving Leagueability player, Hudson Wicks, at the age of 24.
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Devasting news and much love to his family, friends and teammates. Hudson was pretty heavily featured in the Adam Hills doco from memory on the world cup in 2022 and whenever the club uploads Leagueability videos + always see him at games.

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Hudson, you're going to the World Cup!

Hudson, you're going to the World Cup!
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Always a Titan.
 
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