The Mole's season review: 'Baffling' player cull leaves new Titans coach facing uphill battle

Gold Coast remain one of the NRL's biggest enigmas, winning just six games all season and avoiding the wooden spoon by the barest of margins.

Chock-full of entertaining attacking players, the Titans played some sparkling football with ball in hand but their defence and attention to detail were woeful.

The disastrous season cost veteran coach Des Hasler his job, with rookie Josh Hannay having the enormous task of whipping the Titans into a winning football team in 2026.

READ MORE: Pole vault GOAT stuns again as Aussie claims bronze in Tokyo

READ MORE: Roosters superstar claims top gong despite Dally M snub

READ MORE: 'Total accident': Gallen launches defence of Broncos star

Making his job even harder is that the Titans are the only club in the NRL who have yet to sign an established player for next season - despite desperately needing some new blood.

In Kieran Foran, Jayden Campbell, AJ Brimson and Sam Verrills, the Titans had one of the most dangerous spines in the comp.

With genuine speed in the outside backs to capitalise on their good work, Gold Coast scored many fine long-range tries but then let in soft tries with poor red zone defence.

The loss of fullback Keano Kini (neck injury) early in their campaign was a cruel blow, but injuries weren't too unkind to the club apart from that.

Campbell, whose dad Preston won a Dally M Medal and was a foundation player for the club, is growing in stature every season and is now among the game's elite playmakers.

If there was a Dally M award for sportsmanship, he would have won it in a game against Souths when his team trailed by two points late and he got whacked on the chin.

Watch the 2025 NRL premiership live and free on Nine and 9Now.

Most players would have stayed down, got the penalty and allowed their team to level the scores. Campbell - built of sterner stuff - got to his feet slowly and played the ball - and the Rabbitohs ended up hanging on to win and move ahead on the ladder.

Tino Fa'asuamaleaui was a tower of strength up the middle, leading the Titans bravely, but it seems only a matter of time before he moves to another club - potentially Perth.

Beau Fermor was another to shine in the forwards - the only Titan to play all 24 games - and was rewarded with Queensland Origin selection.

David Fifita had another frustrating season, playing like a world-beater at times and going missing at others. He looks set to sign with Souths for next season in a move that will probably be good for both him and the Titans.

Some of the club's recruitment and retention moves are baffling.

Phil Sami, the top try scorer with 15, looks likely to move on, while fellow tryscoring machine Alofiana Khan-Pereira - with nine tries in 10 games - struggled to make the team most weeks and under-rated centre Brian Kelly is also set to change colours.

Hannay needs to find half a dozen quality first graders and quickly - otherwise the Titans will again challenge for the dreaded wooden spoon.

Best player: Jayden Campbell gave his heart and soul every week in a struggling team - put him in a strong side and he would look like an Origin player.

Biggest disappointment: Yet again David Fifita, who has all the ability in the world but only shows it once every few weeks.

Key signing: N/A

2026 losses: Iszac Fa'asuamaleaui (Catalans), Kieran Foran (retired)