Titans recruit Sam Verrills is backing Justin Holbrook’s Gold Coast outfit to return to finals football this season — likening the club’s resurgence to a premiership heavyweight.
The 24-year-old signed a two-year deal with the Titans in August last year, having already played 48 NRL games including a grand final victory against the Raiders in 2019.
The Titans has a disappointing campaign in 2022, finishing with only six wins to sit in 13th place, after being one pass away from the second week of finals in 2021.
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However, Verrills believes his new team is in the same situation as the 2019 Panthers outfit, who struggled to 10th place after three years in the top eight before surging to three consecutive grand finals appearances and two premierships.
“I looked at Penrith’s team from a few years ago when they were really young,” Verrills told Brisbane’s 4BC radio.
“They went through a few stages where they weren’t winning games back in 2019, and then all of a sudden, they got some experience. I reckon that could be us this year.”
“We know we can score points. We’ve got some outstanding back there so we’ve just got to be a really tough group and show the rest of the NRL that we can defend well in a really close game and try and grind out wins because that’s our main focus going into the season.”
The Titans have recruited Verrills, alongside experienced halfback Kieran Foran, gun centre Aaron Schoupp and utility Joe Stimson in their playing ranks.
Meanwhile, former Storm and Raiders enforcer Brett White has been welcomed into the club’s coaching staff as Holbrook’s assistant to work on the Titans’ shaky defence.
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“We’ve brought in Brett White and he’s really taking control of the defensive side,” Verrills said.
“We know what wins games and we’ve had a lot of meetings about it in the pre-season, and that’s obviously defence.
“We’ve worked really hard as a team defending together and hitting well.”
No one can doubt the Titans have a star-studded forward pack which boasts two of the most exciting talents in the NRL — Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and David Fifita.
Verrills believes he can play his best football alongside that pair, as well as former teammate Isaac Liu, who wore the Tricolours jersey 203 times across nine seasons.
“I looked at the forward pack and the likes of Tino, Dave Fifita and I played with Isaac Liu as well and it’s such a strong forward pack and I can really see myself playing well with these guys around me,” Verrills said.
“We’ve got a really good opportunity this year ahead of us and it’s now just getting our combinations right at training which we have been lately.”
