Incoming Titans coach Josh Hannay has explained his decision to release David Fifita and $2m worth of talent, hoping to fix an “area of need”.

While Gold Coast players will officially begin pre-season training next week, Hannay and his staff have been hard at work reshaping a roster he believed need a “change”.

Superstar back rower David Fifita’s move to the Rabbitohs was confirmed on Wednesday, and letting go a player of his quality shapes as a mammoth decision.

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Meanwhile, Reagan Campbell-Gillard (London), Carter Gordon (Wallabies) and Alofiana Khan-Pereira (Warriors) were all released.

Speaking to Code Sports, Hannay explained that depth was the biggest problem in a Titans roster bent out of shape.

“I felt like from the outside looking in when I first got the role that there was certainly some change that needed to be undertaken to the roster,” he said.

“When people look at the Gold Coast Titans roster, they always talk about the big names and the pointy end of our roster.

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“There’s such quality at the top end of our roster, but I looked at the depth of the roster and felt that was a real area of need. We needed to not raise our ceiling but raise our floor.

“I sit here today really satisfied with where the roster currently sits in terms of creating a deeper squad.

“There’s more competition for positions, some key positions and that’s only going to help create a more competitive environment and football side.”

Hannay, alongside recruitment manager Anthony Laffranchi, have already signed Dragons halfback Lachlan Ilias and Panthers hooker Luke Sommerton.

That duo will take up only a small portion of the $2 million of salary cap space freed up, meaning the Gold Coast can continue their recruitment surge.

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But it hasn’t only been their playing roster that has been reshaped.

Des Hasler’s assistants, Jim Lenihan, Brett White and Michael Monaghan were all let go, with three new mentors taking their place.

Former Titans assistant Steve Murphy returns, while the Knights’ Brian McDermott and former player Brad Davis have been employed under Hannay.

“There’s been a fair bit of change at the club with player movement and also staff movement,” Hannay said.

“We had to go out into a pretty competitive assistant coach market. There’s a lot of clubs making changes in that area this off-season.”