![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/poster-fallback.png\"\/)
<\/p>\n\u201cA dramatic and wide-reaching change in conditions, attitudes, or operation\u201d.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s how the Oxford Dictionary defines one of the NRL\u2019s favourite buzz words when a club needs a rebuild, or a \u2018revolution\u2019.<\/p>\n
The Titans fall into that category, but they needed a man to oversee their overhaul after Des Hasler was spearheaded into the head coach role and managed 14th and 16th-place finishes.<\/p>\n
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Join now and get your first month for just $1.<\/a><\/p>\n Josh Hannay is that man, and while the Titans are yet to achieve anything on the field, there\u2019s an air of optimism around the Gold Coast.<\/p>\n And it seems to begin and end with Hannay.<\/p>\n The 46-year-old was one of the hottest head coaching prospects on the market when Titans bosses went searching for their north star, alongside the likes of Dean Young and Ben Hornby.<\/p>\n But Hannay had a glowing resume, with a reference from one of Queensland\u2019s favourite sons in Billy Slater, spending time under him in Maroons camp.<\/p>\n He also spent time at the Cowboys under Paul Green and in Cronulla under John Morris, becoming caretaker coach of both clubs at different stages.<\/p>\n But back to the idea of a \u2018revolution\u2019.<\/p>\n Changing the attitudes of a group, especially one deprived of success, is no easy task \u2014 but Hannay knew that\u2019s exactly what was needed to put pride back in the Titans\u2019 jersey.<\/p>\n But first, he had two crucial things to check off his list.<\/p>\n THE PROOF HANNAY\u2019S VISION IS WORKING<\/p>\n Before he did anything else, Hannay had to make sure he had the buy-in of both captain and marquee man Tino Fa\u2019asuamaleaui and rising star Cooper Bai.<\/p>\n Fa\u2019asuamaleaui made it clear he would only waive the option in his contract that would render him a free agent if the club\u2019s situation changed on the Gold Coast.<\/p>\n Yes, Fa\u2019asuamaleaui is one of the game\u2019s highest-paid players and he could have demanded a mammoth figure on the open market.<\/p>\n Tino Fa’asuamaleaui is staying at the Gold Coast Titans until the end of 2031.Source: Supplied<\/p>\n But success is what he was searching for, or a framework that looks like it could deliver just that \u2014 which Hannay went about implementing after taking over.<\/p>\n Bai, meanwhile, was being heavily courted by the Storm, and rarely do they miss out on targets they publicly pursue.<\/p>\n Ultimately Fa\u2019asuamaleaui announced he would be staying at the Titans, and a day later Bai followed his lead in a line-in-the-sand moment that signalled a distinct shift.<\/p>\n \u201cCertainly don\u2019t underestimate the faith that those guys are showing in what we are trying to do here,\u201d Hannay said on Fox League when asked about his time at the club thus far.<\/p>\n \u201cThere was certainly some frustration surrounding the environment when I got to the club.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the key things for me early doors was in a short space of time, create an environment and deliver a program here that the players want to be a part of, that they see a future with.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I\u2019d like to think the decisions of Tino and Cooper Bai in the last week point to an environment that they can see their football developing.<\/p>\n \u201cBut they can also see an environment that they want to be a part of, a lot of work has gone in in a short space of time and the players deserve a lot of credit for driving that culture.\u201d<\/p>\n Ciro praises Crichtons clutch FG! | 07:57<\/p>\n The fact Fa\u2019asuamaleaui spent time with Hannay in Origin camp also played a huge factor, according to former premiership-winner Dale Finucane.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen there\u2019s potential for players to move on or there\u2019s talk of moving clubs, having someone like Josh coming in, providing stability (is crucial),\u201d he said to foxsports.com.au.<\/p>\n \u201cEven though it\u2019s his first year as an NRL coach, having those prior relationships through Origin and knowing what he\u2019s about.<\/p>\n \u201cSpeaking from my experience, I wanted to come to the Sharks was because of a previous relationship I had developed with Craig Fitzgibbon through country and NSW Origin.<\/p>\n \u201cI knew that when I was coming to the club, I knew I was going to be coached by a coach that was going to have success.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously Tino feels that with Josh.\u201d<\/p>\n Fa\u2019asuamaleaui, meanwhile, spoke about that \u201cfrustration\u201d Hannay touched on, admitting \u201clast year was probably my toughest year mentally to be honest\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cJust looking around at what\u2019s happening and not understanding why we\u2019re here and then at times, seeing some cracks through the club,\u201d he explained to foxsports.com.au.<\/p>\n Gold Coast Titans young gun Cooper Bai also committed his future to the club.Source: Supplied<\/p>\n Get all the latest news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports NRL Sportmail. Sign up now!!! <\/a><\/p>\n \u201cBut I\u2019m glad that we went through that because everything happens for a reason.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve obviously got a really good coach that I\u2019m backing in. Last year was stressful but when you step back a bit and then just see how everything\u2019s unfolded, I guess I\u2019m glad that we went through that and we\u2019re here now.<\/p>\n \u201cI just know that we\u2019re heading the right direction with Josh at the helm.\u201d<\/p>\n Jojo Fifita also echoed his captain, saying to reporters, including News Corp: \u201cI feel like the environment is very positive this year, everyone is coming to training and they actually want to train.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a big step from how we used to be, I think our mindset altogether was pretty negative over the last couple of years… everyone is working hard.\u201d<\/p>\n THE BIG CALLS THAT HELPED HANNAY \u2018RE-SHAPE\u2019 THE ROSTER<\/p>\n Re-signing that pair wasn\u2019t the only roster decision that was made.<\/p>\n Hannay took one look at a salary cap he deemed to be too \u201ctop heavy\u201d and made moves to clear cap space, and get rid of players surplus to requirements.<\/p>\n David Fifita was the biggest name to depart, with the Gold Coast paying a portion of his salary at the Rabbitohs, such was Hannay\u2019s desire to let him walk.<\/p>\n Reagan Campbell-Gillard left for the London Broncos and in the process they cleared a reported $1 million from their cap to be used elsewhere.<\/p>\n Hannay also let Iszac Fa\u2019asuamaleaui (Catalans), Tom Weaver, Sean Mullany, Jacob Alick-Wiencke, Ryan Foran, Ben Liyou, Harley Smith-Shields, Carter Gordon (released), Alofiana Khan-Pereira (released) and Brian Kelly (Eels) go.<\/p>\n In their place he recruited in positions that lacked depth.<\/p>\n Vlando eyes Origin Olympic dream | 00:23<\/p>\n At hooker, he snapped up promising former Panther Luke Sommerton as well as replacing Weaver with Lachlan Ilias in the halves to sit behind Jayden Campbell and AJ Brimson.<\/p>\n Kurtis Morrin (Bulldogs) and Max Feagai (Dolphins) rounded out their 2026 recruits, while <\/p>\n Mawene Hiroti (Sharks) arrives next year in a savvy recruitment move.<\/p>\n \u201cQuickly we had to have a good look at the roster right,\u201d Hannay said of his salary cap.<\/p>\n \u201cRe-shape it, to be honest I thought it was a little bit top heavy so we\u2019ve spoken about the need to raise the floor of the roster to greater depth.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we have been able to do that, it has created more competition for positions and I would like to think that is going to create a more competitive football team.\u201d<\/p>\n But the salary cap is a numbers game. Maximise the $12 million you can spend on players, the better chance of success any club has \u2014 simple.<\/p>\n Shifting a whole club\u2019s mindset into a winning menality \u2014 considerably more difficult.<\/p>\n So what specifically could Hannay be doing to bring about change? <\/p>\n \u2018BEHIND CLOSED DOORS\u2019: HANNAY\u2019S SECRET SAUCE AS A COACH<\/p>\n According to Tino, it\u2019s \u201chard to describe\u201d but it centres around every player knowing their role.<\/p>\n Take Klese Haas as an example. A player with immense talent, and one that had shown he could be a handful on an edge.<\/p>\n But Hannay saw another side of him and gave him a clear goal and direction forward, moving him into the middle of the park to join the Titans\u2019 engine room.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not a back rower anymore, I\u2019m a middle now,\u201d Haas said to the Titans website.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cIt came from conversations before pre-season with Josh. He just felt like my skill set was best suited for the middle and I agree with him, to be honest.\u201d<\/p>\n The Gold Coast\u2019s halves pairing has also been a major point of contention in recent years, but even that has already been solved by Hannay.<\/p>\n \u201cI am pretty settled on the idea of AJ Brimson partner with \u2018JC\u2019 (Jayden Campbell) for Round One and Sam Verrills, very comfortable with him for dummy-half,\u201d Hannay said.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a simple change, but one that is making a huge impact according to Fa\u2019asuamaleaui.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s definitely a better environment in the sense of everyone knows their role you know from the youngest player to our eldest player,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n A dejected Tino Fa\u2019asuamaleaui during the Titans’ loss. Picture: NRL PhotosSource: The Courier-Mail<\/p>\n MORE NRL NEWS<\/p>\n \u2018SERIOUSLY\u2019: Flanno fumes at \u2018six or seven\u2019 ref calls as game \u2018not decided the right way\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n \u2018TOUGH AS NAILS\u2019: Proof rugby league can work in USA <\/a><\/p>\n \u2018REALLY DISAPPOINTED\u2019: Cowboys coach calls out double standards after serious injury<\/a><\/p>\n