Gold Coast executive chairman Dennis Watt has labelled the appointment of the club’s next coach as “the last stand” – crucial to the Titans’ NRL survival.
Watt revealed on Monday it was he who decided to sack coach Garth Brennan following Friday’s 24-2 loss to Penrith, which left the Titans rooted to the bottom of the ladder after 17 rounds.
The pair met on Saturday morning when Watt told Brennan his time at the Titans was up, less than two years into the role.
With the process to find Brennan’s replacement underway, Watt pulled no punches about the importance of getting the right man in to deliver elusive sporting success to Australia’s sixth-largest city.
“We’re in no doubt that this is it,” Watt said.
“This is the last stand, we have to get it right.
“There are plenty of other people banging on the door who would probably like to launch teams elsewhere.”
Rugby league immortal and Titans head of performance and culture Mal Meninga presented the report from his mid-season review to the club’s board on Monday.
Watt said Meninga’s report had not sounded the death knell for Brennan, that was more to do with the club’s poor on-field performance in 2019.
“At the end of the day the results aren’t there,” Watt said.
“We certainly thought we’d be a top-eight side this year and we’re not, we’re bouncing around the bottom of the table.”
Watt said the club had already received a number of expressions of interest in the position since Brennan’s sacking was made public on Sunday.
Queensland coach Kevin Walters has said he’s not interested in applying for the role and wants to continue in his position with the Maroons.
Watt however said if Walters changed his mind he would be a strong candidate.
Others who have been touted as potential candidates include ex-Penrith and Brisbane coach Anthony Griffin, Sydney Roosters assistants Craig Fitzgibbon and Adam O’Brien and St Helens coach Justin Holbrook.
Watt confirmed Meninga will be assisting Craig Hodges and Luke Burt as they guide the team for the remainder of the season but categorically denied the Kangaroos coach would be in contention for the role.