Gold Coast will receive the findings from a mid-season review on Monday into the troubled NRL club’s football operations, a day after sacking coach Garth Brennan.
The Titans’ board ordered the review in May after the club blew a 16-0 lead against Canterbury to lose 22-16 and slumped to 2-8 – their worst start to an NRL campaign since joining the competition in 2007.
Rugby league Immortal and Titans head of performance and culture Mal Meninga has led the review and will deliver his findings at a board meeting on Monday.
It’s expected the review will be scathing of Brennan, who parted ways with the club to immediate effect less than two seasons into his first NRL head coaching job.
Brennan won just 12 of 40 matches in charge of the Titans and a 24-2 loss to Penrith on Friday left Gold Coast last on the competition ladder.
In a statement released on Sunday, Titans’ executive chairman Dennis Watt said poor results had made Brennan’s position “untenable”.
Assistants Craig Hodges and Luke Burt will fill in as interim coaches until the end of the season with the Titans saying they won’t rush their search for a replacement.
Queensland coach Kevin Walters was the favourite to take over but quickly ruled himself out of contention, saying he had unfinished business with the Maroons after losing the past two State of Origin series.
Kangaroos coach Meninga, who last coached in the NRL with Canberra from 1997 to 2001, hasn’t been ruled out as a contender with Queensland great Darren Lockyer admitting he’d not be surprised if the 59-year-old got the job.
“Mal has always said he doesn’t have a desire to be an NRL coach, but maybe in the next nine weeks that may change,” Lockyer told the Nine Network.
“I also think it depends on what the Titans want, obviously they’ll have to go through a process, but have they already shortlisted a couple of people?”
Sydney Roosters assistants Craig Fitzgibbon and Adam O’Brien are also tipped to be in the mix along with St Helens coach Justin Holbrook.