The Gold Coast Titans finished season 2022 with a flurry, winning three of their last four games.
The late season form reversal doesn't change the fact that 2022 was a disappointing season according to Coach Justin Holbrook, but he says they are important results nonetheless.
“I think the last few weeks is exactly what our club needs," Holbrook said.
“There are some good signs moving into next year.
“There is a lot to look forward to, it was a disappointing season but important that we got a few wins at the back end to move forward."
Campbell unstoppable in broken play
The Titans finished the year with wins over the Warriors, Sea Eagles and Knights.
The club handed debuts to exciting youngsters Klese Haas and Jojo Fifita, while it was an important second season of NRL for other promising local juniors like Jayden Campbell and Toby Sexton.
Jojo Fifita monsters Walsh
Incoming for 2023 are two premiership winning spine members in Kieran Foran (Manly) and Sam Verrills (Roosters).
Holbrook says he's confident that their injection to the squad, mixed with the learnings of 2022 will hold the Gold Coast club in good stead next season.
“We are really looking forward to them (Foran and Verrills) joining a squad that has finished the year in encouraging fashion," Holbrook said.
“It doesn’t guarantee you start well next year and we know that but it was important for the players, the coaches and the rest of our staff at our club to know that there is plenty of fighting spirit in the group.
“They have been working hard and they’ve got the rewards the last couple of weeks.
“I think the way that we have played over the last month shows that the team have progressed."
AJ at his best
Despite not being able to make finals, Holbrook says he was impressed by the attitude and application shown by his team over the last month of the season.
“It was fantastic attitude … when you can’t play finals footy some times teams can fall away, but we didn’t want to be one of those teams," he said.
“We are disappointed with how we’ve done but we wanted to do something about it and we’ve continued to train hard and put the right efforts in and we got the reward at the back end of the year."
The Titans will have competition for spots in 2023, with Foran and Verrills to join Campbell, Sexton, AJ Brimson and Tanah Boyd in a strengthened spine.
Boyd pinches it in golden point
Holbrook says he was pleased with how his current crop finished the year, continuing to build on their combinations.
“I think Tanah, AJ and Jayden Campbell have been playing really well together," he said.
“To finish the year like that, we can look forward to next year."
