With November 1 fast approaching, Titans HQ will be a hive of activity shortly with a number of prospective rugby league up-and-comers training hard to impress and earn their shot in the NRL.
Currently, the Gold Coast has four top 30 and one development roster spot left ahead of the 2023 season, with a range of players from the club's Future Titans and affiliate Hostplus Cup systems hoping Justin Holbrook and the Titans coaching staff catch a glimpse of their talent to fill one of those vacant positions.
See below for the list of train-and-trial players who will join the club throughout the pre-season to hone in on their skills.
Ryan Foran
The hard-running back-rower will spend the season with the Titans on a train-and-trial deal before joining the top 30 squad from 2024. An Australian Schoolboys representative in his final year at Palm Beach Currumbin in 2021, the 19-year-old played his junior footy in Murwillumbah and is yet another local product coming through the club's pathways.
Jaylan De Groot
Making a name for himself in the Gold Coast's 2022 trial against the Broncos at the start of the season, the Northern Rivers junior will complete another train-and-trial season in 2023 before being promoted to the Titans' development list in 2024. A versatile back with the ability to play at fullback, on the wing and in the halves, the youngster has plenty of talent around him to continue learning from.
De Groot gets one of his own
Ben Liyou
Set to join the Titans' top 30 squad in 2024, this will be the forward's third pre-season with the Gold Coast as a graduate of the Future Titans pathways system. The 21-year-old made his Hostplus Cup debut for Tweed in 2022 and got a taste of NRL in the club's opening trial against the Broncos, running for 122 metres in his stint on field.
Oskar Bryant
Younger brother of Brisbane Heat batsman Max, the fiery dummy-half is a proud product of the Future Titans pathways system after growing up with fellow Titans Tom Weaver and Jaylan De Groot in Cudgen. The Palm Beach Currumbin alumni will spend a majority of the season at Parkwood with a great opportunity to learn under experienced NRL rake Sam Verrills who will join the club to fill No. 9 duties.
Vaka Sikahele
A talented New Zealand Schoolboys hooker, Sikahele will get his chance to return to Titans HQ after overcoming injury in his past stint at Parkwood. The 20-year-old made his Hostplus Cup debut for the Burleigh Bears in the club's preliminary final earlier this year and is hoping to further develop his skills with a pre-season opportunity.
Kaleb Ngamanu
No stranger to Gold Coast pre-seasons, Ngamanu gets his chance to impress Titans coaching staff with another stint at Parkwood. Making his Hostplus Cup debut and playing four games for Tweed this season, the outside back also featured in the State of Origin Under 19s squad for Queensland.
Josiah Pahulu
It's been a big year for the reigning National Schoolboy Cup-winning captain; leading Ipswich State High School to their history-making victory as well as starring for the Australian Schoolboys recently and now Josiah Pahulu will spend the remainder of 2022 at Parkwood with a train-and-trial deal at the Gold Coast. The Future Titans front rower idolises NRL skipper Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and spoke recently about wanting to learn as much as he can during his opportunity.
Seth Nikotemo
A proud product of the the Gold Coast's Future Titans program since he was 15, the Burleigh Bears junior was part of the QRL's Emerging Under 18 Origin camp earlier this season, before a stellar Schoolboys season which culminated in helping win the tournament grand final. The powerful and dynamic back rower also starred for Keebra Park during this year's Allan Langer Trophy season in South East Queensland.
Arama Hau
Fresh from Australian Schoolboys duties, the Keebra Park powerhouse has been one to watch out for in the 2022 season. Described as an elite No. 13 with the agility and skills of an edge forward, the 18-year-old will look forward to a train-and-trial stint to continue fine-tuning his talented rugby league ability.
Immanuel Kalekale
The talented New Zealand-born forward dominated in this year's Allan Langer Trophy for Keebra Park, earning him Queensland Schoolboys selection. A familiar face at Parkwood given his ties with the Future Titans program, his powerhouse efforts up front has earned him the chance to spend the opening weeks with the top squad at pre-season training.
Jayden Wright
A hard-running edge forward, Wright is excited to be joining the club in the pre-season and has even begun training early, completing extras with a number of Titans this week ahead of his formal November 1 train-and-trial start date. He is expected to have quite the handy combination with a number of fellow Gold Coast talents with the Palm Beach Currumbin alumni playing alongside the likes of Tom Weaver and Jaylan De Groot during his school footy days.
Max Liles
Hailing from the Northern Rivers region, Liles is a skilful half who excelled this year in the No. 6 jersey for the Tweed Seagulls in the Hastings Deering Colts. The Cudgen Hornets and Future Titans junior is known for his deft left-boot kicking game and was a rising star at the ASSRL National Championships for New South Wales Combined Catholic Colleges, earning a shot to make a name for himself with a short train-and-trial stint at Parkwood.
Tanu Nona
Fresh from finishing high school as the Palm Beach Currumbin school captain, Nona will spend his first few weeks at Titans HQ on a train-and-trial deal after a big season on the footy field. Playing for both the PBC Reds and Tweed Seagulls, the utility is a handy inclusion to further develop his game before what's expected to be another big season in 2023 in the QRL's competitions.
Emry Pere
The former North Queensland Cowboy has moved south to join the Burleigh Bears in 2023, earning himself a train-and-trial spot with the Titans in the pre-season. The hulking forward made his NRL debut in 2020 and has played two games for the Townsville-based club as well as 69 Hostplus Cup appearances for the Northern Pride, Townsville Blackhawks and most recently, Mackay Cutters.
Creedence Toia
Growing up in Queensland, the 21-year-old is returning home from Canterbury after a stint with the Bulldogs in the Knock On Effect Cup. He is set to link up with his older brother Connor at the Burleigh Bears in 2023 and with this move, earns himself a call-up to the Titans' pre-season.
