New signings hoping a golden opportunity awaits with Titans

Part of the Gold Coast’s new wave of players, Lachlan Ilias and Max Feagai are hoping their sea change will see change in their playing opportunities next season.

Halfback Ilias and outside back Feagai both started pre-season training under coach Josh Hannay last week but know they have a challenge ahead to claim their desired positions.

Coming from the Dragons after starting his career with the Rabbitohs, Ilias played seven games in the NRL during the 2025 season, the last being in Round 8 against the Roosters on ANZAC Day.

He was then part of the club's NSW Cup side that went all the way to the grand final, losing to the dominant Warriors team in the decider. 

“Josh reached out to me and he went at me pretty hard … so I'm really grateful for him going after me," Ilias said.

“He just said he sees a lot of potential in me and I haven't reached it yet, which I agree with. He said he's a player developer as well, which was a big green light for me. which I've probably missed out on in the last couple of years.

“I'm really looking forward to it, just developing as a player day-in and day-out and he refreshes our brain at training and video sessions ... that you will be better today than you were yesterday, so it's just a really refreshing environment.

“It's really energetic and everyone's really looking forward to the year. I see a lot of positive change happening at this club and it's something that I really want to be a part of."

While frank about his desire to push into the starting side as the halfback, Ilias was also respectful of the players already earmarked for the halves in Jayden Campbell and AJ Brimson, with the Greece international also open to the possibility of filling in a new position. 

“I'll be open to anything the team needs ... obviously I want to be a 7, but if the 14 is that role; then it is what it is, that's what the team needs me to be," Ilias said. 

“I want to be a 7, I believe I'm a 7, but there's a lot of boys competing for those halves roles at the moment, so, we're just all putting our head down.

“It's a good environment, there's nothing against each other, we're all really training really hard and pushing each other every rep, so it's a great environment to be in ...

“I just think if I am a 7, I can unlock the other boys.

“Obviously you've got a strong forward pack and some speed on the edges, so if I can just do my bit in the middle and control the middles and then just allow those boys with speed on the edges just to run and have fun, then, that's my job, whilst kicking to corners and doing the stuff that a seven does.

“But really just unlocking the boys and giving some direction around the park.

“Josh said to me, just come to training with no pressure … just train hard and whatever happens is going to happen and that's what I'm doing at the moment, just training hard and getting around training with a smile on my face and that's all I can do at the moment."

While Ilias came in a week early to get some reps in before his official pre-season start, it has been a bit of a whirlwind start to Feagai’s Titans’ tenure, with his unexpected change of club, given he still had another year to run on his contract with the Dolphins.

The Leeton Raiders junior - who also previously played at the Dragons, debuting there with his twin brother Mat - played eight games for the Dolphins last season, stepping up when the injury crisis at the club hit the backs. 

“It all came around pretty fast, so I don't really know what to make of it; except that I'm pretty excited for this opportunity that I get," Feagai said of his sudden move to the Gold Coast.

“I've only been here a day and I'm loving it already.

“I wasn't due back (to Dolphins pre-season) until last week, so it's pretty funny; I had two days there and it was just testing and then, come here for my first day of testing as well.

“Pretty unlucky!

“I think there's more opportunity (at the Titans) for myself, Dolphins are pretty stacked in the outside backs, a lot of numbers coming through as well as the boys that have already cemented their spot in the team.

“I definitely want to fight for one of the centre spots …

“That's just footy, but I'll just try and put my best foot forward and get in the 17.

“I'm not really looking too far ahead, but I do know that's what I want and I know it's not going to come easy either.

"I think everyone's just going to work hard and it's just a battle for the jersey.”