Titans recruit Sam Verrills is backing Justin Holbrook’s Gold Coast outfit to return to finals soccer this season — likening the membership’s resurgence to a premiership heavyweight.
The 24-year-old signed a two-year take care of the Titans in August final 12 months, having already performed 48 NRL video games together with a grand ultimate victory in opposition to the Raiders in 2019.
The Titans has a disappointing marketing campaign in 2022, ending with solely six wins to take a seat in thirteenth place, after being one cross away from the second week of finals in 2021.
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However, Verrills believes his new staff is in the identical state of affairs because the 2019 Panthers outfit, who struggled to tenth place after three years within the prime eight earlier than surging to a few consecutive grand finals appearances and two premierships.
“I looked at Penrith’s team from a few years ago when they were really young,” Verrills instructed Brisbane’s 4BC radio.
“They went through a few stages where they weren’t winning games back in 2019, and then all of a sudden, they got some experience. I reckon that could be us this year.”
“We know we can score points. We’ve got some outstanding back there so we’ve just got to be a really tough group and show the rest of the NRL that we can defend well in a really close game and try and grind out wins because that’s our main focus going into the season.”
The Titans have recruited Verrills, alongside skilled halfback Kieran Foran, gun centre Aaron Schoupp and utility Joe Stimson of their enjoying ranks.
Meanwhile, former Storm and Raiders enforcer Brett White has been welcomed into the membership’s teaching employees as Holbrook’s assistant to work on the Titans’ shaky defence.
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“We’ve brought in Brett White and he’s really taking control of the defensive side,” Verrills stated.
“We know what wins games and we’ve had a lot of meetings about it in the pre-season, and that’s obviously defence.
“We’ve worked really hard as a team defending together and hitting well.”
No one can doubt the Titans have a star-studded ahead pack which boasts two of probably the most thrilling skills within the NRL — Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and David Fifita.
Verrills believes he can play his finest soccer alongside that pair, in addition to former teammate Isaac Liu, who wore the Tricolours jersey 203 instances throughout 9 seasons.
“I looked at the forward pack and the likes of Tino, Dave Fifita and I played with Isaac Liu as well and it’s such a strong forward pack and I can really see myself playing well with these guys around me,” Verrills stated.
“We’ve got a really good opportunity this year ahead of us and it’s now just getting our combinations right at training which we have been lately.”