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Titans Community Wrap-Up: Reflecting on an incredible 2022!

The Gold Coast Titans have continued to deliver record breaking programs throughout the 2022 season.

From fundraising to community programs, cultural programs and leading inclusivity in sport across Australia, our club continues to build strong connections with, and continue to give back to, our local community.

This is a reflection of our record breaking year, as we prepare to surpass these numbers in 2023.

It was a hard start to the year with natural disasters devastating both Tonga (volcano eruption and tsunami) and catastrophic flooding in the Northern Rivers of NSW and South East QLD.

Titans High Performance Senior Advisor Mal Meninga worked with the Titans Cultural Collective to create special ways to support our neighbouring nation.

Sitting down in a special interview with Tonga Lea’aetoa, former New Zealand-Tongan Rugby Union International, Meninga spoke about the power of Rugby League in Tonga.

“Mal Meninga is one of the biggest figures in Rugby League in Tonga. People idolise Mal and his game,” Lea’aetoa said.

“Rugby league provides purpose for our youth there, which we want to keep going.

“Over the last few weeks in Tonga, the Titans are doing great work with Parramatta to raise funds for Tonga.

“On behalf of my people, we are so grateful for these initiatives. It is the beginning of a long journey to come that our people will face,” he said.  

The Gold Coast Titans partnered with the Parramatta Eels to raise funds by auctioning off game-worn jerseys to raise funds for the Australian Red Cross – Tongan Relief Fund.

Unfortunately, shortly after this the Northern Rivers of NSW and South-East QLD were subjected to devastating floods that impacted the regions tremendously.

As soon as flood waters subsided, current and former Titans players, coaching and administration staff were some of the first people on the rounds, assisting with the clean-up and recovery efforts.

With the help of executive partner Village Roadshow, the Titans were able to donate over $100,000 to flood relief throughout the region.

The Titans were able to work with the NRL to deliver the Roads to Regions program to over 1500 students and Junior Rugby League players.

With the program being postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions since 2020, the Titans are relieved to see the program return, with so many young students and players meeting their favourite Gold Coast Titans stars.

For Club legend Preston Campbell, heading down to the Northern Rivers to help with flood relief and delivering the Roads to Regions program was a heart-warming experience.

“People need help, like I said the first time I came down here it was so overwhelming, seeing so much devastation,” Campbell said.

“We can’t underestimate the importance of coming in, even if it’s just coming down to say hello and have a conversation.

“It is so heart-warming to see people getting together and it shows us just how capable we are working together as human beings,” he said.

The Roads to Regions program connects both current and former players, with children and young adults in regional areas to deliver programs based around health and wellbeing, inclusion and diversity and respect.

As part of the program, NRLW players spent a day in Casino, NSW visiting numerous schools and teaching children all about inclusion and teamwork.

For NRLW winger Hailee-Jay Maunsell, visiting regional areas is of importance to her.

“It’s great to come down to places like Casino, to show our support and deliver an important message, especially because the community has been through so much lately,” Hailee-Jay said.

The Gold Coast Titans charity foundation, Titans Together, celebrated its second birthday this year, with Jayden Campbell cutting his iconic rats-tail off to raise funds for flood victims.

The Titans Together initiatives and the difference it makes to the local area is a big reason why the local Gold Coast junior continues to wear Titans colours today.

"I stayed at the club, not just because I grew up around here, but because I see what it does for the community... going out to schools, our Leagueability, our NAIDOC celebrations," Campbell said.

"I just wanted to raise money to keep those programs running, because it's very important to get everyone together nice and close.

"They try to keep everybody tight-knit and I wanted to follow in the old boys footsteps. He helps people and I'd like to start helping people.

With over $16,000 being raised, Jayden was able to show off his new hair ready for Round 1 of the 2022 season.

With the 2021 NRLW season being postponed to the start of 2022, marquee player Karina Brown was announced as the winner of the Veronica White Medal for her off-field contribution to the community.

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said Karina’s passion for the community is inspiring for everyone around her.

“Karina has a passion for not only playing at the elite level but importantly for inspiring others,” said NRL CEO Andrew Abdo.

“The power of Karina’s strong message to young girls that they can be their true self and succeed is an important one not just for females in rugby league but for young people everywhere.

“Whether it be on the field, on a stage or out of the spotlight, Karina constantly inspires others to follow their own path, even if it may not always fit with society’s expectations.

“Karina sometimes travels for hours in her own time, mentoring and supporting young female players at games.

“She is a role model and making a positive difference to people’s lives,” Abdo said.

At the first Titans home game of the season, the Titans with the help of Community Presenting Partner Kinetic, were able to transport busloads of flood victims to the game.

The Cabbage Tree Island Community were treated to a true Gold Coast Titans welcome, with a double win for the NRLW and NRL teams, plenty of entertainment around the grounds, food and drinks complimentary thanks to Surfside Buslines and some Gold Coast Titans merch to take home.

Included in those who made the trip up from Cabbage Tree Island were the family of Gold Coast Titans player, Brian Kelly.

Brian's dad and cousin, Brian Kelly Snr and Simon Kelly, were able to travel up from the flood effected region to watch Brian play and spend some time with Brian's young children in the stands.

“We would like to thank the Titans and Surfside for inviting us all up from the island,” Kelly Snr said.

“It’s been a very dark few weeks down south, so it’s a great way to ease everyone’s pain on the island.

“For a lot of the kids, it is their first ever time watching a Rugby League game, so to see the smiles on their faces was just incredible.

“Everyone has been camped up in little rooms and evacuation centres, so to get everyone out is a great day for them all,” he said.

“It’s great to come and watch our brother (Brian Kelly) play on home ground,” Simon Kelly said.

“The kids are happy, they are all enjoying it and looking forward to seeing Brian play today,” he said.

Young boys from Cabbage Tree Island, Harry James-Bolt and James Ferguson, also got to meet Gold Coast Titans captain, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, when they facilitated the coin toss before the game.

Junior Rugby League holiday clinics were started on a high this year, with Gorden Tallis coaching at the free clinic for flood victims in April.

The clinic hosted 200 junior players, helping them practice their tackling and ball skills in the sunshine.

The clinic’s surprise guest, Gorden Tallis spent time with the kids, coaching them and answering their questions.

“I met Gorden Tallis, which was really cool because he is my hero,” Charlie said.

“I was a bit emotional and too excited to eat and drink once I saw him.

“He taught me how to hold the ball, so I don’t knock it on and drop it,” he said.

For Charlie’s mum Katrina, the impact of Tallis meeting Charlie, will remain with her and her family for years to come.

“Charlie didn’t know Gorden would be here,” Katrina said.

“As soon as he saw Gorden, he started crying.

“He jumped up and ran over, asking me ‘is that really Gorden Tallis?’ and when I said yes, he ran over to him.

“Since Charlie was seven, he has watched Gorden’s videos, play by play.

“His dad was a massive Gorden fan and when he was going through chemotherapy before he passed away, he shaved his hair off and would tell Charlie that he was trying to look like Gorden Tallis.

“Ever since then, that is his connection to his dad. It means a lot more than anyone realises.

“Gorden and his family are amazing people. For him to sit there and take the time like he did and talk the kids through little hints and tricks, it was just priceless.

“They are so busy and take time to do little things like this, but the impact is enormous, and these kids will never forget that.

“That is an hour that they will never forget, ever,” she said.

The Club’s principal partner, My Pay Now were instrumental in supporting the Titans both on and off the field.

At the Gold Coast Titans’ first home game of the 2022 season, the club’s Principal Partner kicked off the gameday flood relief fund with a $5000 contribution to assist those in need across Southeast Queensland and Northern New South Wales.

However, MyPayNow didn’t stop there.

To kick off the season they have continued to support the Gold Coast community at each home game.

This is being done through a commitment to match the amount raised for each Gold Coast Titans Game Day Charity partner through the 50/50 game day raffle at every home game, up to the amount of $1,250.

Titans CEO, Steve Mitchell, was glowing in his praise of MyPayNow

“We are immensely proud to be in partnership with MyPayNow, who like us, have their roots here on the Gold Coast and share a united dedication to inspire our communities,” Mitchell said.

“Through initiatives like matching the funds raised for each of the game day charity partners this year they are doing just that.”

The Gold Coast Titans Deadly Futures program was showcased in the Northern Rivers area for the first time ever.

Following on from a successful intake on the Gold Coast in Term One, the program inspired multiple students from the area which was hit hard by natural disasters.

Jyron Robertson's aspirations to one day become a doctor have been kept well and truly alive thanks to the Titans' Deadly Futures program.

The young Indigenous student is one of the many success stories from the initiative run in partnership with the Preston Campbell Foundation, working with Year 9 and 10 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to learn about Indigenous timelines, cultural identity and career aspirations.

Admitting he had fallen in with the wrong crowd, it was the Titans life member and figurehead of the program that helped him get back on track to continue on his dream career path.

"Before this program, I wasn’t totally ashamed but I was a little bit ashamed," he said.

"Talking with Preston allowed me to open up more and talk about how I feel.

"We did this activity the other day where we did have to ask for help.

"That really means a lot to me because earlier this year, I was going through stuff and hanging around a bad crowd. I got on drugs and stuff but that’s when I asked for help."

Over the past few months, Campbell and the team have worked with Robertson and other students from Casino Public School and Bonalbo Central School at the Windara Community and Resource Centre with the aim to Inspire the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.

The Gold Coast Titans community leader is proud to be part of the program that has spanned the past seven years, elaborating on the importance of the initiative and connecting within a community that has its recent challenges.

"This program just fits so well with young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and it’s important because they need to hear it, especially in Casino at the moment," Campbell said.

"They’ve had a pretty tough time, not just with the natural disasters, but they’ve had some pretty tough stuff in the community and I think they’ve really needed to hear something a little more positive.

For 2021 Deadly Futures alumni student Lakeeta McGrath, 2022 was a memorable experience for her.

She was among four students selected to represent the Titans at the NRL Youth Ambassador camp in Sydney.

From the 65 students that attended Lakeeta won female ambassador of the year and she has represented the NRL as a youth ambassador for 2022 season.

Despite her meteoric rise McGrath continues to volunteer with the club across its events and administration activities and hopes to take here learnings and experience into her post-school career.

This year, the Gold Coast Titans Kinetic Schools League Competition hit a record high.

A record number of teams took part in this year’s Titans Kinetic Schools League Competition, with 114 teams from 30 schools competing for this year's trophies.

Titans NRLW and Pathways & Participation Manager Darren Robb says the growth of the competition on the back of a record 2021 has been fantastic.

"The Titans Schools League began in 2006 as the Titans Cup and Challenge, an open-age boys high school competition that serviced the schools below the elite level competitions," Robb said.

"Over the years, the competition has evolved to now have 12 divisions for boys and girls in all high school year levels across South East Queensland.

"In 2022, we have added 14 more teams and 5 more schools to the competition which is double the amount of teams we had in 2019.

"The competition ran over multiple afternoons and evenings during school at various venues including; Beenleigh, Logan, Ipswich and the Gold Coast."

The Titans Kinetic School Competition has become the largest non-metropolitan school rugby league competition in Australia, something the club is extremely proud of.

The School Competition wasn’t the only program hitting record numbers, with the Leagueability program hitting a record high of over 60 players.

The program trained fortnightly and played multiple games at CBUS Super Stadium as curtain raisers for the NRL and NRLW games.

For the first time ever, the Physical Disability Rugby League (PDRL) team played against the Sydney PDRL side at CBUS Super Stadium.

On cue in front of the parochial Legion, the Titans romped home to a 26-0 victory against their fellow opponents from south of the border in the first interstate PDRL clash between the pair - something that has been three years in the making and faced many a hurdles due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The boys who have been here from the start... it was so good to see how keen they were for today, which makes me even more amped up to play with them," Dekker said.

"It means a lot to them, so I put everything in as I want to help them and I know I look up to these boys as well."

The game acted as a selection match for the recent Rugby League World Cup in the UK, where nine Titans players were selected to play in the inaugural side.

Gold Coast Titan Hudson Wicks, was ecstatic to get the call-up to represent his country in early September.

"It's been unreal. It only took a few days for the NSW boys to become like family to us all,” he said.

"It's just been so good to put on the green and gold... it's always been something I've dreamt about as a kid and I'm very, very grateful to be here."

"They've just been so welcoming to us and really made us feel at home onto their home turf. It's been really good and we couldn't have asked for their support enough."

As well as the support of their fellow teammates, Wicks' side also was inspired by a number of special messages by rugby league identities and even backing from the most coveted position in Australia.

"To get a personal message from the Prime Minister was just so cool," he said.

"I've never travelled this far before and I don't think any of the boys really have, so to get advice from someone like Cronulla's Lachlan Millar, who's played Rugby 7s around the world, he knows what it takes to be on these long flights.

The Titans would like to thank their Community Presenting Partner, Kinetic and Community Supporting Partners, Neumann Steel, AirPhysio and KARI alongside the multiple volunteers and stakeholders who devote countless hours to make it possible to do this work.

Acknowledgement of Country

Gold Coast Titans proudly acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we are situated, the Kombumerri families of the Yugambeh Language Region. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging, and recognise their continuing connections to the lands, waters and their extended communities throughout South East Queensland.