Gold Coast Titans

Yes, you read it right. After getting thrashed 54-8 the week before by the St George Illawarra Dragons, the Titans played the entertaining football their coach Garth Brennan promised in the pre-season, and how.

Their captain Ryan James led a forward pack that took on the Broncos in the middle, and won.

Winger Phillip Sami, who hails from the Goodna Eagles club that produced the great Noel Kelly, scored a hat-trick on the back of flair and a welcome penchant for the unorthodox.

Brennan received a nightmare initiation, watching the Titans concede three tries inside the first 10 minutes.

But he left his first match glowing about the character of his players after they recovered to snatch victory with a Konrad Hurrell try from an Ash Taylor grubber with less than two minutes on the clock.

The rookie mentor wanted the youngest halves pairing in the Telstra Premiership to take control of their team and the end result was Taylor and his partner Kane Elgey creating all five Titans tries.

NRL.com reporter Zac Bailey joined Hurrell as he surprised loved ones in the country’s cyclone-ravaged capital Nuku’alofa.

Hurrell was granted leave from pre-season training by Titans coach Garth Brennan, a decision that gave the Tongan international the chance to lend a hand following the Category 4 cyclone.

Houses were flattened and lives lost in the natural disaster that has crippled the nation.

Speaking for the first time after Penrith granted him a release to join his old junior coach Garth Brennan on the holiday strip, Cartwright said the chance to escape Sydney's fishbowl drove his shock off-season switch.

While stressing he and Penrith coach Anthony Griffin maintain a "great relationship", Cartwright did confirm whispers he was on the outer as far as the Panthers' first-choice line-up was concerned, with the Titans offering a chance for him to get back to his favoured lock position and best football as a result.

The coach's relationship with Mitch Rein from Penrith should see the former Dragons rake well in the frame for an NRL spot, even if just on the bench, while local boy Brendan Elliot returns to head off a list of wingers including John Olive and Tyronne Roberts-Davis to start the first game of the season – though one of the latter could come into calculations if Anthony Don doesn't overcome a shoulder injury.

New names like Jai Arrow, Jack Stockwell and Leilani Latu could all feature in first grade either starting or off the bench.

It is believed the Titans will sign the 34-year-old custodian to a two-year deal if the Roosters allow him to walk away from his contract for next season.

Gordon was set to be moved from his favoured fullback position to the wing next season due to the arrival of NSW star James Tedesco at the Roosters.

Gold Cost are in the market for a fullback following Jarryd Hayne's well-documented switch last Friday to his former club, the Parramatta Eels.

The 27 year-old rake had limited opportunities at Penrith this year, playing just five games when Peter Wallace was injured, but he didn't kick stones.

Taylor's original deal was due to expire in 2019 but the 22-year-old half-back's contract will now run through to 2021, it was announced on Wednesday.

Terms of the renewal were not disclosed however, Taylor – who attracted interest from rival clubs including Brisbane Broncos – is reportedly set to earn one million Australian dollars per season.

Taylor said the appointment of Garth Brennan as head coach following Neil Henry's sacking was a key factor.

‌A mid-season recruit from the Brisbane Broncos, Hipgrave will make his NRL debut against the Roosters at Allianz Stadium on Saturday and bring the type of aggressive intent that Bird was so famous for during his 14-year career in the NRL.

Roberts has made a return to his favoured five-eighth position in recent weeks but has started at fullback, in the centres and at hooker during the course of an injury-plagued season for the Gold Coast club.

The Titans presented a contract offer to Roberts' management midway through the season which was initially rejected but the two parties have re-opened negotiations and the 26-year-old is hopeful of committing to the club prior to the off-season break.

"I want to [stay]," Roberts told NRL.com. "We're in talks now so hopefully we'll get it done in a couple of weeks."