Rugby League Coaching Manuals

By Luke Turgeon, GC Bulletin - Before the Titans kick off their third NRL season against the Newcastle Knights at Skilled Park on Sunday,  Gold Coast boss Michael Searle talked about everything from AFL and A-League insurgents to Preston Campbell's playing future and why the club will be a finals force in 2009.

The Bulletin: The Gold Coast will become an increasingly competitive market over the next 12-18 months. How are the Titans placed to maintain their No.1 status?

Searle: I don't think there is any debating that the Gold Coast is a rugby league stronghold. Queensland's favourite sport is rugby league and their support of the National Rugby League has seen it now become the epicentre of the game. We are coming up against a billionaire (Gold Coast United owner Clive Palmer) and a team owned and funded by the AFL, who are going to throw massive amounts of money into it. It is going to be competitive. But I would hope that provided we keep doing our job, our position in the market will remain the same.

Everyone has an opinion on how the AFL and A-League will be received on the Gold Coast. You know the market and what it takes to set up a successful new club. How will they go?

I hope they both do well. I am a Gold Coast person first and foremost. The bigger picture is the success of the Gold Coast brand. We don't want to go back to the dark old days of being called a sporting graveyard. I don't want to see any franchise collapse because that would affect everyone's brand, it doesn't matter if you are AFL, soccer, rugby league or basketball.

Is the Gold Coast in danger of becoming an overcrowded market?

It is already overcrowded. Sustainability is the key. I think there has been a misjudgment in the market by some of the national sporting bodies. I think some of their entries were accelerated because of the success of the NRL.

Does that worry you?

Sustainability means four teams can break even. You would be a pretty brave person to suggest all four teams would break even.

The contract drama with hooker Nathan Friend was probably the biggest pre-season controversy at the club. With the benefit of hindsight, would you change anything with the way that whole saga played out?

It was a negotiation process. They all play out differently.

We put an offer on the table that was fair for Nathan to stay. Nathan's management felt that he could secure more money elsewhere. If I pay more than I am prepared to pay for one player, then it affects probably another five.

It has been reported Friend hasn't ruled out staying. Is there still a chance from the club's point of view?

Friendy has been great for the club, he is a good fella and fits into the playing group well. You never say never. But the challenge that we have now got is that we have moved on. We have secured other talent. Even if he doesn't stay, I want to see him have a cracking year so he can secure the contract that he needs for his family.

When do you expect Preston Campbell will make a decision on his future?

Whenever he wants to decide.

You must have some sort of a timeline, so you can plan for 2010?

Not with Preston. If he came to me in September or even November and said he wanted to play next year, that would be fine. I will leave a contingency there for Preston. He deserves that. There will be no salary cap forcing Preston Campbell out of our game.

It is the club's third season, what are your goals for this year?

That we continue to be a part of this community and give it our absolute best every time we go out on the paddock. For me, success is measured by what we do off the paddock first and foremost, by maintaining our community involvement and passion. A perfect year would be achieving success off the field and success on the field with a premiership. I am happy with something less than perfect, so a semi-final would be nice.

Everyone is talking finals footy this year. Should fans get their hopes up after heartbreaking finishes to the first two campaigns?

I thought we were unlucky last year -- in round 16 we were leading the comp. I have seen the fire in the eyes of Luke Bailey, Mark Minichiello, Anthony Laffranchi and Ashley Harrison. It is exciting this year. It is going to be cracking.