“A dramatic and wide-reaching change in conditions, attitudes, or operation”.
That’s how the Oxford Dictionary defines one of the NRL’s favourite buzz words when a club needs a rebuild, or a ‘revolution’.
The Titans fall into that category, but they needed a man to oversee their overhaul after Des Hasler was spearheaded into the head coach role and managed 14th and 16th-place finishes.
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Josh Hannay is that man, and while the Titans are yet to achieve anything on the field, there’s an air of optimism around the Gold Coast.
And it seems to begin and end with Hannay.
The 46-year-old was one of the hottest head coaching prospects on the market when Titans bosses went searching for their north star, alongside the likes of Dean Young and Ben Hornby.
But Hannay had a glowing resume, with a reference from one of Queensland’s favourite sons in Billy Slater, spending time under him in Maroons camp.
He also spent time at the Cowboys under Paul Green and in Cronulla under John Morris, becoming caretaker coach of both clubs at different stages.
But back to the idea of a ‘revolution’.
Changing the attitudes of a group, especially one deprived of success, is no easy task — but Hannay knew that’s exactly what was needed to put pride back in the Titans’ jersey.
But first, he had two crucial things to check off his list.
THE PROOF HANNAY’S VISION IS WORKING
Before he did anything else, Hannay had to make sure he had the buy-in of both captain and marquee man Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and rising star Cooper Bai.
Fa’asuamaleaui made it clear he would only waive the option in his contract that would render him a free agent if the club’s situation changed on the Gold Coast.
Yes, Fa’asuamaleaui is one of the game’s highest-paid players and he could have demanded a mammoth figure on the open market.
But success is what he was searching for, or a framework that looks like it could deliver just that — which Hannay went about implementing after taking over.
Bai, meanwhile, was being heavily courted by the Storm, and rarely do they miss out on targets they publicly pursue.
Ultimately Fa’asuamaleaui announced he would be staying at the Titans, and a day later Bai followed his lead in a line-in-the-sand moment that signalled a distinct shift.
“Certainly don’t underestimate the faith that those guys are showing in what we are trying to do here,” Hannay said on Fox League when asked about his time at the club thus far.
“There was certainly some frustration surrounding the environment when I got to the club.
“One of the key things for me early doors was in a short space of time, create an environment and deliver a program here that the players want to be a part of, that they see a future with.
“And I’d like to think the decisions of Tino and Cooper Bai in the last week point to an environment that they can see their football developing.
“But they can also see an environment that they want to be a part of, a lot of work has gone in in a short space of time and the players deserve a lot of credit for driving that culture.”
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The fact Fa’asuamaleaui spent time with Hannay in Origin camp also played a huge factor, according to former premiership-winner Dale Finucane.
“When there’s potential for players to move on or there’s talk of moving clubs, having someone like Josh coming in, providing stability (is crucial),” he said to foxsports.com.au.
“Even though it’s his first year as an NRL coach, having those prior relationships through Origin and knowing what he’s about.
“Speaking from my experience, I wanted to come to the Sharks was because of a previous relationship I had developed with Craig Fitzgibbon through country and NSW Origin.
“I knew that when I was coming to the club, I knew I was going to be coached by a coach that was going to have success.
“Obviously Tino feels that with Josh.”
Fa’asuamaleaui, meanwhile, spoke about that “frustration” Hannay touched on, admitting “last year was probably my toughest year mentally to be honest”.
“Just looking around at what’s happening and not understanding why we’re here and then at times, seeing some cracks through the club,” he explained to foxsports.com.au.
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“But I’m glad that we went through that because everything happens for a reason.
“We’ve obviously got a really good coach that I’m backing in. Last year was stressful but when you step back a bit and then just see how everything’s unfolded, I guess I’m glad that we went through that and we’re here now.
“I just know that we’re heading the right direction with Josh at the helm.”
Jojo Fifita also echoed his captain, saying to reporters, including News Corp: “I feel like the environment is very positive this year, everyone is coming to training and they actually want to train.
“That’s a big step from how we used to be, I think our mindset altogether was pretty negative over the last couple of years… everyone is working hard.”
THE BIG CALLS THAT HELPED HANNAY ‘RE-SHAPE’ THE ROSTER
Re-signing that pair wasn’t the only roster decision that was made.
Hannay took one look at a salary cap he deemed to be too “top heavy” and made moves to clear cap space, and get rid of players surplus to requirements.
David Fifita was the biggest name to depart, with the Gold Coast paying a portion of his salary at the Rabbitohs, such was Hannay’s desire to let him walk.
Reagan Campbell-Gillard left for the London Broncos and in the process they cleared a reported $1 million from their cap to be used elsewhere.
Hannay also let Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui (Catalans), Tom Weaver, Sean Mullany, Jacob Alick-Wiencke, Ryan Foran, Ben Liyou, Harley Smith-Shields, Carter Gordon (released), Alofiana Khan-Pereira (released) and Brian Kelly (Eels) go.
In their place he recruited in positions that lacked depth.
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At hooker, he snapped up promising former Panther Luke Sommerton as well as replacing Weaver with Lachlan Ilias in the halves to sit behind Jayden Campbell and AJ Brimson.
Kurtis Morrin (Bulldogs) and Max Feagai (Dolphins) rounded out their 2026 recruits, while
Mawene Hiroti (Sharks) arrives next year in a savvy recruitment move.
“Quickly we had to have a good look at the roster right,” Hannay said of his salary cap.
“Re-shape it, to be honest I thought it was a little bit top heavy so we’ve spoken about the need to raise the floor of the roster to greater depth.
“I think we have been able to do that, it has created more competition for positions and I would like to think that is going to create a more competitive football team.”
But the salary cap is a numbers game. Maximise the $12 million you can spend on players, the better chance of success any club has — simple.
Shifting a whole club’s mindset into a winning menality — considerably more difficult.
So what specifically could Hannay be doing to bring about change?
‘BEHIND CLOSED DOORS’: HANNAY’S SECRET SAUCE AS A COACH
According to Tino, it’s “hard to describe” but it centres around every player knowing their role.
Take Klese Haas as an example. A player with immense talent, and one that had shown he could be a handful on an edge.
But Hannay saw another side of him and gave him a clear goal and direction forward, moving him into the middle of the park to join the Titans’ engine room.
“I’m not a back rower anymore, I’m a middle now,” Haas said to the Titans website.
“It came from conversations before pre-season with Josh. He just felt like my skill set was best suited for the middle and I agree with him, to be honest.”
The Gold Coast’s halves pairing has also been a major point of contention in recent years, but even that has already been solved by Hannay.
“I am pretty settled on the idea of AJ Brimson partner with ‘JC’ (Jayden Campbell) for Round One and Sam Verrills, very comfortable with him for dummy-half,” Hannay said.
It’s a simple change, but one that is making a huge impact according to Fa’asuamaleaui.
“It’s definitely a better environment in the sense of everyone knows their role you know from the youngest player to our eldest player,” he said.
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“Everyone knows their role within the team and as an athlete, as a football player, that’s all you got to do you.
“When boys have that and they’re learning too, it’s a real positive to see and yeah it’s definitely a positive environment.”
And how is a positive culture fostered? It’s simple, according to Finucane — and it’s a secret sauce used by the best crop of NRL coaches.
It’s a ‘person first’ mentality.
“I think the biggest thing that’s important with all coaches, is that they care about the person first, obviously coaches are there to coach players,” Finucane said.
“I guess the end goal that they’re judged on is obviously performance and results.
“(Fitzgibbon’s) personal approach to players is what sets him apart, obviously having Josh underneath him, I guess those sort of traits filtered through the organisation from Fitzy down.
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“That kind of mentality filters through… that was my first impression of Josh that he really cared about the person first.
“Second to that, he was obviously a great coach both technically and tactically… I’ve got no doubts that he’ll be an excellent coach.
“I guess coaches that I’ve had success with over the years, they’ve really cared about the person first and obviously second to that it’s been football.”
The idea of “knowing your role” was also central in Hannay’s time at the Sharks, with Finucane shifting into Cronulla’s coaching think tank as he pondered his future.
Ultimately, after a wave of head knocks, Finucane announced his NRL retirement in 2024 — but he learnt a number of valuable lessons.
“I reckon in my time where I was injured towards the back end of my time with the Sharks and when I was going to retire,” Finucane explained.
“I was involved around the coaching staff more than I was with the players, that’s probably where I found out a little bit about what happened behind the scenes.
“Going back to the ‘person before the player’, I definitely saw that approach (from Hannay) behind closed doors.
“Then technically and tactically, what he put into it and the attention to detail on the roles set out for individuals was second to none.”
The Gold Coast also is a location renowned for its night-life, laid back lifestyle and beaches. Distractions are in abundance, so keeping your players on track is crucial.
“I think having that good judge character is really important and he’ll be a really good judge,” Finucane said.
“You’re going to have your guys who are super professional, super diligent, who you don’t really have to do too much with.
“Then you’re going to have your guys who aren’t that way inclined and I think a good coach will obviously be able to work with those sorts of individuals.
“I use Craig Bellamy as an example, there’s obviously the big three who did all the right things. Then for want of a better word, he had some rat bags in that team.
“But you also need those guys to even the squad out a little bit, so having that balance in your squad and not letting them get way with slacking on standards.
“Having those different personalities is really important… and I think he will do really well.”
But now, after their pre-season ‘revolution’, the Titans will be desperate to find success.
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According to those within the four walls at Parkwood, there’s a new dawn brewing.
“The calibre of players they’ve got, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui who’s been a mainstay for them for quite a long time,” Finucane said.
“I know Josh having a connection with the likes of Tino through Origin with Billy Slater, those ties will help those Queensland-based players.
“But I know there was a lot of excitement around Josh going to their club, because of the reputation he has as a coach.
“You know as assistants who are the next in line to be head coaches… the next one was Josh Hannay and that’s because of the reputation he’s got as a really good assistant.
“They are going to see the fruits of that and already have over the course of the pre-season.
“Talking to a number of guys, the mentality that he’s brought in and the game plan, the way they want to play. I’m excited to see how they go, particularly because of the standards he is going to set there.”