Titans Season Preview

Team: Gold Coast

Last year: 16th

Gains: Jamal Idris (Bulldogs), Luke Douglas (Sharks), Beau Champion (Storm), Nate Myles (Roosters), Phil Graham (Roosters)

Losses: Esi Tonga (Eels), Nathan Friend (Warriors), Anthony Laffranchi (St Helens), Preston Campbell (retirement), Joseph Tomane (rugby), Will Matthews (Dragons)

What has to go right: Everything. The Titans won just six games in 2011 and deservedly collected the wooden spoon. It was a massive plunge after finishing one game shy of the 2010 grand final. The pressure is on coach John Cartwright to get Gold Coast back on track in a region critical to the NRL.

What could go wrong: There is no doubt that on his day Jamal Idris is a genuine match winner. But he can also go missing in matches and is known to be high maintenance off the park at times. Cartwright will have to get his relationship with big Jamal just right because if he doesn't fire the Titans could be in for another long year. The relationship between Greg Bird and Scott Prince is not exactly hunky dory and may be further strained if the wins don't rack up early.

Nightmare headline: Idris homesick for Belmore

Dream reading: Titans go from spoon to premiers

Predicted finish: 13th

Lucius says: The Titans fielded the NRL's oldest team last year and it showed. They were well off the pace all year and not surprisingly dipped deep into their back account to attract some new talent to the Glitter Strip. They will improve and could possibly sneak into the back-end of the top eight but there are better sides ahead of them.