Rugby league guru Phil Gould says he can’t understand why the Titans’ recruitment continues to chase attacking players rather than “hard-nosed forwards” following the signing of Manly veteran Kieran Foran.
Foran, who returned to Manly last season, will officially join the Titans in 2023 after signing on for a two-year deal, understood to be worth about $750,000-a-season.
News of Foran’s signature couldn’t have come at a more crucial time for the Titans with the club searching for answers after five-straight losses. They have won just two from nine games to start the year.
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Gould conceded the crafty playmaker will bring a wealth of experience but said the signing continues a recent trend of bringing in players with attacking mindsets, as they leak points at the other end.
“Kieran Foran I’m a real fan of. I think he’s a good buy in certain respects for a team like the Titans because he’s got experience,” Gould told Nine’s 100% Footy.
“But he’s yet another purchase that’s being made around attacking football rather than the defensive mindset.
“They’ve never really recruited someone who’s that hard-edge and hard-nosed leadership bloke that values defence, values the grind and values gritting his way through a game of football.
“They’ve never gone down that line. Everyone they’ve bought, if you look at it, they’ve come in and enhanced their attacking game… I just think the Titans are lacking that leadership edge. That really hard-nosed forward like a Kevin Campion, Jeremy Smith or someone like that, who can come in, lead the way and value winning close games in a grinding situation.”
Foran has played 247 NRL games, including 34 appearances with Manly in his most recent stint after injuries hampered his tenure with the Bulldogs between 2018 and 2020.
In recent years, the Titans have brought in the likes of rampaging forwards Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and David Fifita, playmaker Will Smith, lock Isaac Liu, centre Esan Marsters and wingers Corey Thompson and Jamayne Isaako.
“The team doesn’t have a defensive bend, it doesn’t have a defensive resolve,” Gould added.
“We saw that with the Roosters the other night. They’re a very dangerous attacking team.
“The Titans make you nervous when you play against them, they can put 30 or 40 on you.”
While discussing the Titans’ defensive woes, Gould made mention of a try during the second half which saw Roosters fullback James Tedesco go over.
“Look how they just stand back and wait there as the Roosters come to them. That one vision there shows me there is little emphasis placed on defence,” Gould said.
“All backing away from the ball and allowing easy passes to the try line… you need defensive minded people.
“You’re not going to win football games in the NRL doing that.”
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