The Gold Coast Titans have locked up seven of their big guns and future stars until the end of 2026, in a sign the club is now a destination of choice for NRL players.
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Fullback Jayden Campbell this week extended his deal to join captain Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, second-rowers David Fifita and Beau Fermor, flying winger Alofiana Khan-Pereira and fullbacks AJ Brimson and Keano Kini until 2026.
Titans recruitment chief Ezra Howe has been in the job five years and had no salary cap space to work with when he started after the club over-spent on underperforming players under former coach Garth Brennan's stewardship.
Now the Titans roster has balance and talent to burn.
"It was important for us to sign those seven guys long-term," Howe told AAP.
"Players don't commit long-term unless they see an opportunity to achieve success and genuine stability at a club.
"The young players we have re-signed had outside interest but they can see success and a positive future at the Titans and they want to be part of it."
Campbell, 23, is the son of Titans legend Preston Campbell. He can also play in the halves or off the bench.
"Jayden's first option was to stay on the Gold Coast and he was still happy to, even knowing that this year he might have to play a few positions," Howe said.
"(Coach) Justin Holbrook said it was all about his growth as a player and Jayden bought into that. We know long-term he is good enough to play fullback or five-eighth.
"He believes there is an opportunity to play regularly every week in the NRL and if he couldn't see that he wouldn't have stayed."
The Titans wrapped up Khan-Pereira long-term before he scored 11 tries in his first nine games of NRL.
"Lofi has been at our club since he was 15 . All of those seven players have a close connection to the Gold Coast or Queensland," Howe said.
"All of them are invested in the club having success ... and they care. They are young players but some of them have a lot of NRL experience.
"David Fifita will play his 50th NRL game for the Titans on Sunday (against Newcastle)."
The re-signing of boom forward Fifita was crucial to the Titans' plan to challenge for a title.
"David has taken significantly less money to stay with us and not join other clubs," Howe said.
"He saw what the other six blokes saw. Any club that has success and wins grand finals always has a core group of players that has been together long-term."
The Titans struck gold when they recruited premiership-winners Kieran Foran (five-eighth) and Sam Verrills (hooker) on two-year deals.
Both players signed with the Titans despite the club's poor season in 2022.
"They could both see the bunch of quality young kids we have got here and where we are heading," Howe said.
Australian Associated Press
