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Jasper Bruce

'Thank you, NRL': Titans scratching heads over fixture

Josh Hannay is relieved, to say the least, his Titans have a home game in round 16. (Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOS)

Josh Hannay has been left baffled by the NRL's fixturing as Gold Coast prepare for their first game at their home ground in 49 days.

The first-year Titans coach joked he had to use a navigation app to get to the team's last training session for their clash with ladder-leading Penrith.

The Panthers' State of Origin trio Isaah Yeo, Brian To'o and Nathan Cleary will be rested.

Gold Coast representative Tino Fa'asuamaleaui will also sit out, but Queensland teammate Jojo Fifita is backing up for Gold Coast.

Saturday's match is the Titans' first at Cbus Super Stadium since losing to Canberra on May 2, so long ago that rookie halfback Zane Harrison had not yet debuted.

Sebastian Kris.
The Raiders' Sebastian Kris scored a spectacular runaway try last time Gold Coast played at home. (Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOS)

"I had to chuck Cbus Stadium in the nav this morning to kind of remember where it was," Hannay quipped.

"We haven't been here in a while, thank you, NRL."

The 16th-placed Titans have played only four home games in 2026, with one of those at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium for Magic Round.

Each of the NRL's 16 other teams have played at least six through 15 rounds, with Wests Tigers and Cronulla (8) playing twice as many as Gold Coast.

The AFC Women's Asian Cup meant Cbus Super Stadium was unavailable for the first three rounds of the NRL season.

Gold Coast Titans fans.
For the first time in two months, Titans fans will get to see their team play at Cbus Super Stadium. (Jason O'BRIEN/AAP PHOTOS)

But the fixturing since then has been frustrating and confusing for the Titans, who have travelled to Auckland and Townsville among 14 flights in total for the year.

"We're in an entertainment industry, right? Just for the club as a whole, it's hard to connect with your supporters when you're not playing at home," Hannay said.

"The club does a tremendous job, given that fact. But ultimately, home games are where you get that true connection. The supporter connects with the team, they can see it live and we just haven't had that opportunity."

Gold Coast have tried to make the best of the tough scheduling.

Hannay brought the squad together to watch the decisive game of the NBA finals while on the road to face the Tigers last week.

Jarome Luai.
Gold Coast let a big second-half lead slip to lose in their previous outing against the Tigers. (PR IMAGE PHOTO)

His predecessor Des Hasler was a fan of longer away trips.

But where possible, this year's Titans have tried to minimise travel time by flying the day before kick-off and then back home the evening after playing.

The upshot is that they play eight of their final 11 games on the Gold Coast, though still need to travel interstate to Melbourne, Sydney and Newcastle on the run home.

"lt's been a long time between drinks for our fans, but we'll get to fill that cup over the next three months," Hannay added.

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