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Club Update: Titans enter new era with Matty Johns + Gordie buying stake of the Titans

DIEHARD

DIEHARD

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Repost from the 2026 Squad, Signings and Rumours Thread

Matty Johns bombshell as Knights legend buys stake of the Titans

Matty Johns is now the part-owner of an NRL franchise after purchasing a minority stake in the embattled Titans in a bombshell move.

Newcastle rugby league legend Matty Johns has taken the shock step of buying a stake in the Gold Coast Titans.

In a bombshell development, this masthead can reveal Johns is now the part-owner of an NRL franchise after purchasing a minority stake in the embattled Titans.

The Titans will formally announce Johns’ investment in the club on Monday.

The move comes just eight weeks after the sacking of Des Hasler following the Titans’ woeful 16th-placed finish this year and five months after former chair Rebecca Frizelle took full ownership of the club in July.

Frizelle regards Johns as one of the sport’s sharpest minds and has been in secret negotiations with the Fox Sports identity in recent weeks discussing the prospect of an ownership stake.

Now Johns and his wife Trish have come to the party, with the former NSW and Origin Test pivot agreeing to terms with Titans bosses following the exit of former co-owner Darryl Kelly, who saved Gold Coast from bankruptcy in 2014.

It is understood Johns had disclosed the purchase to his employers Fox Sports, who have no issue with their flagship NRL expert analyst obtaining a stake in the Titans.

It is not known how much the 54-year-old paid for his minority share but Johns believes the Titans are a sleeping giant ready to finally turn the corner following the appointment of coach Josh Hannay.

Johns has enormous regard for the business acumen of Frizelle and husband Brett, who have run successful car dealerships on the Gold Coast, and believes they can be the dynamic duo to preside over a Titans premiership revival.

Johns played 198 NRL games for Newcastle and the Sharks and was a key figure in the Knights’ maiden premiership win in 1997.

Now Johns is keen to bring a watershed title to the Gold Coast, with his ownership stake in the Titans to formally commence in the New Year ahead of the 2026 NRL premiership kick-off.

The brother of NRL Immortal Andrew Johns is one of the most popular and powerful media figures in the game and has regularly been sounded out by NRL clubs seeking mentoring advice for young playmakers.

In retirement - aside from his ascension as one of the code’s foremost media commentators - Johns has been a gun for playmaking hire.

He was formerly a specialist halves coach at the Storm under Craig Bellamy, helping the likes of Cooper Cronk, Brett Finch and Cameron Munster, before answering an SOS with Souths under former coach Anthony Seibold to work with Adam Reynolds and Cody Walker.

Johns was also previously enlisted by the Broncos to provide guidance for Anthony Milford and Kodi Nikorima, while he had enormous regard for former $1 million halfback Ash Taylor at the Titans.

The Fox League powerhouse follows in the investment footsteps of Brisbane legend Darren Lockyer, who recently purchased a stake in the London Broncos in his quest to return the struggling club to the English Super League.

Johns is under no illusions about the massive rebuilding task facing the Titans. The club went bankrupt with debts of $30 million in 2012, prompting a financial lifeline from white knight Kelly after the NRL took control of the Titans’ licence to save the club.

In December 2017, Kelly and Frizelle were named as co-owners of the Titans after the NRL put faith in the duo to ensure the Gold Coast had a viable football team.

The Titans have endured four consecutive bottom-four finishes, but Johns views the Gold Coast as a shrewd investment that can pay handsome dividends if Hannay gets the perennial underachievers firing.

Johns and his wife view the venture as a long-term investment and are determined to help Frizelle turn the Titans into an NRL juggernaut.
 
I've always loved and admired Matty for his humour, insight and understanding of the game. To me he isn't a whinger and tries to talk about reasons and solutions.

He will also be an ally in the media but also a reason that people may have to give us a little more respect in his Sydney circles.

He is smart to get on the ground floor because I think the NRL is going to high levels in years to come and we may see more investment like Lockyer and Grant Wechsel into London Broncos.
 
DIEHARD said:
I've always loved and admired Matty for his humour, insight and understanding of the game. To me he isn't a whinger and tries to talk about reasons and solutions.

He will also be an ally in the media but also a reason that people may have to give us a little more respect in his Sydney circles.

He is smart to get on the ground floor because I think the NRL is going to high levels in years to come and we may see more investment like Lockyer and Grant Wechsel into London Broncos.
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If Matty made an appearance at a few pathway / junior camps, I can see that helping with retention of juniors.
Certainly brings more weight and credibility than Tallis!
 
@GC Giant he has an energy and ability to connect with kids and adults alike.

He'd be one of the RL people who I'd love to share a drink with. Can't really think of anyone who can compete with his mix.

That'd have to be good for corporate crowd too. Hope we can see him about the club as often as possible.

It's really a bit left field as he isn't from the GC, he isn't a Queenslander. He is fresh blood and that doesn't often happen. Attracted to what we, long suffering but still committed Titans fans see to. "There's gold in them thar hills." Mark Twain.
 
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It would've been good in a case like the medias BS Bellamy angle, He could shut something like that down pretty quickly.
 
The story gets bigger and bigger with Tallis and others also investing into the Titans

Titans ownership shake-up: Gorden Tallis and Matthew Johns join Gold Coast consortium​

Broncos legend Gorden Tallis has joined forces with Matthew Johns by buying a stake in the Titans as Gold Coast brokered a deal that it hopes will transform the embattled club into an NRL juggernaut.

Peter BadelPeter Bade

Broncos legend Gorden Tallis has joined forces with Matthew Johns by buying a stake in the Titans as Gold Coast pulled off one of the biggest investment deals in NRL history.
In a landmark moment for the Gold Coast, the Titans have brokered a private-equity deal with a consortium of five parties, headed by Tallis and Johns, in a bid to transform the embattled club into an NRL juggernaut.

Former Titans chair Rebecca Frizelle took a full ownership stake in the club with husband Brett in July following the exit of white knight Darryl Kelly, who saved the Gold Coast from bankruptcy in 2014.

Now Frizelle has added firepower to Gold Coast’s ownership structure, with Tallis and wife Jemma Elder, a current club director, purchasing a share in the Titans, alongside Johns and his wife Trish.

The five-family consortium also includes Walkley award-winning News Corp journalist Hedley Thomas and wife Ruth Mathewson, plus leading Gold Coast business tycoons Billy and Jackie Cross and Michael and Jodie Atkins.

The Frizelle clan will retain a majority stake in the club, but are tired of the Titans being also-rans and believe the diverse mix of owners can help break the Gold Coast’s 19-year premiership duck.

Tallis first became involved with the Titans as an ambassador in 2015 and a decade later, the ‘Raging Bull’ is ramping up his backing of the club in the Gold Coast consortium’s quest to deliver the region’s first NRL premiership.

“It’s the first time, as far as I’m aware, that premiership-winning players have taken ownership in an NRL club,” said Tallis, who won three titles at the Broncos in 1997-98 and 2000.

“The Frizelle family have created a historic opportunity for the game.

“From a footy-mad kid in Townsville to living the game’s greatest moments - I owe this game everything.

“Now, as investors and owners, I plan to bring that same passion to help shape the game’s future in this region and provide opportunities for the next generation of aspiring participants - on and off the field.”

Tallis’ wife Jemma added: “We believe in the Titans’ vision. Together with the board, executive, and consortium, we’re committed to building a club that remains a source of pride for our players, members, fans, and partners.”

Tallis and Johns are not only two of the most powerful media personalities in the game, but boast a blue-chip playing portfolio.

The duo amassed a combined 412 first-grade games, winning four premierships between them, as well as having played at the highest level in the State of Origin and Test arenas.

Johns was a member of Australia’s World Cup-winning squad in 1995, while Tallis is a 17-game Queensland Origin legend who captained the Kangaroos at the 2000 World Cup.

The pair have disclosed their financial commitment in the Gold Coast to their employers Fox Sports, who have given Tallis and Johns the green light to lead a Titanic revival.

This masthead first revealed Johns’ purchase in the club on Sunday night and the 54-year-old confirmed the report, saying he and wife Trish believe the Titans are the sleeping giants of the NRL.

“We’re investing into the Titans because we believe in the club’s potential,” Johns said.

“We believe that the business acumen and professionalism of the Frizelle family will soon see that potential realised.

“This season marks 50 years since I first pulled on a pair of football boots as a five-year-old, at home in Cessnock. Rugby league is, and always has been, more than a sport for the Johns family, and to be given a chance to enter into ownership, is surreal to say the least.

“But it’s not just an investment into the Titans, it’s an investment into rugby league, a sport which has entered a golden period, and will continue its boom into the future.”

It is not known how much Tallis and Johns paid for their minority stakes but the Titans now possess one of the most powerful private ownership models in the NRL since Russell Crowe rescued South Sydney.

The Hollywood megastar and businessman Peter Holmes a Court paid $3 million for 75 per cent of the Rabbitohs in 2006, while high-powered triumvirate Bart Campbell, Matt Tripp and Gerry Ryan have ownership stakes in the Storm.

The Titans’ beefed-up ownership structure is pending the approval of the ARL Commission, with the Tallis, Johns, Thomas, Cross and Atkins families set to have formal involvement for the 2026 season.

Frizelle is hellbent on hauling the Titans out of the NRL cellar after four consecutive bottom-four finishes. She says the new consortium brings remarkable depth across multiple fields including rugby league, media, business, sport, and entertainment.

“We’re creating an enduring legacy for the Gold Coast,” Rebecca and Brett Frizelle said on Monday in a Titans statement.

“We have come full circle - it was through the encouragement and support of the Johns, Tallis, Cross and Thomas families that we first became involved in the club many years ago.

“This group represents far more than financial investment, it’s a partnership forged through shared values and collective belief in the Titans’ extraordinary potential.

“Their collective expertise and financial investment will strengthen every dimension of our club - from high performance football, culture, stakeholder and fan engagement to commercial excellence.

“Our family’s dedication to the Titans has never been stronger, and this consortium enables us to harness the exceptional capabilities and expertise of partners who believe wholeheartedly in the club’s potential and have been prepared to invest financially.

“It’s an inspiring alignment of values, vision, proven success and most importantly, passion.”




https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?te...m/news-story/c1c5a3e32c9ad58cb345fc0cc82ca30d
 
Club Update: Titans enter new era as consortium joins ownership
www.titans.com.au

Club Update: Titans enter new era as consortium joins ownership

The Gold Coast Titans are entering an exciting new era, strengthening the club and delivering on its strategic ambitions, by welcoming a diverse consortium of new equity partners who are leading specialists across rugby league, media, business and entertainment.
www.titans.com.au www.titans.com.au

The Gold Coast Titans are entering an exciting new era, strengthening the club and delivering on its strategic ambitions, by welcoming a diverse consortium of new equity partners who are leading specialists across rugby league, media, business and entertainment.

This strategic shareholder expansion drives the Frizelle family’s ambition to make the Titans a dominant NRL and NRLW powerhouse and a source of pride for the Gold Coast and surrounding communities.

Brett and Rebecca Frizelle, who continue as the club's major shareholders, said the consortium represents a transformative opportunity to build a community-connected, commercially powerful NRL and NRLW club that achieves sustained success on the field.

"We're creating an enduring legacy for the Gold Coast," the Frizelles said.

"We have come full circle - it was through the encouragement and support of the Johns, Tallis, Cross and Thomas families that we first became involved in the club many years ago.

"This opportunity has united a remarkable group of experienced leaders who share our passion for rugby league, the Titans and our commitment to this region.

"Their collective expertise and financial investment will strengthen every dimension of our club - from high performance football, culture, stakeholder and fan engagement to commercial excellence.

"Our family's dedication to the Titans has never been stronger, and this consortium enables us to harness the exceptional capabilities and expertise of partners who believe wholeheartedly in the club's potential and have been prepared to invest financially.

"It's an inspiring alignment of values, vision, proven success and most importantly, passion."

The consortium brings remarkable depth across multiple fields including rugby league, media, business, sport, and entertainment.

After a successful, and premiership-winning career on the field, Matt ranks among Australia's most respected rugby league voices through The Matty Johns Show and Fox League, delivering authentic game experience, insight, and commanding media reach.

While The Johns Family Podcast, featuring Matt, Trish, alongside their sons Cooper and Jack, is one of Australia's leading podcast programs.

"This season marks fifty years since I first pulled on a pair of football boots as a five-year-old, at home in Cessnock. Rugby league is, and always has been, more than a sport for the Johns family, and to be given a chance to enter into ownership, is surreal to say the least," Matt Johns said.

"We're investing into the Titans because we believe in the club's potential and believe that the business acumen and professionalism of the Frizelle family will soon see that potential realised.

"But it's not just an investment into the Titans, it's an investment into rugby league, a sport which has entered a golden period, and will continue its boom into the future."

Gorden Tallis & Jemma Elder
Gorden Tallis, the legendary ‘Raging Bull,’ helped define one of the most exciting periods of the modern game as captain of the Kangaroos, the Maroons, and the Broncos. A proud Queenslander and long-time voluntary Titans ambassador, Tallis continues to shape the NRL game in his capacity with the Australian Kangaroos and as a leading commentator on Fox Sports’ NRL 360, and Triple M.
Jemma Elder is an accomplished director and executive who has had a life-long passion for rugby league and contributed enormously to the Titans since joining the board in 2021. Together they bring legacy and leadership to the club’s new chapter.

“It’s the first time, as far as I’m aware, that premiership-winning players have taken ownership in an NRL club. The Frizelle family have created a historic opportunity for the game,” Tallis said.

“From a footy-mad kid in Townsville to living the game’s greatest moments - I owe this game everything. And now, as investors and owners, I plan to bring that same passion to help shape the game’s future in this region and provide opportunities for the next generation of aspiring participants - on and off the field.”

“We believe in the Titans’ vision. Together with the board, executive, and consortium, we’re committed to building a club that remains a source of pride for our players, members, fans, and partners.” Tallis and Elder said.

Hedley Thomas & Ruth Mathewson
Hedley Thomas is one of Australia's most respected and awarded investigative journalists with eight Walkley Awards including two Gold Walkley's over a career spanning four decades in the media. A senior journalist for The Australian for almost 20 years, his podcast investigations into the unsolved murders of Australian women have had more than 100 million downloads - starting with the global hit The Teacher's Pet and culminating in the latest series, Bronwyn.

Hedley, and his journalist-nurse wife Ruth Mathewson, bring exceptional media and communications expertise and practical experience to the consortium.

"Rugby league is shaped by powerful stories of resilience, community and determination - and the Titans story is one of the very best," Thomas said.

"As journalists and storytellers, we feel privileged to be able to help write a new and exciting Titans narrative, uniting and inspiring loyal fans across many communities.

"Ruth and I are investing in the Titans and a club led by highly respected people with integrity, boundless energy, acumen and a bold vision.

"We look forward to helping amplify the club's voice and strengthening the Titans' ties with fans across the Gold Coast and beyond."

Billy & Jackie Cross
As founders and directors of Cross Promotions, Queensland's premier outdoor and festival enterprise, the Crosses have redefined Gold Coast entertainment and delivered world-renowned productions, including Thunder from Down Under, Las Vegas' longest running show.

"The Gold Coast has always been about world-class entertainment and unforgettable experiences - that's what we've built our business on for decades," said Billy Cross.

"The Titans have that same potential to be a premiere destination for sports entertainment in this region. The Titans' game day, fan and member experiences already rival anything in the NRL, and we're looking forward to creating even more memorable events and moments for fans, families, and the wider Gold Coast community.

"Our love for the Gold Coast runs deep, and we've been proud Titans supporters since day one. This city has an incredible spirit, and the Titans are such a big part of that. We're excited to further elevate the Titans brand both on and off the field."

Michael and Jodie Atkins 
As long-term Gold Coast residents with more than 40 years in business, Michael and Jodie Atkins have built and operated multiple enterprises across Australia. They have opened new markets and fostered strong community relationships through genuine engagement and commitment via their successful McDonalds operations.

They have been proud supporters and sponsors of the Titans for many years and worked closely with the Frizelles on many local charitable causes over decades. They have seen firsthand the passion and dedication that drives Brett and Rebecca's vision for the club. Michael and Jodie's background in high-level sports sponsorship, from local through to state and national levels, has given them a deep appreciation of the value the Titans brings to the community.

"We're passionate about the Gold Coast, about sport, and about the development of young people, and we see this partnership as an opportunity to help maximise the Titans' impact and success for the benefit of the entire region," they said.

Brett and Rebecca Frizelle emphasised how the consortium accelerates the club's united vision:

"This group represents far more than financial investment - it's a partnership forged through shared values and collective belief in the Titans' extraordinary potential," they said.

"This is a consortium of quality and experienced individuals who have backed and supported our family and our club over many years. With this exceptional group alongside our board, our executive and our team, we're positioned to achieve premiership success, strengthen our community connections, and build a club that makes every supporter proud."

The Frizelle family retains majority ownership, ensuring leadership continuity and unwavering commitment as the Titans charge into an exciting new era of growth and on-field success.

Pending final ARLC approval, the shareholder change will see the Club’s current governance structures remain in place, with consortium members working closely with the Board of Directors and Administration on strategic initiatives for 2026 and beyond.
 
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What an age we are living in.

I'm fond of Tallis though, althought his passion or loyalties can sometimes get in the way of the argument. But he is a strong voice.
 
Gee, some are very hard to please. At the lowest ebb in our Club's history of low ebbs, this is at the very least a win/win for the Club. Pulling identifiable investors into the public eye can only lift community confidence and provide evidence that the corporate strategies are solid. No better signs than getting known parsimonious characters like Gordie to part with their hard-earned.

For sure, there are ulterior motives sewn into each and every one of the consortium but who cares about that? Why not and why else would they? Just imagine if the end result got us some positive press, a few more bums on seats, a functional roster and, heaven forbid, a licensed clubhouse.
 
Titanic said:
Gee, some are very hard to please. At the lowest ebb in our Club's history of low ebbs, this is at the very least a win/win for the Club. Pulling identifiable investors into the public eye can only lift community confidence and provide evidence that the corporate strategies are solid. No better signs than getting known parsimonious characters like Gordie to part with their hard-earned.

For sure, there are ulterior motives sewn into each and every one of the consortium but who cares about that? Why not and why else would they? Just imagine if the end result got us some positive press, a few more bums on seats, a functional roster and, heaven forbid, a licensed clubhouse.
Click to expand...
And some of the Consortium are very heavy hitters.

Great work by the Frizelles
 
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