Gold Coast has lost its connection to one of the NRL's most fertile breeding grounds, with local school Keebra Park High ending its affiliation with the Titans.
Key points:
- Keebra Park is one of the most successful rugby league high schools in the country, with three NRL Schoolboy Cups in the past 15 years
- The school wanted an exclusive deal with the Titans, with the NRL club also tied to Marsden and Palm Beach Currumbin
- Keebra Park has been responsible for developing stars like Benji Marshall and Reece Walsh, and will now link with South Sydney
Club officials confirmed on Wednesday their pathway deal with Keebra Park had ended, with the Southport school choosing to instead link with a Sydney club.
AAP has been told South Sydney will be the beneficiary of the move, in a deal likely to be announced this week.
Based in the heart of the Gold Coast, Keebra Park's alumni include current Titans David Fifita, Tanah Boyd, AJ Brimson, Moeaki Fotuaika and Alofiana Khan-Pereira.
Other players to have emerged from the school include Benji Marshall, Reece Walsh and Payne Haas.
One of the most successful rugby league schools in the country, Keebra Park's three NRL Schoolboy Cup wins in the past 15 years are the most of any team.
Gold Coast will maintain links with Palm Beach Currumbin State High School and Marsden State High School, with the former making the Schoolboy Cup final this year.
AAP has been told Keebra Park had pushed for an exclusive deal with the club that would have left the Titans cutting ties with the other schools.
"We are disappointed we were unable to satisfy Keebra Park's demands around exclusivity as we need to act in the best interests of our entire catchment area," Titans chairman Dennis Watt said.
"We take the view as a club that we will continue to offer a pathway for young boys and girls seeking to represent their families and communities at the highest level and where possible, we strive to keep families together.
"We are grateful for the close working relationships we have had over the years with teachers and staff who have always had the best interests of their students, their school, and their community at heart."
The news comes only months after Gold Coast-based Queensland Cup outfit Burleigh became an affiliate club for Brisbane for the next three seasons, opening the doors for the Broncos to draw in some of the area's best talent.
Gold Coast responded this week by agreeing a new deal with the Ipswich Jets, allowing Titans players to feature in Queensland Cup with the western Brisbane club.
The NRL outfit also has a long-standing feeder-club deal with the Tweed Head Seagulls, which was this year extended until the end of 2025.
AAP