Gold Coast's NRL premiership hopes have received ringing endorsements from two of Queensland's rugby league greats, for very different reasons.
The Titans will begin their campaign on March 17 at home against Canberra, optimistic of playing finals football for just the second time since 2010.
Recruits Shannon Boyd and Tyrone Peachey, as well as the return of Tyrone Roberts, are fuelling the optimism.
And it isn't just confined to Titans fans, with recently-retired Melbourne fullback Billy Slater and Brisbane legend Darren Lockyer happy to talk them up.
"The Titans will surprise a few teams this year," Slater said.
"(Halfback) Ash Taylor will benefit form having Tyrone Roberts back (from the English Super League, where he played one season after departing the Titans in 2017).
"He's come back in fantastic form and I'm looking forward to seeing those two classy halves.
"The game at the moment benefits classy halves and (if they can) create opportunities for their outside men I think the Titans can make the eight."
Lockyer tipped his cap to the club's player recruitment but said it's another new face that could prove the difference.
"Definitely having the presence of Mal (Meninga) will give them some belief," he said.
Meninga has arrived in a holistic role to enhance the public image of the club, to act as a sounding board for coach Garth Brennan and mentor to the players.
Lockyer credited Meninga's arrival as Queensland coach in 2006 for the Maroons dominance that followed and can see similarities on the Gold Coast.
"That's what Mal brought to Queensland in '06 and they've been working hard, recruited well," Lockyer said.
"But it's (belief) probably been the one thing the Titans have been missing."
