Titans confident of keeping Robina home

Gold Coast chief executive Graham Annesley says the NRL club has no desire to leave its Robina stadium.

The Titans scrambled to sign a short-term agreement on Tuesday with the Queensland Government to play Friday night’s derby against Brisbane at CBUS Super Stadium.

An existing arrangement between the government-run Stadiums Queensland and the Titans to play at CBUS Super Stadium was deemed void in February when the club entered voluntary administration.

It’s reported that deal was costing the Titans about $200,000 per game to hire the 27,400-seat venue.

Annesley is planning to meet with Stadiums Queensland next week and says he’s still hopeful a new long-term deal can be arranged.

“Everyone’s working towards that mate,” Annesley told AAP.

“We’ve got a very good stadium. We want to be there. We just have to come up with a sustainable business model and that’s what we’re working on.”

A short-term contract was negotiated before the Titans’ first two home games of the season and it’s believed that is the arrangement that has been extended for Friday’s visit by the Broncos.

The NRL, which has assumed ownership of the Titans, is believed to be seeking a less financially demanding long-term deal.

A spokesman from Stadiums Queensland told AAP negotiations were ongoing and echoed Annesley’s desire for the Titans to remain as tenants at the venue.

CBUS Super Stadium, formerly Skilled Stadium, was built for the Titans by the government and opened in 2008.

Since then it has been the home of the now-defunct Gold Coast United A-League franchise as well as the Titans while rugby union Tests, the NRL’s All-Stars game, a world rugby sevens tournament and other events have been hosted there.

Annesley said if no new deal can be struck before the Titans’ next home match against Penrith on April 18, then he was confident another temporary arrangement can be negotiated.

“I am confident but the devil’s in the detail in all these sorts of deals,” he said.

“We’re going on the basis of good-faith negotiations as I’m sure the government is and I’m hopeful that we’ll have a quick resolution.”

Stay up to date with the latest sports news
Follow our social accounts to get exclusive content and all the latest sporting news!