As Gold Coast near the end of a disastrous 2022 NRL campaign, chief executive Steve Mitchell isn't backing down from his claim the Titans will win multiple premierships by the end of the decade.
Mitchell's pledge in October last year came after a 2021 season where the Titans had reached finals for the first time in five seasons, albeit with a losing record.
There'll be no finals this year, however, with a drought-busting win over Manly last week just Gold Coast's fourth triumph of the season.
Even if the Titans can win their remaining three fixtures, starting with Saturday's clash against St George Illawarra in Wollongong, the club will once again fall short of winning more games than losing in a campaign.
Not since reaching the preliminary final in 2010, when the Titans had a 15-9 record, have Gold Coast had a winning season - a sequence now stretching for 12 straight campaigns.
Only four clubs in the history of the NRL have had a worse run of losing campaigns - South Sydney's 22-year stretch between 1990 and 2011, Penrith's 18 seasons from 1967 to '84 and 16 seasons for Parramatta (1947-62) and North Sydney (1966-81).
It's worth noting the Panthers, Norths and the Eels had seasons where they won more than they lost during those runs but due to draws didn't win over half their fixtures.
Since entering the competition in 2007, Gold Coast have had just two winning seasons (2009, 2010), but Mitchell isn't deviating from his long-term vision for the club.
"We can't get there without going through this year," Mitchell told AAP.
"This is a big part of that.
"That's our pathway. That's what we're shooting for. We're serious and we're accountable to it. There's a ton of people doing a ton of work to make that happen."
Mitchell said the club's gamble by handing the keys to an inexperienced spine had clearly backfired and it won't be a mistake that's repeated in 2023, especially with the arrival of veteran playmaker Kieran Foran and Sydney Roosters' hooker Sam Verrills.
Coach Justin Holbrook is also still seen as the right man to deliver on Mitchell's goal of making the Titans a consistent, successful force despite external speculation his job was on the line during their miserable season.
"Justin's got a lot of strengths as a coach," Mitchell said.
"He's a great man manager, players love playing for him, but like all of us we all have growth and we all have areas that we can be better at and he's the first to admit that as well.
"So this is about getting a year older, learning from your mistakes. Getting that right going forward."
LONGEST SEQUENCES WITHOUT A WINNING SEASON IN FIRST GRADE RUGBY LEAGUE:
South Sydney: 1990-2011 (22 seasons)
Penrith: 1967-1984* (18 seasons)
North Sydney: 1966-1981* (16 seasons)
Parramatta: 1947-1962* (16 seasons)
Bulldogs: 1948-1959* (12 seasons)
North Sydney: 1923-1934 (12 seasons)
Gold Coast Titans: 2011-present (12 seasons)
(* indicates season with more wins than losses, but with draws meaning less that half of matches in a season being won)
