Ryan James: We've never had this much depth at Titans

Ryan James is set for his 10th season in the top grade and can't recall a time when the Gold Coast Titans have had more depth in positions across the park.

His team may be tipped by betting agencies as among the favourites for the wooden spoon in 2019, but captain James casts his eyes across the Titans squad and can only see a side creating genuine headaches for coach Garth Brennan when it comes to the selection table.

Brennan has Ryley Jacks, Tyrone Roberts and AJ Brimson as options to partner Ash Taylor in the halves while new recruit Tyrone Peachey can also play halves or the in the centres, a position where Dale Copley, Brenko Lee and Brian Kelly are all competing for positions.

James will lead a front-row rotation that boasts former Test forward Shannon Boyd and Maroons middles Jai Arrow and Jarrod Wallace.

"I don't quite know what is going to happen with that forward rotation but it is a good headache for Garth to have," James told NRL.com.

"Plus we've got a rejuvenated Bryce Cartwright and Kevin Proctor along with great young players like Max King, Morgan Boyle and Keegan Hipgrave.

"The club has never had the great amount of depth we have at the moment. It is great to have that sort of depth in the centres, the halves and the forwards.

"It has been a long time since you could get an injury at the Titans and be able to look around and easily chuck someone straight in."

Titans training pre-Christmas has also been boosted by the number of players on deck.

"Only two weeks into pre-season training it was already looking a whole lot better," James said.

"We finally had enough players to run against each other in opposed teams, just little things like that we never had in the past.

"In the past due to injuries or people getting surgeries at wrong times of the year we never had enough for 13 on 13. This year we've got enough players for that, and benchies."

James said the Titans' decision to activate the option in its favour for the third year of Brennan's contract, thus keeping him on board to the end of 2020, had also provided certainty to the playing group.

"It shows that they have faith in what Garth is putting into play," he said.

"You probably couldn't expect us to go out and win a premiership last season but looking at our squad, our coaching staff and everything that is going on around us you can definitely say that we want to finish in the top eight, if not higher. That [reaching the finals] is everyone's goal but we should be aiming higher."