A Promising Start for Zane Harrison
Zane Harrison believes his NRL debut was perfectly timed, but he is maintaining a calm and focused mindset regarding his future as the starting halfback for Gold Coast. The 20-year-old made his top-flight debut in the most recent round, becoming the third player in as many weeks to step into the No.7 role. This includes Manly’s Joey Walsh and St George Illawarra’s Kade Reed.
Harrison’s opportunity came after coach Josh Hannay decided to replace Lachlan Ilias with him for the Titans’ match against the Sydney Roosters last Friday. The schoolboy prodigy had joined Gold Coast’s top-30 roster this season and used the game as a platform to kick off his campaign. He recorded 22 tackles and delivered several dangerous bombs in the team’s 28-12 loss.
Despite the statistics, Harrison expressed excitement about playing against his idols, including James Tedesco, Daly Cherry-Evans, and Sam Walker. 
“He (Hannay) timed it perfectly, to be honest,” Harrison said of his debut. “He’s backed me from the start, but obviously I needed to continue to learn my craft in the Queensland Cup. That’s what I’ve been doing, so to finally get an opportunity, I’m really thankful to Josh for backing me.”
Harrison noted that the pace of the game was much faster compared to the Q Cup, but he felt confident throughout the week that he would be up to the challenge.
Navigating the Pressure
Despite having his first-grade debut under his belt, Harrison feels he hasn’t fully secured his position. However, Hannay has indicated that the 20-year-old will have a series of first-grade appearances, and there was no pressure on him to perform.
Harrison has reason to remain cautious, given Gold Coast’s history of moving on from their junior halves. Ashley Taylor was dropped in 2021, Toby Sexton was released in 2023, and Warriors star Tanah Boyd left ahead of the 2025 season.
Jayden Campbell was the primary halfback last season before Ilias took over for the opening rounds of this year. However, Campbell reclaimed the No.7 jersey from round three until the Roosters clash, where he shifted into Ilias’ five-eighth spot.
“There’s always competition, so I’ve got to do everything I can to retain that jersey and keep my spot in the team,” Harrison said. “Josh didn’t pump me up too much (after the game) because I don’t want to get overconfident, but (he said) I played a good game and was really controlled.”
Looking Ahead
The Titans are aiming to break a three-game losing streak when they face Newcastle on Sunday during the Magic Round. With Harrison showing promise, the team will be hoping he can build on his debut performance and establish himself as a key player in the lineup. 
