Boardroom in-fighting, political agendas and an almost annual procession of departing administrators, coaching staff and players greatly affected the club’s stability, with the Gold Coast team officially disbanded in December 1998.

Playing out of Tweed Heads in NSW due to a clause in the Broncos’ license stating that only one team could be based in South-East Queensland, the Giants-Seagulls struggled to gain traction with the Queensland half of the Gold Coast.

The 2018 Commonwealth Games will be staged at a very interesting time for footy on the GC. As the NRL continues its search for a buyer of the Titans, which, just like their predecessors, went belly-up and had to be saved by the league, the Gold Coast Suns’ struggle for recognition and traction on the holiday strip continues as well. The 2010 AFL expansion team drew just 12,710 fans against their neighbours the Brisbane Lions on the opening weekend of the 2017 AFL season.

The Suns vs Lions season-opener drew only a small crowd earlier this year. (Photo by Getty Images)

Despite the fact two footy teams already call the Gold Coast home, there will be plenty of room for the Comm Games on the Gold Coast. People there are doers and outdoor people when it comes to their recreational time.

That first lady of Australia of 1982, Matilda, these days spends her time greeting holidaying families and truck drivers at a servo near Gympie, along Queensland’s Bruce Highway. Perhaps the Titans and Suns could use her wink on game days if times get really tough, especially as the Games hit the Gold Coast inside a year from now …

NOTE: The above article is built on extracts from a feature story which appeared in Inside Sport (May 2017) titled Graveyard To Golden.