Titans text message: pool game or drug deal?

Titans NRL club stars Greg Bird and Dave Taylor have pleaded not guilty to drugs charges on the Gold Coast.

A CASUAL invitation to a game of pool at a suburban pub is at the centre of allegations a Gold Coast Titans player was involved in supplying cocaine.

With the five Titans involved in the cocaine scandal still yet to be returned to the club's active roster, The Courier-Mail can reveal a key plank in the Crime and Corruption Commission case against Kalifa Faifai Loa relates to a casual mention of a Gold Coast tavern.

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Text messages with alleged code words and hidden meanings are central to allegations against several of the eight past and present Titans facing charges of supplying cocaine.

Their lawyers labelled the allegations weak and want the charges thrown out and the players reinstated immediately.

Titans NRL player Kalifa Faifai Loa appears in Southport Court on drugs charges. Pics Adam Head Source: News Corp Australia

Faifai Loa, a former New Zealand and Samoan Test player, faces one count of supplying cocaine after the CCC allegedly intercepted text messages about Treetops Plaza at West Burleigh.

Titans NRL club stars Greg Bird and Dave Taylor have pleaded not guilty to drugs charges on the Gold Coast.

He allegedly sent a message saying "Meet me at the Treetops Plaza in Burleigh".

It will be alleged other messages related to meeting at the shopping centre's tavern to play pool – which the CCC will allege was code for a drug deal.

As well as being a part of pool games, an "eight ball" is also street slang for a quantity of cocaine weighing about 3.5g and worth over $1000.

Faifai Loa's lawyer Campbell Maccallum said the allegations were "wildly speculative".

Allegations against reigning Titans player of the year Beau Falloon include references to a text message saying "Our season starts now", while other players allegedly sent messages to accused cartel kingpin John Touma featuring references to various varieties of wine.

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Touma, whose drug trafficking case returns to Southport Magistrates Court today, once ran a wine distribution business.

Meanwhile, the Titans team announced on Tuesday for this weekend's NRL round featured none of the players facing charges.

The Titans board has already been briefed of the case against the players and hopes to make a decision on their immediate playing future within days.