Titans Suffer Heavy Defeat in Hannay's Coaching Debut, Players Fined
The Gold Coast Titans commenced their NRL season with a significant 50-10 loss to the Cronulla Sharks in the opening round. This fixture also marked Josh Hannay's first game at the helm as head coach for the Titans. Following the heavy defeat, Titans captain Tino Fa'asuamaleaui received a fine for a shoulder charge incident, with two other players also incurring sanctions.
The Gold Coast Titans began their NRL season with a 50-10 loss to the Cronulla Sharks in Josh Hannay's head coaching debut, with three players receiving fines after the match.
Sharks Dominate Opening Round
The Cronulla Sharks secured a commanding 50-10 victory over the Gold Coast Titans. At half-time, the Sharks had already established a dominant lead of 34-0. Nicho Hynes of the Sharks added to their scoreline with a late try, sealing the final points total. The Titans' performance saw them become the second team in Round 1 to concede 50 points, following the Parramatta Eels' 52-4 loss to the Melbourne Storm.
Captain Fa'asuamaleaui Among Three Fined
Titans captain Tino Fa'asuamaleaui was placed on report during the first half of the match. The incident involved a shoulder charge on Sharks hooker Blayke Brailey, where Fa'asuamaleaui made contact with Brailey's left shoulder without wrapping his arms as Brailey attempted a pass.
Fa'asuamaleaui received a Grade 1 charge for the incident. He will be eligible to play in the next match after accepting an early guilty plea, which resulted in a $1500 fine. Had he chosen to contest the charge and lost, the fine would have been $2000. Fa'asuamaleaui has expressed confidence in his availability for the upcoming game.
Other players also faced sanctions following the match:
- Briton Nikora received an $1800 fine for dangerous contact on AJ Brimson.
- Tukimihia Simpkins was issued a $1000 fine for a high tackle.
Coach Hannay Addresses Performance
Titans coach Josh Hannay openly addressed the team's performance, acknowledging they were "beaten to the punch" physically. He also noted that "bad habits popped up" when the team was under pressure. Hannay emphasized the necessity of examining what went wrong, learning from the experience, and responding effectively.
He stated he would not dwell on the loss but also would not ignore it, stressing that one game would not define the team's season. Hannay highlighted the team's pre-season victories, reiterating that a single game would not diminish the team's overall capabilities. Preparing the team for future challenges, he stated, "We’re still on a journey here." Hannay concluded by calling the performance unacceptable, yet underlined that the team's response to such outcomes is paramount.
"The performance was unacceptable, but the team's response to such outcomes is paramount."
Injury Concerns for Upcoming Match
For their upcoming match against the Dolphins, the Titans may face an additional challenge with the potential absence of Sam Verrills. Verrills is currently dealing with a sternum injury. Coach Hannay commented on the significant contact involved in the injury and the potential pain for the player, suggesting his availability is uncertain.