Des Hasler’s, head coach of the Gold Coast Titans, disappointment was evident following his side’s 1-point loss. They went down to the Wests Tigers 21-20 on Saturday night. Tigers’ Adam Doueihi kicked a sensational last-minute field goal to put the Titans out of their misery. This unbelievable twist of fate put Hasler directly in the crosshairs.
Titans went existential in the second half, shooting awful from the field and a dismal 33.3% from the charity stripe. With only 15 seconds remaining in regulation, Doueihi rose to the occasion, nailing a game-winning field goal from 25 meters out. His effort sealed the win for the Tigers. After this loss, the Titans would drop to 12th place in the league standings. They currently find themselves four points clear of last place.
Hasler was clearly furious as he spoke to his players following the match. He criticized the players’ execution, stating, “It was a very disappointing second half. We go out and bumble, we fumble, we throw balls over the sideline and get carried over the sideline.” He continued to reiterate that the team just never got hit with unjust penalizations that would have pushed down their eventual loss.
Plenty of bright moments for the Titans including an important try to Taylan May setting up Jeral Skelton to score out wide. Their cumulative records were not good enough. Adam Doueihi’s conversion attempt from the sideline not going over added to the play-off atmosphere and urgency of the game. The Titans faced obstacles off the field. Phil Sami and Jaylan De Groot each bagged doubles in a dominant offensive display by the Tigers.
The contest turned out to be an emotional thrill ride for the teams. What was obvious to everyone was that the Titans had no poise under duress. Jayden Campbell had notable moments in the halves for Wests Tigers, contributing to their overall performance. The game featured a last-minute field goal from the Titans, but it was not enough to turn the tide.
Hasler was less than diplomatic in post-match comments to the media. “I’m really disappointed with that performance. It was pretty dumb,” he remarked, highlighting his frustration with the team’s inability to capitalize on opportunities.
Ironically, the loss has deepened the focus on Hasler’s performance as the Titans’ head coach. Suddenly, fans and football analysts alike doubted his ability to lead the organization back to a competitive state. Their lowly position casts doubt on their capacity to have any real influence this year. The Wests Tigers surprise the sting by possessing a bye in hand, making things more difficult.
As the Titans look ahead to their next matches, they will need to regroup and address their issues if they hope to improve their standings and avoid further criticism. Hasler knows he is under significant pressure to make it all go right again. He’s committed to steering the Gold Coast franchise through this rough transitional period.
