TV cameras captured Titans coach Des Hasler unleashing a trademark spray on his troops after they slumped to another heavy defeat on Saturday night.
The veteran mentor let rip on his players following a 30-14 loss to the Dolphins on the Gold Coast, which marked their third loss from three games this season.
The defeat marked 10 losses in a row for Hasler, who had lost his last seven games as Manly coach before copping the axe during the 2022 season.
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“Des is going off his head at the moment because he realises they need a bit of a sting in the arm to get a reaction,” said Storm and Roosters great Cooper Cronk on the Fox League coverage.
“We’ve seen it at every club,” added rugby league Immortal and Fox League expert Mal Meninga.
Hasler had a cooler head as he addressed the press alongside veteran five-eighth Kieran Foran, but the 63-year-old was still blunt.
“I can line up the excuses [and come up with] a list this long, but what’s the point?” Hasler said.
“You could probably copy and paste last week.
“We’re not putting two halves together, we’re not executing well.
“In that first half we had a great opportunity to put them away or put them to the sword. They had one in the sin bin and we came up with three dropped balls … We just can’t build any pressure … We’re not good enough yet, we’re still growing.
“Defensively we need to not put ourselves under so much pressure, and it’s all to do with our attack … It’s inexcusable that we’re turning over possession.”
The Titans have this season lost to the Dragons 28-4, the Bulldogs 32-0 and the Dolphins 30-14.
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They’re now set for a tough road trip north to face the Cowboys in Townsville, before taking on the Raiders in Canberra in another difficult assignment away.
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They will then return home to meet the Sea Eagles, who Hasler coached in 303 games and steered to the 2011 title.
The Gold Coast club was rocked by a season-ending injury suffered by captain and gun forward Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, who ruptured an ACL in round three.