Gold Coast NRL coach John Cartwright refused to blame Nate Myles after his indiscipline proved costly in the Titans’ one-point loss to St George Illawarra.
The Queensland State of Origin star abused a referee after Trent Merrin’s try on the hour mark put the Dragons 18-12 in front, and the forward’s sin-binning left the Titans a man down for 10 minutes.
Gareth Widdop’s field goal extended the lead during this spell and Gold Coast could not add any more points until Brad Takairangi touched down with two minutes on the clock.
“If you’re going to start sin-binning blokes for abusing referees, you’re not going to have many players on the field,” Cartwright said, adding there had been no edict sent down from the NRL to clamp down on backchat to officials.
The Titans’ coach instead felt the blame for the club record-equalling sixth consecutive defeat rested with his players’ handling errors, which numbered 13.
“When the game was there to be won, the other side was better,” Cartwright said.
“We created enough chances to win. To score 18 points in a home game against St George … we expect to win.”
tigerdave
Guest
The coach won't blame Myles, but the fans need to look very carefully at the coach and thier team. Although this was a fairly entertaining game, the Titans are the most boring team in the NRL to watch. Predominately if the opposition cover the middle of the ground, they will shut them down. They pose little threat out wide. They have fantastic players out wide but given the game plans and the lack of a centres that threaten the line, they may as well be on the sideline. To draw just over 12k against a side that has a great supporter base is just disgraceful The management need to have a good hard look at themselves, and clean out the player and coaching rosters. Cartwright has had the team since the start ofthe franchise, and seems short of ideas. We need a coach that will have the team playing attractive football. Before anyone thinks I'm out of order, the punters are talking with thier non attendance. The side has had 6 straight losses and I can't remember when they won at home last. St George are not a good bench mark in the competition and they will struggle to win games from here in. The Titans can say we lost by a point but who to? Although as you can see by my name , I'm a Tiger (a disenchanted formet Titan), it hurts me to see the loacl side giving so many free kicks to the Gay FL here on the coast. Note to Titans take the rose coloured glasses off, because here in the real world...youi stink.. You have no chance making the top 8 this year or in the foreseeable future doing what you are doing now.