Canterbury coach Des Hasler has urged his team to forget their second-half collapse in Sunday’s golden point loss to Gold Coast.
A week out from the NRL finals, the Bulldogs blew an 18-0 halftime lead to fall 19-18 to an undermanned and lowly Titans outfit.
Compounding the defeat, wrecking ball back-rower Tony Williams was placed on report for a shoulder charge on Titans five-eighth Aidan Sezer in the game’s dying stages.
Hasler said there were no excuses for the visitors’ capitulation.
“We had the game within our grasp,” Hasler said.
“It was certainly nothing like the footy we played last week against Souths but it’s just something that we’re just going to have to let go, not dwell on and move on pretty quickly.”
Hasler said he was unconcerned about Williams’ report, believing the NSW representative had done enough to attempt a tackle on Sezer and the on-field penalty should be sufficient punishment.
Gold Coast coach Neil Henry, in his first game since being appointed on a permanent basis, said the win would be a boost after a tough year for the club.
The victory, sealed by a William Zillman field goal, was the Titans’ first in seven matches and just their third at home this year.
Henry said a bizarre moment just after the halftime siren when Josh Reynolds was penalised for a deliberate forward pass after throwing the ball to Titans’ winger Anthony Don on his way across the touchline shouldn’t gloss over the home team’s efforts.
With departing foundation player Mark Minichiello scoring an inspirational second-half try, the Titans crossed four times in the second half to provide the perfect send off for Minichiello and retired club stalwarts Luke Bailey and Ashley Harrison.
“They stood up,” Henry said.
“It’s just satisfying for the fans and players in particular to get a result.”
Titans pair Tom Kingston and Dave Taylor were both placed on report for first-half dangerous tackles, with Taylor’s head-slam of Bulldog David Klemmer leaving the visitor dazed and facing concussion tests next week to prove his fitness.
The Titans also had injury concerns with Kingston and Paul Carter both suffering knee injuries while hooker Beau Falloon damaged a kneecap.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Souths know more about premature Mad Mondays than any team in the comp...
The Barry
Roar Guru
If the ref doesn't want to talk to Ennis maybe he should stop calling him out then...
Kepu
Guest
I watched the second half again last night - every marginal decision and others went the Titans way - the penalties 3-0 and a couple of knock ons against the Bulldogs that weren't knock ons.. I am not saying he was biased just the FTA TV audience needed a close game and mission accomplished... Hayne and Cummins for the big games again despite the appalling last 5 min finish to SOO1 (remember the NSW management team nearly jumped out of the box as the refs blatantly tried to get home team Qld back into the game) and Cummins sin bin blunder as recently as last week
HarryT
Guest
Stevie Wonder gave him a terrific reference, apparently.
Cowboys
Guest
HarryT you may have uncovered the biggest problem. The NRL has employed Mr Magoo do all video refferying.
Wascally Wabbit
Guest
Josh Reynolds will lead the 'Dogs Mad Monday celebrations -- he seems to be an expert on the subject.
Trekkie
Guest
The Dogs are a real chance of boring everyone with time wasting, talking to the referee about moistuirises and botox, and generally not playing rugby league. The Storm will have scored 40 points before the Dogs take their tracksuits off. Looking forward to the Dogs in Elvis suits on Monday morning.
planko
Guest
Well put Harry T what you talk about is something that no team is in control over ... There is about 10 to 20 calls that can reverse or ram home the advantage of either team in every game. I am serious that any team that get a vast majority of these calls can win the game period. Any team can win any game this weekend.
HarryT
Guest
Tony Williams was put on report and penalised for a shoulder charge to the head. From the penalty the Titans scored. Every replay that I saw indicated that it was Williams' arm that hit Sezer in the middle of the back. There was no shoulder charge, there was no contact with his head. Three angles showed no contact. And surprise, surprise Williams is not charged today as quote 'Williams tried to use his arms in the tackle and that initial contact was not with the head'. Yet this lead to the try that evened the scores a minute later. Given that these are completely opposite decisions, I suppose the NRL will give Dessie a call and let him know whether it will be the video ref or the review committee that will be going to OPSM for the Mr Magoo special check up. Just as spurious was the ref not penalising Falloon and Kingston for dumping Reynolds on his head, saying 'it was an accident'. Well the review committee thought it was bad enough to rub them out for 3 weeks. Some accident.
planko
Guest
The Barry I think the dogs are real chance especially if C Smith does not play...
The Barry
Roar Guru
Cummins looks shell shocked and needs a rest. Reynolds' half time brain fart: the touch judge called that Reynolds had gone into touch. Cummins somehow comes up with a penalty. The touchie told him no he's gone out first you've got it wrong AGAIN. Cummins still persisted with the penalty. He's an absolute liability at the moment.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Dogs have beaten the Strom twice this year including a 30-odd point blowout and a 6-4 arm wrestle. Easy. We play the loser of Souths v Manly. Manly are already injury plagued, travelling from Nth Queensland with a short turnaround. Souths are sure to chicken wing and crusher tackle the Eagles few remaining fit players into submission. Maybe the NRL can intervene and give the Dogs a home semi as well. Done. Suddenly we're in the semi against the Roosters. This is where I really need to get imaginative...I'll get back to you.
Monstrous
Guest
Another home town second half comeback - Cummins has the GF for sure...
MAX
Guest
The H&A season 2014 has been a continuum of Rorke's Drift battles for C - B RLFC. Henceforth winning seems beyond a miracle. That is when Bulldogs are their best to rid me of this aching heart..
Arnold Krewanty
Guest
I wonder if Des ripped another door off the hinges. Great win by a patch-work Titans team, and great to see Mini & Bails go out winners in their final game.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Honestly thought that the Bulldogs attack looked better with Mbye on the left and Hodkinson on the right than with Hodkinson on the left and Reynolds on the right.
The eye
Guest
Dogs don't deserve James Graham..Sharkies for God sake renege on the Ennis deal...make something up,what were you thinking !!