Frustrated Gold Coast coach Justin Holbrook admits he has to make changes to his underperforming team after a 44-16 NRL humiliation against the Sydney Roosters in Mackay.
The Titans slumped to a fifth-straight loss to leave their season hanging by a thread, having won just two of nine matches.
Admitting there was no positives from the heavy loss at BB Print Stadium, Holbrook is poised to swing the selection axe for next weekend’s clash with St George Illawarra.
“We obviously need some personnel changes,” Holbrook said.
“And that’s the difficult part when you’re not winning. You have to make changes and then you lose your cohesion amongst your side.
“But we can’t accept what we dished up tonight.”
Holbrook began the season pinning his hopes on a young spine including Jayden Campbell at fullback and inexperienced Toby Sexton at halfback, while State of Origin representative AJ Brimson shifted to five-eighth.
Campbell hasn’t played since a loss to Canberra in round three when he injured his ribs. He was a spectator in Mackay while Brimson has returned to fullback with journeyman Will Smith now at five-eighth.
Saturday’s game was also the first match for the Titans without barnstorming forward David Fifita, who has been sidelined for up to four weeks with a knee injury.
“We’re just not working hard enough,” Titans captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui said.
“All over across the park, including myself, we need to have a good hard look (at ourselves).
“There’s no positives out of that. The only positive is that there’s another game next week and we can work on it during the week and make sure we come back.”
© AAP
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All the team list information for Round 8.
