NRL 2025: Gold Coast coach Des Hasler has put the Titans on notice and drawn a ‘line in the sand’ after sending David Fifita to reserve grade

Gold Coast Des Hasler has drawn a ‘line in the sand’ and roasted the Titans in a brutal video session that culminated in $1 million Origin star David Fifita being sent to reserve grade.

Des Hasler has drawn a “line in the sand” on the Gold Coast after sending $1 million star David Fifita to reserve grade and putting the Titans on notice as they fight to salvage another spiralling NRL season.

The Titans will head to Suncorp Stadium on Sunday looking for a piece of magic before 50,000 people to snap a four-game losing streak against ladder-leading Canterbury.

At the same time, Fifita will be playing in the Hostplus Cup for the Jets against Northern Pride in front of a handful of diehards at North Ipswich reserve.

After blowing sizeable leads against the Raiders and Cowboys, Hasler dropped a bombshell at Parkwood this week by relegating former Maroons bulldozer Fifita to the reserves.

Gold Coast coach Des Hasler has been scratching his head over his team’s form. Picture: NRL photos

Fifita has been earmarked to play for the Jets barring a late change of heart from Hasler or an injury to the Titans’ 17 on match eve.

Fifita’s selection shock followed a brutal video review session in which Hasler roasted the Titans and questioned their effort and commitment following an embarrassing 50-18 loss to North Queensland.

After eight rounds, the Titans once again find themselves in the NRL’s bottom four – where they have finished the past three seasons.

Only three-time wooden spooners Wests Tigers, who have shown improvement this year, have performed worse in the past four NRL seasons.

Appearing to be fed-up with his team’s recent efforts, Hasler wielded the axe on Fifita, who could be forgiven for feeling somewhat of a scapegoat given he was their best player a few weeks ago against the Dragons.

But Hasler is hoping to spark the Titans before another season goes up in smoke and raises serious questions about the battling NRL franchise’s management.

David Fifita has been sent to reserve grade. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

“We had a line in the sand moment this week after the last game around our effort areas and standards,” said injured Titans player Carter Gordon.

“It’s not really about putting guys on notice, it’s more about saying ‘these are our standards and what we need to live up to’.

“It’s not so much something to be scared about, it’s more something to look forward to. You get to work hard for your mate.

“Des knows what he’s doing. He is a premiership coach. I know all the boys back him and his decisions.

“Dave will have his areas to work on and be back in the side in no time.”

After being thumped 40-24 by the Bulldogs, the Titans showed promising signs in wins against Knights and Roosters.

But things have since unravelled with poor losses to the Dolphins, Dragons, Raiders and Cowboys, the last two coming after they bolted out to 16-0 and 18-6 leads.

They have been missing key players like Kieran Foran, Jayden Campbell and Keano Kini, but Gold Coast’s fragility and lack of resilience under pressure has been a concern.

“Once some adversity goes against them, they just don’t know how to handle it,” said Broncos legend and Channel 9 commentator Darren Lockyer.

“They have periods where they are on top and will look like a top eight team but when momentum goes against them, they are left searching for answers and look like a bottom four team.

“It’s a bit of a challenge for Des.

“I do think no Kieran Foran out there accentuates (their problems). He can’t be far away (from returning) but he is not going to be the miracle player that is going to solve it all.”

The Titans have struggled to deal with on-field adversity. Picture: NRL Photos

Backrower Beau Fermor has been a shining light for the Titans and said they had to find some backbone when momentum shifted.

“The last four weeks have been really disappointing as a club,” he said.

“We need to find some answers quickly and turn our season around.

“It’s around our effort. We need to consistently put in the effort.

“It’s easy to put in the effort when you’re in front and things are going well. The best teams do it when their backs are against the wall and things aren’t going their way.

“We need to find those efforts in the big moments of a game.

“The momentum ebbs and flows. We need to find a way when the momentum shifts.”

Originally published as NRL 2025: Gold Coast coach Des Hasler has put the Titans on notice and drawn a ‘line in the sand’ after sending David Fifita to reserve grade