5 things we learned from Gold Coast’s 32-18 loss to Canberra

GOLD Coast continued their plummet down the NRL ladder and one Queensland Origin hopeful stood up as another succumbed to injury. Here’s five things we learned from Gold Coast’s 32-18 loss to Canberra.

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA — MAY 05: Iosia Soliola of the Raiders is tackled during the round nine NRL match between the Canberra Raiders and the Gold Coast Titans at GIO Stadium on May 5, 2018 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)

GOLD Coast continued their plummet down the NRL ladder and one Queensland Origin hopeful stood up as another succumbed to injury.

Here’s five things we learned from Gold Coast’s 32-18 loss to Canberra.

POACHED: Titans closing in on Boyd

TEARS: Arrow falls as Raiders romp Titans

1) The Titans’ defence is not NRL standard. They have leaked the most points in the league with 239 and some of their defensive reads against Canberra were schoolboy errors. They missed a whopping 41 tackles.

The Titans fell apart in the middle of the field.

2) Maroons coach Kevin Walters will be sweating on the health of Jai Arrow. The Titans’ ironman suffered a fresh stomach problem after being steamrolled by Junior Paulo in the 18th minute. Two minutes later, Origin prop Jarrod Wallace went off with a virus.

3) The Titans will finish with the wooden spoon if they continue to make fundamental mistakes.

A Konrad Hurrell pass which went to no-one and rolled five metres into touch summed up the ineptitude.

4) Raiders hitman Josh Papalii made an Origin statement with an impressive display. The Maroons incumbent was axed a month ago but has fought back well.

Papalii was strong, amassing 94 metres and 28 tackles.

Papalii was strong in the middle of the field.

5) On a dark day for the Titans, one bright spot was the debut of 18-year-old Moeaki Fotuaika.

His older brother Mosese tragically died in 2013 but Foutaika is proudly upholding his family’s name.

Originally published as 5 things we learned from Gold Coast’s 32-18 loss to Canberra