Crawley Files: Why some Gold Coast Titans players have lost hope

Gold Coast players were left gobsmacked this week when they turned up for a recovery session following the disappointing loss to Canterbury and were told they would be going ten pin bowling.

Titans players look on following a Bulldogs try during their Round 10 loss at CBUS Super Stadium. Picture: AAP

If you think Gold Coast’s performances this year are a joke, you are not alone.

What’s worse, some Titans players were left gobsmacked this week when they turned up for a recovery session after the disappointing 22-16 loss to Canterbury and were told they would be going tenpin bowling.

It has apparently developed into farcical scenes, with players even told that they would now be in charge of video reviews of their own performances.

Titans players look on following a Bulldogs try during their Round 10 loss at CBUS Super Stadium. Picture: AAP

I was contacted yesterday by someone extremely close to the club after comments I made on NRL 360 questioning what responsibility the club should take for Ash Taylor’s lack of development as a footballer.

I was told there are some players who feel they are not being given a fair opportunity to develop their careers and that they are in a position where they feel they do not know where to turn to.

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Taylor, 24, has come under fire this week for not aiming up to his $1 million-a-year price tag.

But there are people who also feel Taylor (below) is not being mentored in a fashion where he can make the most of his undeniable natural potential — potential Matty Johns said would make Taylor the NRL’s best player.

This is the club that got rid of Neil Henry because he was, apparently, too tough on players. It puts pressure on coach Garth Brennan, especially after Titans co-owner Darryl Kelly put the entire club on notice, warning “everyone will be judged on results”.

Ashley Taylor has come under fire for his form. Picture: AAP

The Titans take on Manly tomorrow night, a club with a roster not in the same ballpark as Gold Coast.

Under Des Hasler, though, Manly are working with a philosophy that hard work can make its own luck.

The respective positions of these clubs on the NRL ladder suggests answers from the Titans owners should be demanded.

Originally published as Crawley Files: Why some Gold Coast Titans players have lost hope