Five things we learned about the Titans

SLOW starts, Kevin Proctor’s adjustment issues and Tyrone Roberts’ importance to the Titans. These are some of the five things we learned:

Kane Elgey on the charge for the Titans.

SLOW starts, Kevin Proctor’s adjustment issues and Tyrone Roberts’ importance to the Titans.

These are some of the five things we learned about the Gold Coast in their loss to the Cowboys.

1) THE Gold Coast’s slow starts are now a serious problem. The Titans are the only team in the NRL to have not scored a point inside the opening 20 minutes of any match this season and they have conceded 38 in that time. Coach Neil Henry has to find a cure for the problem.

2) Titans forward Leivaha Pulu learned the hard way to never let your guard down around Johnathan Thurston. The Titans fought their way back into the contest late in the first half before Thurston caught Pulu napping on the inside to put Kalyn Ponga over for a crucial try right on halftime.

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3) Titans co-captain Kevin Proctor is learning that life without Cooper Cronk can be tough. Proctor made a name for himself running off Cronk’s short-passing at the Storm, but he has not had the same impact on the Gold Coast. Proctor’s combination with halfback Ashley Taylor is improving, but it could be a while before he is a serious threat on the edge.

Tyrone Roberts is a key man for the Titans.

4) Tyrone Roberts has been one of the Titans’ most important players this season. Roberts is a natural halfback but has played hooker and fullback this year and has performed admirably. He started at fullback last night and had to do a stack of defensive work in the early exchanges then chimed in with some crucial attacking plays.

5) The Titans will miss prop Agnatius Paasi if he is sidelined for an extended period. Paasi suffered a shoulder injury in the opening half and did not return to the field. He was the Gold Coast’s best forward in the opening three rounds, providing crucial impact with his charging runs.