NRL 2024: Tino Fa’asuamaleaui’s absence leaves Gold Coast Titans without its spiritual powerforce

Taking Tino Fa’asuamaleaui out of the Titans is like taking Mick Jagger out of the Rolling Stones. Can Des Hasler save the side?

Robert Craddock

3 min read

March 25, 2024 - 7:00AM

News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom

NRL 2024 RD01 Gold Coast Titans v St. George Illawarra Dragons - Des Hasler. Picture: NRL Photos

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The chat about Des Hasler being the Titans long-awaited messiah has morphed into the realisation he must now confront perhaps the greatest challenge of his 20-year coaching career.

Replacing injured skipper Tino Fa’asuamaleaui at the Titans for the rest of the season is a bit like replacing Mick Jagger in the Rolling Stones midtour.

It is the ultimate challenge for a man who has seen a few.

When Hasler started his first career coaching career at Manly in 2004 the club were so penniless the club’s gym was in an underground carpark and the Sea Eagles couldn’t even afford cab dockets for players attending contract talks.

But the bonus was a lack of expectation. Manly, at that stage, was doing well to simply exist.

Things are different at the Titans where Hasler was expected to be the man who hoisted them from mediocrity to a brighter world following the axing of the popular but perhaps too nice Justin Holbrook.

Des Hasler has a huge task on his hands. Picture: NRL Photos

At an age (63) when most men of his generation are planning what to do with their retirement funds Hasler has a substantial mountain climb ahead of him.

In two games the Titans have scored just four points and conceded 60. The pressure is coming from everywhere.

Hasler is yet to settle a court case against the Sea Eagles following his last exit their as a coach and he also recently had to appear at the heartbreaking coronial inquest into the death of Sea Eagles player Keith Titmuss who collapsed and died at Sea Eagles training four years ago.

Hasler spoke with great warmth and empathy and he shared the family’s grief.

It has been a tough year already – and it’s only round three.

CALLING GREAT DIES

If you loved Brisbane rugby league in the 1960s-70s and 80s, ABC caller Arthur Denovan was part of your life.

Denovan, who used to call match of the day with Cyril Connell or Johnny Brown, was one of the game’s best known voices. The league community was saddened by his death at age 95 last week. A service will be held at Pinnaroo Crematorium Chapel, Bridgeman Downs at 11am Thursday.

BIZARRE BET

Kevin Walters and the ‘coach whisperer’ Bradley Charles Stubbs.

The coach whisperer who was once a mentor for Broncos coach Kevin Walters has revealed he once offered Walters the chance to participate in an extremely unusual bet.

In his newly released book The Science of the Subconscious, Stubbs reveals he wanted to bet on the Roosters winning the 2019 grand final (which they did) against the Walters-fancied Canberra Raiders.

Stubbs said he wanted to bet that if the Roosters win Walters would cut off his little finger and if the Raiders won Stubbs would cut off both of his little fingers.

Finger-friendly Walters refused the bet.

Stubbs also claims he saw the Broncos slide under coach Anthony Seibold coming even when the Broncos won their first two matches of the 2020 season before a Covid-induced break.

Stubbs claimed the “words and energy’’ coming from Seibold convinced him the Broncos would lose their next four games which they did en route to taking the wooden spoon.

CAPE CRUSADER

Kurt Capewell might not be the biggest star in rugby league but some of the Broncos players still miss him.

At least one big name at the club remains disappointed Capewell was allowed to leave the club for the Warriors on a three year deal last December and that his standard setting on and off the field has been greatly missed this season.

Despite the Broncos early season wobbles bookmakers have kept them second favourites at $5.50 for the premiership behind the Panthers $3.40.