NRL Round One: Dragons thump Titans in statement win to start the season
Shane Flanagan and the Dragons have crashed Des Hasler’s Gold Coast debut on a night in which Zac Lomax and Tyrell Sloan starred for the visitors.
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Shane Flanagan made a triumphant return to NRL coaching as the Dragons turned Des-neyland into a Des-aster zone with a 28-4 thrashing of the Titans on the Gold Coast.
The Dragons became party poopers at Cbus Super Stadium on Saturday night, crashing Des Hasler’s debut as Gold Coast coach in a confidence-boosting round 1 win.
Written off as wooden spoon contenders on the back of a diabolical 2023 season, the Red V gave success-starved fans something to get excited about by dismantling the terrible Titans.
It may have been a game that failed to reach any great heights, but there was plenty on the line in the battle of the returning coaches and it was Flanagan that left smiling.
“It’s not about me, it’s about the team,” Flanagan said.
“They’ve got to start to believe and that was a really big step. The biggest challenge with this group is they start believing what type of team they are.
“Without a doubt (it’s a nice way to return).
“It’s been a really good pre-season. The players have worked their butts off, changed their body shapes and the way they moved.
“The way I want to play the game they needed to be fitter, faster, stronger and they’ve done that.”
FLANNO’S FAIRYTALE
Flanagan, the architect of Cronulla’s memorable 2016 premiership, returned to the hot-seat in an NRL coaches’ box for the first time since his 2018 suspension in emphatic fashion.
The Dragons were sloppy with the ball in the first half, but defended their way to a 6-4 lead at the break despite being on the wrong end of every statistic.
When possession evened up in the second stanza the Dragons hit the afterburners, fullback Tyrell Sloan bagging a hat-trick against a Titans defence that looked all at sea trying to contain Queensland star Ben Hunt at halfback.
Zac Lomax was a revelation in his move to the wing, scoring a try and running for 255m, while barnstorming centre Moses Suli (190m) terrorised the Titans.
It’s only round 1, and the Titans are coming off back-to-back bottom four finishes, but Dragons fans may be able to finally see some light at the end of the tunnel with a proven coach in Flanagan at the helm.
“We were gritty in the first half, saved a few tries but were our own worst enemies,” Flanagan said.
“The grit kept us in the game.
“Overall, there’s a lot to work on but I’m pretty happy.”
DES-GUSTING DEBUT
This wasn’t the way Hasler was hoping to return to the NRL following his Manly exit in 2022.
A two-time premiership-winner with five grand final appearances, Hasler got a brutal reality check about what he’s taken on at the Gold Coast.
“It wasn’t the start we wanted,” Hasler said.
“It was a game where the two halves were played on huge swings of possession. It was disappointing.
“They came up with some big defensive plays and try-savers. We made too many errors.
“It’s only the first game.”
Hasler could only watch on in horror as the Titans fumbled and bumbled in front of 14,537 on home soil and they should have had a 20-point lead at the break judging by the halftime stats.
The Titans enjoyed 59 per cent of possession, completed 23 of 24 sets (96 per cent) and were parked on the Dragons’ line with 34 tackles in the red zone.
But they went into the break with just one Alofiana Khan-Pereira try in the 35th minute to show for it thanks to a hopeless attack.
With Kieran Foran (hamstring) a late withdrawal, halves Tanah Boyd and Tom Weaver looked lost when it mattered most.
It was left to props Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (153m), who could face scrutiny for a possible shoulder charge in the second minute, and Moeaki Fotuaika (121m) to do most of the running close to the line.
If Boyd doesn’t start to take control Hasler must consider giving Weaver the No. 7 jersey with an eye to the future.
The good news for the Titans is they are guaranteed two points next weekend thanks to an early-season bye and have time to regroup.
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