Even without Jarryd Hayne, nothing has gone right for the Gold Coast Titans

THE Titans showed there’s more things wrong with the club than just the presence of Jarryd Hayne in their listless loss to Parramatta.

Dejected Gold Coast Titans during NRL match Parramatta Eels v Gold Coast Titans at ANZ Stadium. Picture. Phil Hillyard

JARRYD Hayne is apparently the root of all Gold Coast evils.

Which is some spray.

Especially in a town whose ratepayers have included Bernard Tomic, Warwick Capper, Clive Palmer.

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So what does anyone make of this, then?

For, no, the Titans’ $1 million man wasn’t present.

But nor was their defence.

Or for much of the night, any effort.

The Titans were woeful as they crashed to their fourth straight loss.

And just on that, where the bloody hell was anybody else?

Officially, the crowd for this one was 6826. As embarrassing as it was invisible.

One of those nights when you can hang shit on a touchie and know, without doubt, that he hears you.

But more on that shortly.

First, rewind the tape and have a look at what occurred among Gold Coast defenders with 45 minutes gone.

When Will Smith, wearing jersey 19, took the ball around 35 metres out and, with nothing doing, and nowhere seemingly to go, palmed off one, two, three, four Titans to score.

And none of them named Hayne.

Will Smith’s first try summed up the Titans night.

Which isn’t to say there aren’t some serious issues between coach and custodian. But undoubtedly the issue is far greater than that.

And for proof, we present footage from minute ten, when Eels forward Tepai Moeroa didn’t so much charge over from close to the line as waltz through. Then 14 minutes later, prop Daniel Alvaro did the same.

It was ordinary. And hardly helping the bottom line of a club trying to sell.

Same deal Thursday Night Football.

Honestly, is there anyone interested in attending? And if not, how does the NRL change it around?

Dave Smith, from memory, was going to bring in jumping castles. For this game he would’ve found room for 200 of them.

A couple of carousels, too.

The joint really was that empty.

And yet Thursday footy is here to stay.

For those with the cash, broadcasters, want four nights a week.

So Thursday it is.

And, yes, this game involved a Queensland team. One without the man, despite what has been said in recent days, that most people would come to see.

But you know who was there? The Badgers.

Mr and Mrs.

Gavin Badger working the middle as assistant referee, while wife Kasey ran a touchline.

For the first time.

In NRL history.

And not a line written about it in the lead-up.

Huh?

Doing our standard game day mobility routine before our first ever @NRL game together tonight. Can't wait @Thebadge72 pic.twitter.com/a6UIr1edc1

— Kasey Badger (@KaseyBadger) August 17, 2017

At a time when the referees are, rightly or wrongly, copping a fair old tickle up, this probably deserved a little more recognition. Or maybe could have come in Round 22, when the Badge refereed his 300th game.

Certainly the couple deserve some credit.

For has it ever happened before? Anywhere?

Better, the Badgers got through the night without incident.

Which is more than can be said about the Titans defence.

Or Thursday Night Football crowds.

Originally published as Even without Jarryd Hayne, nothing has gone right for the Gold Coast Titans