Five things we learned: St George Illawarra Dragons v Gold Coast Titans

JARRYD Hayne wants to play at fullback but can’t deliver a the Gold Coast struggle with no enforcers — here are five things we learned from the Titans’ loss to the Dragons.

Jarryd Hayne is tackled by the Dragons defence.

JARRYD Hayne wants to play at fullback but can’t deliver and the Gold Coast are struggling with no enforcers — here are five things we learned from Titans’ loss to the Dragons.

1 IF they gave out points for persistence, Neil Henry would be not be fighting for his future. Henry has stuck with Kane Elgey at five-eighth all year and it simply hasn’t worked. Elgey was benched after halftime so Ash Taylor could reunite with Tyrone Roberts, the halves combination that should have been used this season.

2 THE Titans have gone from being one of the best attacking teams in the NRL to the worst in the space of a few weeks. The Titans have had little trouble scoring for most of the season but went 159 minutes without crossing. Taylor and Elgey produced one try in 200 minutes while Taylor and Roberts created three in the space of 20 minutes.

Ashley Taylor dejected after a Dragons try.

3 JARRYD Hayne wants to play fullback for the Titans but can’t run out 80 minutes in the demanding position. Hayne pushed winger William Zillman to fullback after 32 minutes and Joel Thompson scored while Hayne was watching from the left wing. That is not something the game’s top No. 1s do.

4 THE Gold Coast’s right side has crumbled without Konrad Hurrell. The Titans welcomed back defensive specialist Kevin Proctor from injury on Saturday but he could do little to stop the Dragons terrorising that side of the field with ease.

5 THE Titans have no forward enforcers. He was a constant headache but Greg Bird brought so much intimidation factor to the Gold Coast. None of the Titans forwards scare their opposition and recruits Brenton Lawrence and Jai Arrow won’t be doing so next year either.