Pathetic Gold Coast Titans hit a new low point in 38-4 thrashing by Newcastle

There have been some low days since the inception of the Gold Coast Titans ` but this might be the lowest. The club’s 38-4 loss to Newcastle was absolutely disgraceful.

Titans players are seen during the Round 24 NRL match between the Newcastle Knights and the Gold Coast Titans at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle, Saturday, August 31, 2019. (AAP Image/Darren Pateman) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

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One must wonder what the Titans actually do on a day-to-day basis at Parkwood.

Do their highly-paid athletes train? Do they tackle? Do they sip lattes? Do their coaches apply any effective defensive and offensive structures in a bid to be a credible competitor in the NRL?

Apparently, the Titans are a professional NRL team.

Instead, they are so far off the pace they look like amateurs.

God bless incoming coach Justin Holbrook. Turning the shambolic Titans around next season will be an assignment almost as daunting as putting man on the moon.

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The Titans are assured of the wooden spoon. AAP Image/Darren Pateman.

The Knights were hardly out of this world yesterday at McDonald Jones Stadium. But their 38-4 thumping of the Titans paints a grim picture of the state of the Gold Coast and why Holbrook should put the entire squad on notice in 2020.

“Internally we felt like we had made some progress lately to build what we need to as a club, but it wasn’t there today,” lamented Titans interim coach Craig Hodges.

“We wobbled and fell over. It was particularly disappointing.”

Hodges was too kind. The Titans’ defence was as disgraceful as it was pea-hearted. All seven of Newcastle’s tries were like mid-week training drills.

Gold Coast’s class of 2019 is the most mentally fragile group in the club’s history.

The Titans have now lost 10 games straight. They haven’t won since June and next week, they will say thanks to Titans fans in their final game at Robina by handing them the wooden spoon.

Precious few Titans can hold their heads high. AAP Image/Darren Pateman.

“We have one game left,” Hodges said. “We have a loyal crew of fans and we have to make sure we play until the 80th minute against the Dragons.”

Newcastle were never more vulnerable than they were this day. The Knights had been flogged 46-4 by the Tigers, coach Nathan Brown walked out mid-week and their finals hopes were shot.

The Titans even scored first in the fourth minute via Ryley Jacks. But there was one major problem. The Titans defend like the Southport under-8s.

The Titans were so insipid with their defensive reads they made Mason Lino look like Andrew Johns.

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Rookie Knights winger Bradman Best performed like Sir Donald Bradman.

Titans playmaking young gun Tanah Boyd made his NRL debut yesterday but he was badly let down by his teammates.

In the past two seasons, the Titans have leaked a staggering 1209 points. Holbrook must stop the rot.

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Newcastle’s opening try in the 13th minute to Mitchell Pearce was the result of Jacks and Brian Kelly leaving a 10-metre gap between them. How does that happen in the NRL?

Titans English recruit Kallum Watkins summed up the defensive farce. He conceded two tries with limp jersey grabs.

It’s time for culture boss Mal Meninga to read the riot act and inject some heart at the Titans. Otherwise who could blame their best player, ironman Jai Arrow, for walking out to chase his premiership dream somewhere else.

The Knights did whatever they wanted. AAP Image/Darren Pateman.

Newcastle’s opening try in the 13th minute to Mitchell Pearce was the result of Jacks and Brian Kelly leaving a 10-metre gap between them. How does that happen in the NRL?

Titans English recruit Kallum Watkins summed up the defensive farce. He conceded two tries with limp jersey grabs.

It’s time for culture boss Mal Meninga to read the riot act and inject some heart at the Titans. Otherwise who could blame their best player, ironman Jai Arrow, for walking out to chase his premiership dream somewhere else.

NEWCASTLE 38 (M Barnett B Best L Fitzgibbon H Hunt S Mata’utia M Pearce C Watson tries M Lino 5 goals) bt GOLD COAST 4 (R Jacks try) at McDonald Jones Stadium. Referee: Gavin Badger, Chris Butler. Crowd: 8,274.