‘Didn’t understand the rules’: Tino Fa‘asuamaleaui’s baffling confession after Titans capitulation

Gold Coast Titans captain Tino Fa‘asuamaleaui has taken ownership for Friday evening’s kick-off blunder against the Broncos.

Gold Coast Titans captain Tino Fa‘asuamaleau has taken ownership for Friday evening’s kick-off blunder against the Brisbane Broncos, admitting he “didn’t understand the rule”.

Gold Coast Titans captain Tino Fa‘asuamaleaui has taken ownership for Friday evening’s kick-off blunder against the Brisbane Broncos, admitting he “didn’t understand the rule”.

The Titans were leading by 14 points in the 55th minute at Suncorp Stadium when Fa‘asuamaleaui told teammate Jamayne Isaako to attempt a short kick-off.

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But the strategy backfired spectacularly, with Brisbane’s Corey Paix snatching up the footy and barging through a tackle before offloading to second-rower Jordan Riki, who ran 40 metres and scored under the posts.

“This is incredible,” Fox League commentator Dan Ginnane cried.

“What is going on?

“They’re going bonkers at Suncorp.”

Former New South Wales representative Michael Ennis continued: “The short kick has backfired … it’s a low percentage play.”

It was Brisbane’s second try in as many minutes, with the margin reduced from 20 points to just eight in the blink of an eye.

WHAT?! 🤯 Game on!#NRLBroncosTitanspic.twitter.com/Q6GAopuLPe

— NRL (@NRL) May 27, 2022

The Broncos, who were without captain Adam Reynolds, ultimately claimed a remarkable 35-24 comeback victory, their sixth consecutive win, scoring 31 unanswered points in the second half to send the home crowd into a frenzy.

Speaking to reporters in the post-match press conference, an emotional Fa‘asuamaleaui shouldered all the blame for the puzzling kick-off strategy, confessing he did not know the ball could be picked up after passing 10 metres even if it had not yet touched the ground.

“I stuffed up. Jamayne wanted to go long, and I thought there was an opportunity to go short,” he explained.

“I didn’t understand the rule of it going over the 10 and where to grab it, and then missed the tackle. I put my hand up for that, I let the boys down and failed them.

“Before you know it, they’re under the posts. I put my hand up for that, it’s unfair on the boys.”

That’s a remarkably insane play by Isaako. Why? Poor ol’ Justin Holbrook. Who’d be a coach? #nrlbroncostitans

— Ed Jackson (@edjacko) May 27, 2022

I walked away to read my daughter a book and come back and broncos have put 20 points on. What on earth happened #NRLBroncosTitans

— Shannon McCann (@Shannon_McCann) May 27, 2022

Gold Coast coach Justin Holbrook vented his frustration after the shock loss, questioning how his players managed to botch a 20-point lead.

“I just can’t get over this quickly,” he said.

“As I said, a great week, we prepared well. We’re out there, we’re in complete control of the game at 18-0. We should have kept going that way.

“We were in a great position tonight to win the game, we were in a terrific spot.

“We just found a way to throw it away, which is hard to take.

“We deserve to feel like this.

“We let our club and our fans down. We played our biggest rivals and no doubt we would have a lot of Gold Coast fans just so happy at 24-4, then the finishing score, I don’t expect any of us to feel good about it.”

The Broncos are scheduled for a bye next weekend, while the Titans will face the North Queensland Cowboys at Cbus Super Stadium on Thursday evening at 7.50pm AEST.

Originally published as ‘Didn’t understand the rules’: Tino Fa‘asuamaleaui’s baffling confession after Titans capitulation