Trial Takeaways: Des Hasler’s no-name Titans put up strong fights against Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins
All eyes were on Dolphins recruits Herbie Farnworth and Tom Flegler, but it was some of Des Hasler’s fringe first-graders at the Titans that captured the most attention.
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Des Hasler’s NRL no-names gave the Dolphins an almighty scare as the new era of the Gold Coast Titans kicked off with a 26-14 trials loss on Sunday night.
An NRL Pre-season Challenge upset looked on the cards at Sunshine Coast Stadium when Wayne Bennett’s stacked Dolphins trailed the Titans 8-4 midway through the second half.
All eyes were on the Dolphins debut of former Broncos stars Herbie Farnworth and Tom Flegler, but it was also Hasler’s return to the coaches’ box following his 2022 sacking at Manly and he nearly orchestrated a boilover victory.
A touch of class saw the Dolphins overcome some poor handling and ultimately prevail against a Titans team of which 14 of the 22 players had never featured in the NRL.
COMBINATIONS
While Bennett handed the coaching duties to assistant Kristian Woolf for one night, he has a big decision to make around his halves.
Emerging superstar Isaiya Katoa looks a certainty for one spot but Sean O’Sullivan could be facing some pressure from Kodi Nikorima and Anthony Milford.
Competition on the Dolphins’ left flank is also heating up with Tesi Niu and Jack Bostock jostling with Canterbury recruit Jake Averillo.
Hasler wasn’t road-testing any genuine round 1 combinations, but is expected to field his best team in next Sunday’s final trial against Parramatta at Ipswich.
RECRUIT WATCH
Farnworth burst out of the blocks in his first outing as a Dolphin, scoring with his second touch at right centre and troubling the young Titans in the first half.
He moved to fullback in the second stanza and was replaced by a barnstorming Valynce Te Whare, who proved to be a handful for the inexperienced Titans.
Flegler had a few nice touches in a short cameo while Averillo bombed a try and might not get a jersey in round 1 at this rate.
ROOKIE WATCH
The Titans are stacked with exciting young players and Hasler can add another talent to his glut of fullbacks following Jaylan De Groot’s electric efforts.
Winger Tony Francis was a Hostplus Cup sensation with Burleigh last year and knows how to find the tryline following his first half double.
Young prop Josiah Pahulu (10 runs, 91m) looks a carbon copy of Queensland Origin prop Moeaki Fotuaika and will see plenty of NRL action this year. Captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui’s brother Iszac (13 runs, 96m) was also strong.
Dolphins playmaker Gerome Burns looked sharp only for his long hair to be pulled by Titans backrower Klese Haas, who ended up on report for the offence.
HOT TAKE
Hasler has plenty of good talent at his disposal – most of which watched the game from the sidelines.
His biggest challenge will be turning the Titans into a tough, gritty, competitive team that is willing to adopt a winners’ mentality and fight until the end.
On this evidence, Hasler may be turning the tide on the Gold Coast.
Despite a gulf in experience and class, the Titans competed and scrapped until the end in what was a promising first-up performance.
The Dolphins look to have a much better squad on paper this year, but have to fix their ball-handling and poor discipline which cost them last season.
FINAL SAY
While it was an encouraging debut for the Titans under Hasler, the bottom line is it was just a trial.
The Titans carved up the Dolphins in last year’s trials then finished the season as the lowest ranked Queensland team and saw former coach Justin Holbrook sacked.
The true test comes when the pressure goes up ten-fold and there’s competition points on the line.
Bennett won’t be too concerned by the Dolphins’ sloppy performance, but he will be hoping for some better signs against the Warriors in New Zealand next weekend before the premiership gets underway.
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