Gold Coast Titans captain says playing group deserved spray from coach

TITANS captain Ryan James said his team needed the paint-peeling berating they received from coach Garth Brennan.

TITANS captain Ryan James said his team needed the paint-peeling berating they received from coach Garth Brennan after an insipid first-half effort against Manly on Friday night.

Former policeman Brennan is not afraid to call a spade a spade but has been generally encouraging of his young Titans side as they struggle to find the consistency that can propel them into the top eight next season.

But the affable Brennan reached his breaking point on Friday night after the Titans’ woeful showing in the opening 40 minutes, with James saying the dressing down was just what the team needed.

The Titans were all smiles after they turned things around in the second half but received a massive spray from coach Garth Brennan at halftime. Photo: AAP

“It was colourful to say the least,” James said of Brennan’s halftime address that helped turn around his team’s attitude and spur their 42-34 win against Manly.

“We needed it.”

After their capitulation to the Panthers a week earlier, the Titans were determined to start strongly and while they scored first against Manly, the following half-hour was woeful.

“Off the back of what we did last week it was disappointing to start the game like that and the second half showed what we can do as a club and a team,” James said.

“But we can’t keep dishing up something like that in the first half.”

Brennan might be a patient nurturer of talent but he has standards and was ropeable after his side’s opening half.

“The first half wasn’t acceptable defensively, there’s no doubt about that,” Brennan said.

“And it was disappointing.”

Repeated sprays are becoming a relic of the coaching past but a well-timed bollocking — especially from a coach that is usually restrained and encouraging — can be particularly effective and Brennan’s disappointment in his side was palpable.

“It needed a response and I believe in the guys and they weren’t dishing up what I knew they were capable of doing,” he said.

Gold Coast Titans coach and former policeman Garth Brennan delivered a paint-peeling spray to his players at halftime of their clash against Manly. Photo: AAP

“Our attack was never a concern for me, it was just our attitude in defence and our attitude just wasn’t there.

“We conceded 22 points but the way we conceded them was just unacceptable at an NRL level and I believe they’re better than that which is why I challenged them.”

The Titans round out their season with clashes against Melbourne and North Queensland, who will both be determined to perform to their best as they farewell legends of the game.

And the Gold Coast are determined not to earn the fury of their coach again.