Gold Coast Titans coach Garth Brennan disappointed by poor showing against Manly Sea Eagles

A comical AJ Brimson blunder characterised how things have been going for the Gold Coast Titans, coach Garth Brennan admits.

A COMICAL AJ Brimson blunder characterised how things have been going for the Gold Coast Titans, coach Garth Brennan admits.

With the Titans desperate to take something into halftime after handing Manly a comfortable lead on Saturday with some shocking defence, Brian Kelly gave fans something to cheer about as he broke the line with a typically strong carry.

The centre charged downfield and drew Sea Eagles star Tom Trbojevic into a standard two-on-one situation before passing to Brimson.

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Things inexplicably went wrong from there, with Brimson awkwardly falling as he tried to turn Trbojevic inside out and the try was bombed.

AJ Brimson had a tough day. Picture: Getty Images

The scoreline remained 20-2 in the visitors’ favour and despite them losing two-try second-rower Curtis Sironen to the sin bin, they managed to widen the margin further before a scrappy finish to the game rounded out a 30-12 outcome.

“I don’t know what happened there. It sums up the way we’re going at the moment, the line wide open and he trips over his own feet,” Brennan said of Brimson’s bombed try.

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But for a surge featuring a double to Phillip Sami – a late inclusion for Dale Copley (calf) – when the game was gone, Gold Coast generally appeared to lack intent, much to the disappointment of their coach.

“They ran harder, they tackled harder and they had a bit more desire which I can’t put my finger on, to be honest,” Brennan said.

Garth Brennan. Picture: AAP Image

“It was a bit like boys playing against men there at times.”

Brennan described the showing as “probably our poorest performance of the year so far” and their least competitive since St George Illawarra smashed them 54-8 in Round 3 of the 2018 season.

He called on the group to “grow up a little bit” as they try to muster self-belief in the absence of high-profile players including Jai Arrow, Ryan James, Ash Taylor and Tyrone Peachey, who was ruled out late with a pectoral complaint.

Now with a 4-11 record, the Titans face a tough run home including a pair of fixtures against runaway leaders Melbourne and an away clash with defending premiers the Roosters.

Next up, following a Round 16 bye, is a trip to Panthers Stadium.