Gold Coast Titans defeat Manly Sea Eagles but still left to review shoddy start to NRL season

Just ten weeks ago, there was a buzz of optimism around Titans headquarters not felt in a decade.

JUST ten weeks ago, there was a buzz of optimism around Titans headquarters not felt in a decade.

Players and staff frequently declared anything less than a top eight finish would be a disappointment, such was the air of confidence.

And yet, Gold Coast’s NRL season is already in tatters to the point where the board has ordered an all-encompassing review to be carried out by respected head of performance and culture Mal Meninga.

Their 3-8 situation, even after a much needed 36-18 win over Manly last night that afforded some short-term breathing space, has left powerbrokers scratching their heads as to where it has all gone so wrong.

Mal Meninga. Picture: Jerad Williams

They had diligently assembled a more than competitive roster on paper; financially and administratively, they are now stable; gone are the days of players making headlines for off-field indiscretions; and they finally have a handle on developing the region’s rich junior talent.

But that has not translated into on-field results and it’s clear that fans aren’t the only ones losing patience.

“Mal, as part of this review, will assess every aspect of the operation including the roster and all the ways we do things,” said Titans executive chairman Dennis Watt.

“He will work very closely with the coaches, with the staff and with the players in coming up with a blueprint for a way forward.”

Mal Meninga with Dennis Watt. Picture: Jerad Williams

For the most part, the Titans have been saying all the right things. They’ve backed it up with an impressive level of community engagement, often having players mix with junior clubs, and have won support for their popular Physical Disability Rugby League program.

Few cracks show on the training paddock: Players have continued to crack a smile at Parkwood as they work to turn their season around.

But the toll of an increasingly intense spotlight is showing on million-dollar man Ash Taylor and coach Garth Brennan.

Taylor right now is a shadow of the player that burst onto the scene in 2016 and has been copping it from all angles.

Ash Taylor at training. Picture: Gold Coast Titans

Brennan should be lauded for his friendly demeanour but behind that smile, elements of pressure and defensiveness have started to appear – which is fair enough, given that he is fighting for his career.

Some have questioned whether the Titans gambled wrongly by choosing Brennan as a rookie coach; there is a theory that this review could spell trouble for him.

Meninga, the Kangaroos coach, though has appeared happy enough to trust Brennan with the on-field side of the business, instead doing much of his work away from the training and playing paddocks.

Coaches too often cop the blame but given that almost three-quarters of their playing roster are contracted for at least another season, this is their squad for the meantime – and Brennan has to find a way to get more out of them like Des Hasler has done with a no-name Manly list, last night aside.

Garth Brennan. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Brennan, too, is under contract until the end of 2020 but that didn’t save his predecessor Neil Henry less than 24 months ago.

A regular theme mentioned as an area of concern in Gold Coast’s ranks is a lack of on-field leadership.

Love them or hate them, players like Paul Gallen and Sam Burgess have the ability to pretty well singlehandedly get their entire team fully committed to a cause.

Many believe the Titans don’t possess a comparison.

Three times in the past month, Gold Coast have given up a comfortable lead to lose. Brennan labelled the team “mentally soft” after their defeat to the Sharks, indicating that whenever the going gets tough, they crumble.

Titans players show their dejection after the loss to Cronulla. Picture: Getty Images

It’s hard to argue with that, and leadership certainly comes into it.

Considering they have little wiggle room to overhaul their squad any time soon, the club may need to find that person from within. Jai Arrow, the workhorse who goes from strength to strength despite what’s going on around him, could be the man.

A club-wide winning culture has a fair role to play, too.

Titans players can take inspiration from Jai Arrow. Picture: Getty Images

Look at the Melbourne Storm, who just have a knack of getting over the line when they have no right to do so. They expect nothing short of victory – whether the same can be said of the Titans is up for debate.

Brennan’s men need to find a way to string some victories together so they genuinely build up that winning feeling and maybe, just maybe, see the snowball effect come into play in a positive way.

It needs to happen sooner than later, for the sake of several of their futures, not least their coach’s. Last night was a start.