Gold Coast Titans players determined to rectify error-prone play under pressure

Gold Coast winger Dale Copley expects game awareness to be a central focus at training this week as the Titans try to rectify their tendency to implode under pressure.

GOLD Coast winger Dale Copley expects game awareness to be a central focus at training this week as the Titans try to rectify their tendency to implode under pressure.

Players got a serve from coach Garth Brennan after their 26-18 loss to Cronulla both in the sheds and in the media, labelling them “mentally soft.”

Copley agreed the team were too often guilty of hitting the panic button when the heat was on.

“I think that’s going to be a fair focus for us as a playing group this week,” he said, after having a light Monday training session as he manages a quad niggle.

Dale Copley. Picture: Getty Images

“I suppose we haven’t been great at identifying when momentum is going against us and when we really need to simplify our game and not try to come up with miracle plays.”

Veteran fullback Michael Gordon said in his experience with clubs including the powerhouse Roosters that it’s all about “hanging in.”

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“Momentum swings back and forth all game and when things aren’t going right, you have just got to hang in there, hang in there, hang in there and then something happens like they make an error or you get a penalty,” he said.

Michael Gordon is tackled by Kyle Flanagan of the Sharks. Picture: Getty Images

After a series of short turnarounds, it will be nine days between games by the time Gold Coast host Canterbury at Cbus Super Stadium on Saturday.

Copley believes a 3pm timeslot will be to their advantage, too. The 27-year-old said day games suit the kind of expansive style that unlocks their best footy.

“When we’re not going so well we probably tighten up a bit and don’t play as free,” he said.

“It’s hard to explain – we probably throw the same amount of passes but they are kind of forced as opposed to when we’re playing free and moving the ball, we don’t make as many errors which is a bit of a strange one I suppose.”