Gold Coast Titans players Jai Whitbread and Mitch Rein have their say on loss to the Cowboys

Emerging Gold Coast forward Jai Whitbread believes the Titans have found their blueprint for the way forward – now they just have to execute better.

EMERGING Gold Coast forward Jai Whitbread believes the Titans have found their blueprint for the way forward – now they just have to execute better.

The Titans and Cowboys played out a gritty contest at Cbus Super Stadium on Sunday, with the latter holding on 6-4 thanks to some missed opportunities by the home side.

Despite that marking their ninth loss of the season, there was a heightened sense of positivity in the Gold Coast camp.

“I think that’s probably the most we have stayed in the arm wrestle this year and yeah I guess you can take positives out of the effort that we put in,” Whitbread said.

“It was end to end footy, it was hit to hit and moving forward that’s the brand of footy that we want to play.”

Jai Whitbread in action against the Bulldogs. Picture: AAP Image

Teammate Jai Arrow’s injury leading into their Round 11 clash with Manly plus his State of Origin selection for Queensland has opened the door for Whitbread to make the first two starts of his young NRL career at lock.

The 21-year-old was only given 18 minutes of game time against the Cowboys but is embracing the challenge.

“I’ve loved the past two games starting,” he said.

“I’m just trying to do my own job, I’m not trying to be Jai Arrow but I’ve enjoyed the opportunities that I’ve had from Arrow being in Origin.”

Mitch Rein was shattered by another defeat. Picture: Getty Images

Titans hooker Mitch Rein was a little more harsh in his assessment of the narrow loss, declaring the team need to “have a good, hard look at ourselves” when it comes to their second half fadeouts.

“It’s another game we 100 per cent should have won and we could have won,” he said.

“We had so many chances out there, we just didn’t make the most of them. It’s just not up to standard.”

The Titans play the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium this Sunday.