NRL 2024: Titans coach Des Hasler eyes more changes after another bottom four finish

Des Hasler is adamant the Titans have shown signs of growth in 2024 despite finishing in the bottom four for the third straight year. But he is eyeing more changes at the club.

Des Hasler insists the Titans are “building” and have shown “real growth” this year despite Gold Coast recording a third straight finish in the NRL’s bottom four.

The Titans will be looking to end a disappointing season on a high when they face three-time premiers Penrith on Saturday night.

Even an upset win against the Panthers won’t prevent the Titans from finishing the season in the dreaded bottom four for the third straight year.

Gold Coast has been the NRL’s second-worst performing franchise in that period, with just 23 wins from 71 games (32 per cent winning rate) placing them ahead of only Wests Tigers (14 wins from 71 games – 20 per cent).

Des Hasler is confident the Titans have ‘real growth’ in 2024, despite finishing in the bottom four for the third straight year. Picture: Getty Images

After a drought-breaking finals appearance in 2021, when they qualified with a 10-14 record, the Titans have been languishing in the NRL’s cellar, prompting the sacking of coach Justin Holbrook midway through last year.

The Titans managed to snare nine wins last season amid the coaching turmoil, but have so far only managed eight victories during Hasler’s first season in charge.

The statistics paint a grim picture for the Titans, but club powerbrokers have maintained Gold Coast is on the rise and two-time NRL premiership-winning coach Hasler said things were moving in the right direction.

“There’s been some highlights and good patches,” he said.

“Then there’s been parts of the year, where like most sides, you have to endure a little bit of adversity. All clubs have got to deal with injury and a bit of adversity here and there.

“In reflection, the start was a tough one with 0-6. We got back into the competition.

“The last month (four straight losses) has been disappointing.”

Statistics show Hasler is facing the same defensive issues that plagued sacked former coach Justin Holbrook’s time at the club. Picture: NRL Imagery

The Titans lost their first six games to plummet into wooden spoon favouritism and have been without captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (knee) since round 3. Star fullback AJ Brimson (groin) only managed 13 games due to injury.

Young fullback Keano Kini has been a shining light and winger Alofiana Khan-Pereira is the NRL’s leading tryscorer with 23 in 20 games.

But a statistical analysis shows Hasler is facing the same defensive issues that plagued Holbrook’s four-season stint and have been a persistent problem for the Titans throughout the club’s 17-year history.

The emergence of Keano Kini has been a shining light for the Titans in 2024. Picture: NRL Photos

While the Titans are ranked first in the NRL this season for completion rate (83 per cent), they have the fourth worst defence (638 points) and concede nearly five tries per game (15th).

They have leaked the third most line breaks (5.9 per game) and concede an average of 1501 (12th) run metres each week.

After a shocking start to the year, the Titans rallied with five wins in six games to move back into finals contention.

But a string of heavy defeats in the past four weeks, a combined scoreline of 160-52, has ensured another bottom four result, an even tougher achievement in an expanded 17-team competition.

While the form of the NRL’s leading tryscorer, Alofiana Khan-Pereira, has been another bright positive. Picture: NRL Images

When asked if he was facing a bigger job than he expected to overhaul the Titans, Hasler said: “It’s always a challenge, it’s a challenging game.

“But I’ve seen real growth here and we’ll build on that.

“The club is definitely building, that’s for sure.

“We’ve been in parts of the game really well, we might have played a really strong first half or it’s 10-all and then all of a sudden there’s an avalanche of tries.

“They’re the areas we’ve got to get better in, whether you’ve got your best players in there or players to bring up.

“We were in a position to win games but we didn’t. That’s what we need to improve on.

“It’s about getting back to pre-season training, building on what we’ve done and keep moving forward.

“That’s how I would see the year.”

Despite Hasler insisting there have been signs of growth, he is eyeing changes at the club. Picture: Getty Images

After giving Titans players and staff a year to prove themselves, Hasler is eyeing changes at Parkwood.

He is expected to farewell the likes of Isaac Liu, Erin Clark, Jacob Alick-Wiencke, Joe Stimson and Tom Weaver, but has so far only recruited Wallabies convert Carter Gordon.

There is the nucleus of a solid team at the Titans, but Hasler must find a way to raise internal expectations and turn the club into a defensive beast before Gold Coast can get remotely close to the success it craves.

After being knocked out in week one of the 2021 finals, the Titans released a “Roadmap” which declared the club wanted to win two NRL premierships by 2030.

When asked if that was still a realistic goal following three bottom four seasons since the release of the blueprint, Hasler simply responded: “We’ll do our best.

Originally published as NRL 2024: Titans coach Des Hasler eyes more changes after another bottom four finish