‘Diabolical’: Gold Coast Titans in dire straits after latest horror show

It was a step in the right direction for the Roosters, while the Titans are staring down the barrel of another season out of the finals.

Titans looks dejected. Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images

It was a step in the right direction for the Sydney Roosters, who were still far from their best but came away with a convincing 28-point victory over the Gold Coast Titans.

Following consecutive losses to the Bulldogs and Dragons, the Roosters needed to make a statement early at BB Print Stadium in Mackay.

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Less than three minutes after kick-off, a costly error in-goal by Joseph Suaalii gifted the Titans’ Beau Fermor the opening try of the game following a Nat Butcher penalty upfield.

Early cause for concern was soon eased after James Tedesco got on the end of a play he began, courtesy of a classy offload from the inform Joseph Manu in the sixth minute.

When Lindsay Collins was sin-binned for a nasty shoulder charge, the Roosters’ run began as they piled on the points to take a 24-4 lead in the 36th minute.

Former Brisbane Broncos star Corey Parker described the Titans left edge defence “diabolical”, while Tigers great Steve Roach lashed the side’s “passive” defence.

“I’ll tell you what their left-edge defence is doing, they’re passive,” he told Fox League.

“They’re not getting up in the face of these ballrunners. The Roosters are giving them a bath on that side.

“That is just too easy, that is terrible defence from the Tigers … look at them backing off.

“When you’ve got the likes of Suaalii, Tedesco and Manu you’ve got to get up in their face and make them make decisions.”

The Titans began to surge on both sides of the major break, clawing the margin back to eight points through a Herman Ese’ese try at 24-16.

A third Tedesco try and doubles to Daniel Tupou and Joseph Suaalii sealed a much-needed 44-16 win for the Roosters.

Titans looks dejected. Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images

Tedesco Brilliance

Questions were raised during the week regarding Tedesco’s placing in the pecking order for the NSW Origin fullback position due to the early season form of Storm’s Ryan Papenhuyzen.

Coach Brad Fittler confirmed his place in the side and the Roosters star reaffirmed the decision, putting on a clinical first half.

Tedesco played a hand in everything the Roosters produced in attack and ended the first half with 132 run metres.

The captain scored again in the 66th minute, to earn the fourth hat-trick of his career and cap off another yet another best afield performance.

Unlucky Verrills

Sam Verrills left the field with what appeared to be a painful shoulder injury.

The Roosters hooker has had a tough run with injury in recent times, with eye surgery riddling his 2021 season and a broken thumb delaying the start of his 2022 campaign.

With the impending arrival of Brandon Smith, Verrills had expressed his desire to continue in the number nine jersey moving forward.

An extended stint on the sideline will not do those plans any favours.

Titans grubber kicks wreak havoc

While the Roosters’ offence has been the issue in their two recent losses, their defence showed signs of vulnerability.

The Titans’ passing game caused few problems for the Roosters, but the chip and chase wreaked havoc from start to finish leading to multiple tries and even more near misses.

The Roosters’ backs grew more confident defending the grubber kick as the game wore on, but it was a weakness they would want to sure up in the coming weeks.

Originally published as ‘Diabolical’: Gold Coast Titans in dire straits after latest horror show