“It was important to get the two points today. I don’t want to say about how we got it, but we got it,” Marshall said.
Hasler didn’t mince words, and didn’t blame the officiating either.
“We didn’t need the scrum clock [violation], I don’t think it was the penalty count (that cost us),” Hasler said.
Taylan May takes on the Titans’ defence.Credit: Getty Images
“It was a very disappointing second half. We go out and bumble, we fumble, we throw balls over the sideline and get carried over the sideline.
“We can’t land on the bouncing ball. We miss tackles and complete nine from 15. I’m really disappointed with that performance. It was pretty dumb”. In between maddening mistakes, some fine attacking moments emerged.
When the Tigers could put together a left-side shift, it usually worked. After mistimed early attacking raids, Terrell May piloted a sharp ball to put brother Taylan on the outside of Jojo Fifita, with the former Panthers premiership-winner crashing over in his first game since early last season.
Playing his first game in 18 months after being sacked by Penrith and stood down to answer domestic violence charges that were later withdrawn by police, Taylan May was the Tigers most likely man out wide.
He signed with the joint-venture on a train-and-trial deal and no promise of anything more. But within 20 minutes he was already looking like the strike centre the club has been hunting for some time.
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A repeat of the left-side raid had Skelton over in the same corner, but the Titans still took a 14-12 advantage into the sheds thanks to two tries within three minutes before the break.
One of those was Campbell’s audacious 30-metre kick on the fly to put Jaylan de Groot’s second try, and a surprise lead, on a platter. AJ Brimson looked to have sealed the win with a blistering 65th minute try though when he carved through the Tigers middle defence.
The Gold Coast had claims to a famous win of their own considering they lost captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui to a knee injury early. The drums will continue to beat ever-so loudly that this is coach Des Hasler’s last season in charge. A former schoolteacher, he will coach his 500th NRL game next week against the Warriors.
Doueihi’s boot means he goes into it with no competition points from Leichhardt, just effort and schoolboy errors.
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