The Gold Coast Titans, spearheaded by Kieran Foran and Jayden Campbell, delivered a surprising victory against the Warriors in Auckland on Saturday, commemorating Des Hasler’s 500th game as an NRL coach. Despite the significant milestone, Hasler downplayed its importance in his post-match interviews, insisting the focus was entirely on the team’s performance.
“Tonight had nothing to do with the 500,” he remarked with a grin after the Titans triumphed 24-16 at Mt Smart Stadium. Foran, a close ally of Hasler from their successful Manly days, found humour in the coach’s typical modesty, stating he was proud of the team’s effort and was keen to build on this win in future matches.
When questioned about whether the victory would boost the Titans’ confidence for the remainder of the season, Hasler affirmed, “Definitely,” before playfully exiting the press conference, eliciting laughter from Foran.
Hasler is now part of an elite group as just the sixth coach to lead 500 premiership games, joining legends such as Wayne Bennett, Tim Sheens, and Craig Bellamy. The Titans, who had been struggling, made a statement by overcoming an initial 10-0 deficit to clinch a win few anticipated.
Star performer Campbell was instrumental for the Titans, notching two line breaks, assisting in two tries, and achieving a remarkable 531 metres from 17 kicks. Foran demonstrated his playmaking skills, setting up one of the tries with a pinpoint pass that allowed Phillip Sami to score.
Sami and Jojo Fifita were key contributors, with Sami scoring twice. Notably, one of Fifita’s tries was contentious, as a decision made by the referee was overturned by the Bunker, allowing the Titans to increase their lead to 24-10. The Warriors did manage a response through Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, but they could not find the points required to level the game.
Reflecting on a recent dressing-down of players after a previous loss, Hasler dismissed the notion that it had significantly influenced this victory, stating it was simply a matter of pride and consistency from the players. The win elevated the Titans from the bottom of the league, while the Warriors remain in fourth place, trailing the top teams.
With ambitions to gain momentum, the Titans are focused on sustaining their performance moving forward.