“Plenty of Time Left”: Titans Captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui Stays Hopeful for Finals Despite Tough Patch

The Titans’ search for a solution to their ongoing struggles will stretch on for yet another week, but skipper Tino Fa’asuamaleaui remains optimistic that a change is imminent.

As round 17 concludes, the Titans have managed only four victories from 15 games, with the squad gearing up for their second bye week of the season.

In a promising development for coach Des Hasler, the team put forth a commendable effort against the Cowboys on Sunday, although their late push fell short of altering the outcome.

Currently, just three wins separate the Titans from a position in the top eight.

However, Gold Coast must brace themselves for a fierce challenge against the Broncos in round 19 upon their return from the bye.

While pressure continues to mount on Hasler to rectify the club’s fortunes, Fa’asuamaleaui is not ready to dismiss the possibility of reaching the finals.

“It’s clearly a challenging time for the club, and we’re all feeling it,” Fa’asuamaleaui commented at his press conference on Sunday.

“We still have ample time left (to reach the finals).

“It’s vital that we stick together, regroup, and enter the bye with the right mindset, ready to turn the season around.”

“If there’s anyone in the competition that can do it, it’s us. We have the talent within our team to achieve it.

“I have faith in every one of my teammates and in the coaching staff. We just need to remain united.”

When asked about the areas where the team seems to be falling short, Fa’asuamaleaui acknowledged that each loss chips away at their confidence.

“It’s tough to pinpoint exactly,” the captain reflected.

“But with these defeats, confidence wanes, which inevitably leads to more errors.

“The game plan was solid (against the Cowboys), yet we struggled to execute it properly.”

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Hasler added, “We keep making mistakes that hinder our progress.”

“We find ourselves in strong positions, only to suffer lapses in concentration, missed tackles, or kicking errors.

“There were occasions tonight where better execution could have led to victory. The same goes for last week. I can recall at least four or five games where we’ve been in a commanding position but failed to capitalise. That’s just the nature of footy.”