Titans coach Des Hasler dodged inquiries regarding the stability of his position at Gold Coast following a disappointing 36-20 defeat against Parramatta, which has left his team sitting at the bottom of the ladder.
When probed about speculation that he might depart at the conclusion of the season, Hasler dismissed such claims as “rumour” and “innuendo.”
Both the Eels and Titans entered Sunday night’s match with a share of 12 competition points, but the Gold Coast side is now firmly positioned alone at the foot of the ladder after a lacklustre performance at CommBank Stadium.
The contest was relatively balanced at halftime, with Parramatta ahead 18-16. However, the Eels secured three tries in the second half while restricting the Titans to just one, ultimately claiming a convincing victory.
Remarkably, Parramatta achieved this comfortable win even without their key playmakers, Dylan Brown and Mitchell Moses, who were unavailable due to suspension and a calf injury, respectively.
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The Eels celebrate a try during their defeat of the Titans. Getty
In further bad news for the Titans, dynamic halfback Jayden Campbell will miss next Sunday’s match against the Cowboys due to failing a head injury assessment.
During his post-match media briefing, Hasler was asked if he anticipated increased speculation about his role following the defeat to the Eels.
“I’m not sure there’s speculation; it’s being reported,” he responded.
“Clearly, being in last place is not where we want to be.
“Things are quite tight at the bottom [of the ladder]. It’s congested among those teams. That’s why tonight’s game was so crucial for us.
“I believed we had a decent chance and were in it.
“All we can do now is continue to try and work hard.”
The 64-year-old coach was brusque when questioned about the possibility of quitting at the season’s end.
He is committed to the Titans until the conclusion of the 2026 season.
“They’re merely whispers, mate,” Hasler replied.
“Just rumour and innuendo.”
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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