Gold Coast’s 44-0 thrashing of the Warriors was the perfect tune-up for finals football, but questions remain over the side’s defence, according to Queensland great Sam Thaiday.
The Titans have conceded 583 points this year, the most of any side in the top eight, and worse than the Sharks and Raiders, who finished ninth and 10th.
It’s more than double the number of points conceded by the competition’s best defensive side, Penrith.
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Speaking on the latest edition of the Wide World of Sports show QLDER, Thaiday was asked if the Titans’ defence was up to the task.
“It needs to be,” he replied.
“We all know the Titans can attack, but we’ve seen them shoot themselves in the foot so many times this season.
“The played South Sydney (in Round 7), they were up by 20 points at halftime and ended up losing the game 40-30.
“Absolutely ridiculous.”
The Titans conceded 70 points across Rounds 22 and 23, giving up 36 points against Souths and 34 against Melbourne.
But their fortunes improved in round 24, with a 15-14 loss to Newcastle, before their final round mauling of the Warriors.
“I thought they were really good against Newcastle, they held their own and that was the style of finals footy, the close match that they’ll need to try and win,” Thaiday explained.
“I think their defence, keeping the Warriors to nil, shows that they have improved over the last couple of weeks.
“They just need to improve one more step and who knows? They might fly through the finals like the Cowboys did in 2017.”
Immortal Wally Lewis said Titans coach Justin Holbrook would have been happier with the fact the Warriors were kept scoreless, than with the 44 points scored by the Titans.
“Everyone will be feeling pretty good about the way they attacked,” Lewis noted.
“But for me, and the coach, he would have been over the moon with their defence.
“That was particularly impressive, and when you’re so close to the finals, you need to know that your defence is in order.”
But Lewis warned that this Saturday’s sudden-death match against the Roosters will be a step up in intensity from the Warriors.
“The coach would have been thinking, we know we’re in for a tough battle next week, and we know it’s going to be a lot better opponent that we’re up against, but I think the boys will be feeling quite comfortable with their performance.
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