Justin Holbrook could be the next coach sacked if the Titans don’t sort out their glaring issue of fading in the back half of games and surrendering leads at will.
This season, the Titans have scored 178 points in the first half and conceded only 106 for a points differential of +72.
However, in the second half, the Titans have scored 108 points and conceded an alarming 229 for a worrying points differential of -121. That’s a 193-point swing.
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Titans Press Conference | 04:20
Phil Rothfield believes the Titans, who currently sit 13th on the ladder with just five wins from 12 games in 2023, should be playing finals football with the calibre of players they have.
“I think with that roster they have got, they are entitled to be playing better footy this year,” Rothfield said on NRL 360.
“I wrote this morning they let Jim Dymock go, every second half this year they have just gone crash. They are the 2nd best side in the comp if you did a first half points table.
“If you do a second half points table they are wooden spooners, falling in a heap. They can’t play 80 minutes.
“It starts with the head coach, and I like Tino, I like Fifita, I like Jayden Campbell, Brimson, Foran. I think they have a roster to be going far better.”
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Gorden Tallis believes there is no excuse for the way the Titans are fading in games after they brought in Kieran Foran to help address their fifth tackle options, especially when the game is on the line.
“I think the roster is better than where we are at the moment, there is absolutely no doubts,” Tallis said.
“The fade away at the end, I can’t put my finger on it. They bought Kieran Foran for that situation, we were up 26 points against the Dolphins.
“That game you can win and even Kieran tried a short kick off, so there’s something they are trying to address.”
Rothfield believes Holbrook could be in danger of getting the sack if the Titans don’t improve their second halves, which sparked a heated debate with Tallis.
“Will the coach go? I have suggested he might be the next in line,” Rothfield said.
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“No, they are a loyal organisation,” Tallis replied.
“But Gordy, you can’t keep having failure, sixty kilometres up the road in Redcliffe we had a new franchise start from nowhere this year and look at them compared to the Titans,” Rothfield hit back.
“The season is not over yet, and if they can play 40 minutes… it is just the mindset, but if you’re the best side over 40 minutes I think it comes down to the players,” Tallis replied.
“Not the coach, the coach comes up with the plan.”
However, Brent Read believes the writing will be on the wall for Holbrook if the Titans fail to make the finals for a second straight year.
“I think if they miss the finals this year, I think he is under the pump,” Read said.