'The heat is on' but Hasler remains cool under pressure
'The heat is on' but Hasler remains cool under pressure
A defiant Des Hasler has backed himself to help dig Gold Coast out of a hole, while insisting David Fifita remains part of the Titans' long-term plans.
Sat second-last after nine rounds, the pressure is intensifying on Hasler with the Titans on a five-match losing streak.
Questions have also been raised over the future of Fifita, who was dropped last week and will undergo keyhole surgery on his ankle on Wednesday.
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But as his team flew out for Friday's clash with Newcastle, Hasler insisted the current predicament was nothing new to him.
"It's all part of it. I've been here before in these positions. It's called being in the kitchen when the heat is on," Hasler said.
"We've just got to ride through it."
Asked how he planned to help the Titans dig their way through it, Hasler responded: "Start winning some games".
"That starts this Friday, which won't be easy," he said.
"They're in a situation where they have had a win after a couple of losses. Five-day turnaround will be challenging.
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"But we will get down there and give it our best shot.
"I believe in these players."
Signed by the Titans on a three-year deal that began in 2024, Hasler showed signs of turning the club around in the second half of last season.
But they have started poorly this year, plagued by injuries with the coach also unhappy his team is one of the most penalised in the league for high tackles.
He pleaded with fans for patience as the Titans got their troops back on deck, while adamant the effort had been there from his side.
As to Fifita, the damaging second-rower has played limited minutes off the bench for the majority of this year, while also requiring pain-killing injections before games.
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He was relegated to playing Queensland Cup for Ipswich last weekend, before being sent to see a specialist.
Despite rumours to the contrary, Des Hasler says David Fifita has a future with the Titans. (Jono Searle/AAP PHOTOS)
A report also emerged on Wednesday that the 25-year-old had been shopped to rival clubs, less than a year on from his decision to backflip on the Sydney Roosters to stay at the Titans.
But Hasler insisted the former Queensland State of Origin star remained a part of the Titans' future.
"Yep, big part of our plans," Hasler said when asked if he wanted Fifita at the club long-term.
"Our relationship is fine.
"Everything is good, everything is fine. We're going well, we want to go better. So there are no issues there.
"Dave just needed to work on some areas and had to think a few things through. We've done that."
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