Not done yet: Titans eyeing late run at finals

The Advertiser

21-06-2025

Gold Coast stars AJ Brimson and Kieran Foran insist the last-placed side can still make a late run and contend for finals with one proviso.
The Titans, who play Parramatta away on Sunday night, have also had good news on their two State of Origin representatives Moeaki Fotuaika and Tino Fa'asuamalaeaui.
Both middle forwards travelled to Sydney on Saturday to join the team and are set to play the Eels.
Fa'asuamaleaui had a sternum complaint he took into Queensland's 26-24 win over NSW in Perth, but is determined to play Parramatta so long as there is no late complication.
Brimson was man of the match in last week's 28-8 win over Manly playing at fullback. It was easily the Titans' best win of the year with 11 players unavailable - two to Origin and nine injured.
The Titans play North Queensland at home next week and then have the bye.
Brimson said it was vital the side string back-to-back wins together, starting with Parramatta, so as to have a crack at a late run to the finals.
"We are planning on (the Manly win) not being a one-off. We think this is what we have been capable of for weeks," he said.
"You enjoy every win when you are on the bottom. We are trying to put together some wins to finish off the year and see where we can go with it.
"After a short turnaround and as outsiders that was a good team performance.
"We spoke about taking the shackles off because we enjoy playing footy and that was Titans footy … backing ourselves and playing eyes-up footy.
"We are back on track with the way we want to play. We have got Parramatta and we are not getting ahead of ourselves."
Veteran Foran also had his best game of the season at No.6 and said the Titans were capable of figuring in September.
"I still believe we can," he said.
"I've always maintained we've got a great footy side here.
"The first part of the season hasn't gone to plan on the back of some disappointing performances.
"We've got to reset and go again. It's a block at a time. If we do that, you never know.
"We've got to go step by step."
In other Titans team news, boom back-rower David Fifita, named as 18th man, won't return this week after ankle surgery but is close to making a comeback.
Parramatta are also at the bottom of the ladder and will be without halves Dylan Brown (suspended) and Mitchell Moses (injured).
Their places will be taken by debutant Joash Papalii and Dean Hawkins.
Gold Coast stars AJ Brimson and Kieran Foran insist the last-placed side can still make a late run and contend for finals with one proviso.
The Titans, who play Parramatta away on Sunday night, have also had good news on their two State of Origin representatives Moeaki Fotuaika and Tino Fa'asuamalaeaui.
Both middle forwards travelled to Sydney on Saturday to join the team and are set to play the Eels.
Fa'asuamaleaui had a sternum complaint he took into Queensland's 26-24 win over NSW in Perth, but is determined to play Parramatta so long as there is no late complication.
Brimson was man of the match in last week's 28-8 win over Manly playing at fullback. It was easily the Titans' best win of the year with 11 players unavailable - two to Origin and nine injured.
The Titans play North Queensland at home next week and then have the bye.
Brimson said it was vital the side string back-to-back wins together, starting with Parramatta, so as to have a crack at a late run to the finals.
"We are planning on (the Manly win) not being a one-off. We think this is what we have been capable of for weeks," he said.
"You enjoy every win when you are on the bottom. We are trying to put together some wins to finish off the year and see where we can go with it.
"After a short turnaround and as outsiders that was a good team performance.
"We spoke about taking the shackles off because we enjoy playing footy and that was Titans footy … backing ourselves and playing eyes-up footy.
"We are back on track with the way we want to play. We have got Parramatta and we are not getting ahead of ourselves."
Veteran Foran also had his best game of the season at No.6 and said the Titans were capable of figuring in September.
"I still believe we can," he said.
"I've always maintained we've got a great footy side here.
"The first part of the season hasn't gone to plan on the back of some disappointing performances.
"We've got to reset and go again. It's a block at a time. If we do that, you never know.
"We've got to go step by step."
In other Titans team news, boom back-rower David Fifita, named as 18th man, won't return this week after ankle surgery but is close to making a comeback.
Parramatta are also at the bottom of the ladder and will be without halves Dylan Brown (suspended) and Mitchell Moses (injured).
Their places will be taken by debutant Joash Papalii and Dean Hawkins.
Gold Coast stars AJ Brimson and Kieran Foran insist the last-placed side can still make a late run and contend for finals with one proviso.
The Titans, who play Parramatta away on Sunday night, have also had good news on their two State of Origin representatives Moeaki Fotuaika and Tino Fa'asuamalaeaui.
Both middle forwards travelled to Sydney on Saturday to join the team and are set to play the Eels.
Fa'asuamaleaui had a sternum complaint he took into Queensland's 26-24 win over NSW in Perth, but is determined to play Parramatta so long as there is no late complication.
Brimson was man of the match in last week's 28-8 win over Manly playing at fullback. It was easily the Titans' best win of the year with 11 players unavailable - two to Origin and nine injured.
The Titans play North Queensland at home next week and then have the bye.
Brimson said it was vital the side string back-to-back wins together, starting with Parramatta, so as to have a crack at a late run to the finals.
"We are planning on (the Manly win) not being a one-off. We think this is what we have been capable of for weeks," he said.
"You enjoy every win when you are on the bottom. We are trying to put together some wins to finish off the year and see where we can go with it.
"After a short turnaround and as outsiders that was a good team performance.
"We spoke about taking the shackles off because we enjoy playing footy and that was Titans footy … backing ourselves and playing eyes-up footy.
"We are back on track with the way we want to play. We have got Parramatta and we are not getting ahead of ourselves."
Veteran Foran also had his best game of the season at No.6 and said the Titans were capable of figuring in September.
"I still believe we can," he said.
"I've always maintained we've got a great footy side here.
"The first part of the season hasn't gone to plan on the back of some disappointing performances.
"We've got to reset and go again. It's a block at a time. If we do that, you never know.
"We've got to go step by step."
In other Titans team news, boom back-rower David Fifita, named as 18th man, won't return this week after ankle surgery but is close to making a comeback.
Parramatta are also at the bottom of the ladder and will be without halves Dylan Brown (suspended) and Mitchell Moses (injured).
Their places will be taken by debutant Joash Papalii and Dean Hawkins.