A dramatic change at the top sets the tone for the most super of Sundays
A Tigers win would be a sensational start to a three-game schedule on the final day of round 19 because it would very much signal game back on in the battle to make the all-important top four going into the finals.
And the two teams currently best placed to break into the top four in the run down to the finals - which are also the two teams any other top-four team would most hate to see there - are due in action later the same day.
Sixth-placed Penrith are away to Parramatta in Sunday's second game and the round will then wrap up with fifth-placed Brisbane away to the Gold Coast.
Please forgive me for using the pay-TV catchcry, but it really does shape as a Super Sunday.
Either the Warriors are going to strike a blow in their desperate bid to hang on to a top-four spot, with the Broncos and Panthers and maybe even one or two others to keep coming, or they're going to become even more vulnerable than they already are.
The top four was looking like a lock after round 16, when a six-point gap had opened up between the third and fourth-placed Melbourne and the Warriors, both on 24 points at the time, and the rest of the field.
But the competition dramatically changed shape only one round later. It wouldn't have been so bad for the Warriors had their round-17 loss to Brisbane been the worst thing that happened to them that day, but it wasn't.
Their star halfback, Luke Metcalf, went down with a season-ending knee injury, which followed on from their NSW State of Origin prop Mitch Barnett having experienced the same fate four rounds earlier.
The Warriors had the bye in round 18, which at least for the time being protected what the Broncos had reduced to a four-point advantage over fifth, and now they return to action.
But, let's face it, the Warriors are cooked as far as being a genuine chance of winning the premiership is concerned.
Even if they still make it to the top four from here, which would be a fine effort, they're not going to have what it takes to go all the way from there. They would be doing very well just to win a game in the finals.
The bookmakers have already written them off and they're not taking any real risks when they quote them at $34.
None of the top-three teams ahead of this weekend's round - Canberra, on 30 points, and Melbourne and Canterbury, both on 28 - are going to be anywhere else but in the top four going into the finals.
It's just a matter of where exactly they're going to be placed and finishing in the top two is very important because of the home-ground advantage it brings those teams in the first week of the finals.
But the real interest from now is how the rest of the top eight is going to pan out, with every team down to 12th, definitely, and maybe even right down to 15th still a chance of making the finals from here.
I mean, you'd need a vivid imagination to picture any team among Newcastle, Wests Tigers and Parramatta, all on 16 points and four points outside of the top eight, being there come finals time, but it's possible.
Tenth-placed Cronulla and the seventh-placed Dolphins, both on 20 points, play each other at Sharks Stadium on Friday night, so one of them has to advance to 22 barring a draw. So, too, will eighth-placed Manly, which has the bye.
And if the worst-case scenario develops for the Warriors and they lose to the Tigers and the Broncos and Panthers both win, that would leave the Warriors on 26 and the Broncos and Panthers coming to get them on 24 and 23, respectively.
Have you got it in you, Wests Tigers, to help blow this thing wide open?
Penrith were in last place on nine points after round 12 and we had to at least consider the possibility that coming off four straight premierships they might actually miss the finals.
But much of the competition table has remained compressed all season and even though they were running 17th the Panthers were still only three points outside of the top eight.
They haven't lost a game since and in doing so have added another layer of interest to the competition.
MORE NRL NEWS
After being routinely at or near the top of the table all along during that quartet of premiership-winning years could they come from where they were after round 12 to win it again?
And, having made it back into the top eight, could they win it from the bottom half of the finals draw?
Well, now we can't rule out the possibility of them making the top four again, which would be a phenomenal effort.
IT's going to be fascinating to see how it all pans out at Canterbury over the rest of the season.
Their starting halfback Toby Sexton and hooker Reed Mahoney are both leaving the club at the end of the season and their star mid-season recruit Lachlan Galvin is on the bench. The player tipped to be their starting hooker next year, Bailey Hayward, is at lock.
That's how the team has been named for the game against North Queensland at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Saturday night anyway.
How it looks by the time the finals come around, we'll have to wait and see.
If ever the NRL needed the team that seems to fascinate the masses - Wests Tigers - to stand up and be counted it's when they play the Warriors in Auckland on Sunday.
A Tigers win would be a sensational start to a three-game schedule on the final day of round 19 because it would very much signal game back on in the battle to make the all-important top four going into the finals.
And the two teams currently best placed to break into the top four in the run down to the finals - which are also the two teams any other top-four team would most hate to see there - are due in action later the same day.
Sixth-placed Penrith are away to Parramatta in Sunday's second game and the round will then wrap up with fifth-placed Brisbane away to the Gold Coast.
Please forgive me for using the pay-TV catchcry, but it really does shape as a Super Sunday.
Either the Warriors are going to strike a blow in their desperate bid to hang on to a top-four spot, with the Broncos and Panthers and maybe even one or two others to keep coming, or they're going to become even more vulnerable than they already are.
The top four was looking like a lock after round 16, when a six-point gap had opened up between the third and fourth-placed Melbourne and the Warriors, both on 24 points at the time, and the rest of the field.
But the competition dramatically changed shape only one round later. It wouldn't have been so bad for the Warriors had their round-17 loss to Brisbane been the worst thing that happened to them that day, but it wasn't.
Their star halfback, Luke Metcalf, went down with a season-ending knee injury, which followed on from their NSW State of Origin prop Mitch Barnett having experienced the same fate four rounds earlier.
The Warriors had the bye in round 18, which at least for the time being protected what the Broncos had reduced to a four-point advantage over fifth, and now they return to action.
But, let's face it, the Warriors are cooked as far as being a genuine chance of winning the premiership is concerned.
Even if they still make it to the top four from here, which would be a fine effort, they're not going to have what it takes to go all the way from there. They would be doing very well just to win a game in the finals.
The bookmakers have already written them off and they're not taking any real risks when they quote them at $34.
None of the top-three teams ahead of this weekend's round - Canberra, on 30 points, and Melbourne and Canterbury, both on 28 - are going to be anywhere else but in the top four going into the finals.
It's just a matter of where exactly they're going to be placed and finishing in the top two is very important because of the home-ground advantage it brings those teams in the first week of the finals.
But the real interest from now is how the rest of the top eight is going to pan out, with every team down to 12th, definitely, and maybe even right down to 15th still a chance of making the finals from here.
I mean, you'd need a vivid imagination to picture any team among Newcastle, Wests Tigers and Parramatta, all on 16 points and four points outside of the top eight, being there come finals time, but it's possible.
Tenth-placed Cronulla and the seventh-placed Dolphins, both on 20 points, play each other at Sharks Stadium on Friday night, so one of them has to advance to 22 barring a draw. So, too, will eighth-placed Manly, which has the bye.
And if the worst-case scenario develops for the Warriors and they lose to the Tigers and the Broncos and Panthers both win, that would leave the Warriors on 26 and the Broncos and Panthers coming to get them on 24 and 23, respectively.
Have you got it in you, Wests Tigers, to help blow this thing wide open?
Penrith were in last place on nine points after round 12 and we had to at least consider the possibility that coming off four straight premierships they might actually miss the finals.
But much of the competition table has remained compressed all season and even though they were running 17th the Panthers were still only three points outside of the top eight.
They haven't lost a game since and in doing so have added another layer of interest to the competition.
MORE NRL NEWS
After being routinely at or near the top of the table all along during that quartet of premiership-winning years could they come from where they were after round 12 to win it again?
And, having made it back into the top eight, could they win it from the bottom half of the finals draw?
Well, now we can't rule out the possibility of them making the top four again, which would be a phenomenal effort.
IT's going to be fascinating to see how it all pans out at Canterbury over the rest of the season.
Their starting halfback Toby Sexton and hooker Reed Mahoney are both leaving the club at the end of the season and their star mid-season recruit Lachlan Galvin is on the bench. The player tipped to be their starting hooker next year, Bailey Hayward, is at lock.
That's how the team has been named for the game against North Queensland at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Saturday night anyway.
How it looks by the time the finals come around, we'll have to wait and see.
If ever the NRL needed the team that seems to fascinate the masses - Wests Tigers - to stand up and be counted it's when they play the Warriors in Auckland on Sunday.
A Tigers win would be a sensational start to a three-game schedule on the final day of round 19 because it would very much signal game back on in the battle to make the all-important top four going into the finals.
And the two teams currently best placed to break into the top four in the run down to the finals - which are also the two teams any other top-four team would most hate to see there - are due in action later the same day.
Sixth-placed Penrith are away to Parramatta in Sunday's second game and the round will then wrap up with fifth-placed Brisbane away to the Gold Coast.
Please forgive me for using the pay-TV catchcry, but it really does shape as a Super Sunday.
Either the Warriors are going to strike a blow in their desperate bid to hang on to a top-four spot, with the Broncos and Panthers and maybe even one or two others to keep coming, or they're going to become even more vulnerable than they already are.
The top four was looking like a lock after round 16, when a six-point gap had opened up between the third and fourth-placed Melbourne and the Warriors, both on 24 points at the time, and the rest of the field.
But the competition dramatically changed shape only one round later. It wouldn't have been so bad for the Warriors had their round-17 loss to Brisbane been the worst thing that happened to them that day, but it wasn't.
Their star halfback, Luke Metcalf, went down with a season-ending knee injury, which followed on from their NSW State of Origin prop Mitch Barnett having experienced the same fate four rounds earlier.
The Warriors had the bye in round 18, which at least for the time being protected what the Broncos had reduced to a four-point advantage over fifth, and now they return to action.
But, let's face it, the Warriors are cooked as far as being a genuine chance of winning the premiership is concerned.
Even if they still make it to the top four from here, which would be a fine effort, they're not going to have what it takes to go all the way from there. They would be doing very well just to win a game in the finals.
The bookmakers have already written them off and they're not taking any real risks when they quote them at $34.
None of the top-three teams ahead of this weekend's round - Canberra, on 30 points, and Melbourne and Canterbury, both on 28 - are going to be anywhere else but in the top four going into the finals.
It's just a matter of where exactly they're going to be placed and finishing in the top two is very important because of the home-ground advantage it brings those teams in the first week of the finals.
But the real interest from now is how the rest of the top eight is going to pan out, with every team down to 12th, definitely, and maybe even right down to 15th still a chance of making the finals from here.
I mean, you'd need a vivid imagination to picture any team among Newcastle, Wests Tigers and Parramatta, all on 16 points and four points outside of the top eight, being there come finals time, but it's possible.
Tenth-placed Cronulla and the seventh-placed Dolphins, both on 20 points, play each other at Sharks Stadium on Friday night, so one of them has to advance to 22 barring a draw. So, too, will eighth-placed Manly, which has the bye.
And if the worst-case scenario develops for the Warriors and they lose to the Tigers and the Broncos and Panthers both win, that would leave the Warriors on 26 and the Broncos and Panthers coming to get them on 24 and 23, respectively.
Have you got it in you, Wests Tigers, to help blow this thing wide open?
Penrith were in last place on nine points after round 12 and we had to at least consider the possibility that coming off four straight premierships they might actually miss the finals.
But much of the competition table has remained compressed all season and even though they were running 17th the Panthers were still only three points outside of the top eight.
They haven't lost a game since and in doing so have added another layer of interest to the competition.
MORE NRL NEWS
After being routinely at or near the top of the table all along during that quartet of premiership-winning years could they come from where they were after round 12 to win it again?
And, having made it back into the top eight, could they win it from the bottom half of the finals draw?
Well, now we can't rule out the possibility of them making the top four again, which would be a phenomenal effort.
IT's going to be fascinating to see how it all pans out at Canterbury over the rest of the season.
Their starting halfback Toby Sexton and hooker Reed Mahoney are both leaving the club at the end of the season and their star mid-season recruit Lachlan Galvin is on the bench. The player tipped to be their starting hooker next year, Bailey Hayward, is at lock.
That's how the team has been named for the game against North Queensland at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Saturday night anyway.
How it looks by the time the finals come around, we'll have to wait and see.
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7NEWS
28 minutes ago
- 7NEWS
ARLC unveil Kevin Walters as new Kangaroos coach, Cameron Smith not given opportunity to present
Kevin Walters won a World Cup final for Australia with a famous pass as a player and now he gets to coach the Kangaroos on the three-Test tour of England. Walters has been confirmed by the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) as the new Australia coach for the tour of England, edging out NRL legend Cameron Smith for the job — but challenges already loom on the horizon. The 57-year-old replaces new Perth Bears coach Mal Meninga with doubt hanging over whether he will have key trio Payne Haas, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow on board for the first three-Test Kangaroo tour in 22 years. The three are considering pledging their allegiance to Samoa for the upcoming Pacific Cup. Walters coached Queensland to two State of Origin series wins out of four and was at the helm of Brisbane when they reached the 2023 grand final before being sacked at the end of the following year. His contract with the ARLC is just for the three Tests at the end of season but if successful there is a strong chance he would be retained for next year's World Cup to be hosted in Australia and Papua New Guinea. 'It is truly an honour and a privilege to be able to coach the Kangaroos on such a stage,' Walters said. 'Playing on a Kangaroos Tour was always a pinnacle as a player, so to be able to lead the best of the best in this environment is very humbling and obviously very exciting. 'This series will be an important step for the growth of international rugby league and for the Kangaroos. I can't wait to get started.' Former NSW coach Brad Fittler turned down the opportunity to replace Meninga while former Kangaroos coach and current South Sydney mentor Wayne Bennett was ruled out of contention by the Commission due to his club responsibilities. Former Australia captain Smith told Nine on Monday night that despite being interested in the coaching role, he was not given the opportunity to present his case. He did receive notification from ARLC chairman Peter V'landys that Walters had got the job. 'He gave me a phone call to let me know the decision was made to go with Kev and that was about it,' Smith said. 'I'm happy with that decision, I respect that decision. 'If I had an opportunity to put my case forward I would've but the decision was made by the game's hierarchy to go with Kevvie and I think it's a great appointment.' During the conversation Smith said V'landys spoke about a possible assistant role. 'That could be something to look at but I've not had any further discussions with Peter or Andrew Abdo or anyone in the NRL about that,' he said. Walters played 12 Tests for Australia and was a hero of the 1992 World Cup final at Wembley Stadium. The Kangaroos were trailing 6-4 when Walters came off the bench to throw a classic 'out ball' to his Brisbane teammate Steve Renouf who scored the match winner in 10-6 win. Walters was a proven winner as player on his way to six premierships (five with Brisbane, one with Canberra) and 20 State of Origin games for Queensland.
The Advertiser
11 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Don't begrudge them: Carrigan gives Samoa trio blessing
Australia forward Pat Carrigan wants to play alongside Brisbane teammate Payne Haas for the Kangaroos but will understand if he chooses Samoa instead. Haas, Gold Coast captain Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Dolphins fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow have all represented Australia but will soon make a decision about whether they link with Samoa for the end-of-season Pacific Championships. The tournament is on at the same time as the Kangaroos' three-Test tour of England. Carrigan was asked if he hoped Haas chose Australia. "I'd hope so, as a fan I'll line him up for us and cheer him on," he said. "Him and (Kevin Walters) have got a good relationship so I'm sure Kev will get into the big fella's ears." Carrigan wants the best Australian team possible to tour but understands if Haas, Fa'asuamaleaui and Tabuai-Fidow honour a part of their heritage that is dear to their hearts. "Everyone has different cultural backgrounds and family experiences," he said. "My love to play for Australia and for my country comes from my parents and their hard work so if those boys feel passionate about representing Pacific Island nations or little countries then so be it, that's their choice and I think it makes for a better product. "I don't begrudge them at all." It is a balancing act that Carrigan said the international game had got right after Samoa made the last World Cup final. "They're elite players in the Australian competition in our game so you want them playing for Australia, but I love where the international game is going," Carrigan said. "The boys represent their culture and their family and gone are the days where you had semi-finals in World Cups where someone was winning by 70 points. "That's where rugby league should be and I think it's only better for our international game if the best players are playing for who they want to play for." The next World Cup will be hosted by Australia and Papua New Guinea next year, If Walters succeeds on the Kangaroo tour he will be a hot favourite to retain the position. Carrigan was coached for four seasons at the Broncos by Walters and said he would make an ideal coach of the national side. "His personality, his charisma, his passion for any jersey that he's ever worn and especially for his country would be massive," Carrigan said. "He knows how to bring the best out in a wide magnitude of players from different backgrounds." Australia forward Pat Carrigan wants to play alongside Brisbane teammate Payne Haas for the Kangaroos but will understand if he chooses Samoa instead. Haas, Gold Coast captain Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Dolphins fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow have all represented Australia but will soon make a decision about whether they link with Samoa for the end-of-season Pacific Championships. The tournament is on at the same time as the Kangaroos' three-Test tour of England. Carrigan was asked if he hoped Haas chose Australia. "I'd hope so, as a fan I'll line him up for us and cheer him on," he said. "Him and (Kevin Walters) have got a good relationship so I'm sure Kev will get into the big fella's ears." Carrigan wants the best Australian team possible to tour but understands if Haas, Fa'asuamaleaui and Tabuai-Fidow honour a part of their heritage that is dear to their hearts. "Everyone has different cultural backgrounds and family experiences," he said. "My love to play for Australia and for my country comes from my parents and their hard work so if those boys feel passionate about representing Pacific Island nations or little countries then so be it, that's their choice and I think it makes for a better product. "I don't begrudge them at all." It is a balancing act that Carrigan said the international game had got right after Samoa made the last World Cup final. "They're elite players in the Australian competition in our game so you want them playing for Australia, but I love where the international game is going," Carrigan said. "The boys represent their culture and their family and gone are the days where you had semi-finals in World Cups where someone was winning by 70 points. "That's where rugby league should be and I think it's only better for our international game if the best players are playing for who they want to play for." The next World Cup will be hosted by Australia and Papua New Guinea next year, If Walters succeeds on the Kangaroo tour he will be a hot favourite to retain the position. Carrigan was coached for four seasons at the Broncos by Walters and said he would make an ideal coach of the national side. "His personality, his charisma, his passion for any jersey that he's ever worn and especially for his country would be massive," Carrigan said. "He knows how to bring the best out in a wide magnitude of players from different backgrounds." Australia forward Pat Carrigan wants to play alongside Brisbane teammate Payne Haas for the Kangaroos but will understand if he chooses Samoa instead. Haas, Gold Coast captain Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Dolphins fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow have all represented Australia but will soon make a decision about whether they link with Samoa for the end-of-season Pacific Championships. The tournament is on at the same time as the Kangaroos' three-Test tour of England. Carrigan was asked if he hoped Haas chose Australia. "I'd hope so, as a fan I'll line him up for us and cheer him on," he said. "Him and (Kevin Walters) have got a good relationship so I'm sure Kev will get into the big fella's ears." Carrigan wants the best Australian team possible to tour but understands if Haas, Fa'asuamaleaui and Tabuai-Fidow honour a part of their heritage that is dear to their hearts. "Everyone has different cultural backgrounds and family experiences," he said. "My love to play for Australia and for my country comes from my parents and their hard work so if those boys feel passionate about representing Pacific Island nations or little countries then so be it, that's their choice and I think it makes for a better product. "I don't begrudge them at all." It is a balancing act that Carrigan said the international game had got right after Samoa made the last World Cup final. "They're elite players in the Australian competition in our game so you want them playing for Australia, but I love where the international game is going," Carrigan said. "The boys represent their culture and their family and gone are the days where you had semi-finals in World Cups where someone was winning by 70 points. "That's where rugby league should be and I think it's only better for our international game if the best players are playing for who they want to play for." The next World Cup will be hosted by Australia and Papua New Guinea next year, If Walters succeeds on the Kangaroo tour he will be a hot favourite to retain the position. Carrigan was coached for four seasons at the Broncos by Walters and said he would make an ideal coach of the national side. "His personality, his charisma, his passion for any jersey that he's ever worn and especially for his country would be massive," Carrigan said. "He knows how to bring the best out in a wide magnitude of players from different backgrounds."
The Advertiser
15 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Titans in more pain with skipper out for a month
Gold Coast's quest to win coach Des Hasler's 500th NRL match as a mentor just got much harder. Captain and prop Tino Fa'asuamaleaui will miss Saturday's away clash against the Warriors with a medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury suffered in the 21-20 loss to Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday. The last-placed Titans are looking down the barrel of a third wooden spoon in their 18-year history and the loss of the Test and Queensland forward is the last thing they needed. Prop Moeaki Fotuaika said it was up to his teammates to lift in Hasler's milestone game. "I spoke to Tino this morning and he is in high spirits but obviously disappointed," Fotuaika said on Tuesday. "He is our captain and he is a massive loss. A few of us are going to have to step up." The Titans lost to the Tigers with 17 seconds remaining courtesy of an Adam Doueihi field goal after they led 20-16 in the 77th minute. They played what Hasler called "dumb football" and paid the price. "It was a tough one to take after we got so close. I thought we defended our tryline well but ill-discipline got us in the end," Fotuaika said. "We take confidence out of it. We have just got to stick together. We are going to New Zealand where we will spend a couple of days together so it is a good time to regroup against the Warriors." Video has circulated of Hasler giving his players a vitriolic dressing down in the sheds after the game, displeased with their attitude after throwing away the win. Fotuaika was asked about the coach's spray and said it was understandable. "Obviously it was disappointing getting so close," he said. "You can imagine what the feeling is in the sheds after a game like that." Fotuaika was dropped from the Queensland side for the State of Origin decider, won 24-12 by the Maroons, after playing the opening two games of the series. It has been a roller coaster ride for the front-rower over the past six weeks. "As much as it was disappointing missing out on game three it was probably a blessing in disguise for me," he said. "I had a newborn a week before game one and that Origin period takes a lot out of you, travelling and being away from family. "That week (of game three) was our bye week so I caught up with family and friends. I did go down to Sydney on the Wednesday night and to see them get the result was pleasing for me and added motivation for me to get back in that arena." Gold Coast's quest to win coach Des Hasler's 500th NRL match as a mentor just got much harder. Captain and prop Tino Fa'asuamaleaui will miss Saturday's away clash against the Warriors with a medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury suffered in the 21-20 loss to Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday. The last-placed Titans are looking down the barrel of a third wooden spoon in their 18-year history and the loss of the Test and Queensland forward is the last thing they needed. Prop Moeaki Fotuaika said it was up to his teammates to lift in Hasler's milestone game. "I spoke to Tino this morning and he is in high spirits but obviously disappointed," Fotuaika said on Tuesday. "He is our captain and he is a massive loss. A few of us are going to have to step up." The Titans lost to the Tigers with 17 seconds remaining courtesy of an Adam Doueihi field goal after they led 20-16 in the 77th minute. They played what Hasler called "dumb football" and paid the price. "It was a tough one to take after we got so close. I thought we defended our tryline well but ill-discipline got us in the end," Fotuaika said. "We take confidence out of it. We have just got to stick together. We are going to New Zealand where we will spend a couple of days together so it is a good time to regroup against the Warriors." Video has circulated of Hasler giving his players a vitriolic dressing down in the sheds after the game, displeased with their attitude after throwing away the win. Fotuaika was asked about the coach's spray and said it was understandable. "Obviously it was disappointing getting so close," he said. "You can imagine what the feeling is in the sheds after a game like that." Fotuaika was dropped from the Queensland side for the State of Origin decider, won 24-12 by the Maroons, after playing the opening two games of the series. It has been a roller coaster ride for the front-rower over the past six weeks. "As much as it was disappointing missing out on game three it was probably a blessing in disguise for me," he said. "I had a newborn a week before game one and that Origin period takes a lot out of you, travelling and being away from family. "That week (of game three) was our bye week so I caught up with family and friends. I did go down to Sydney on the Wednesday night and to see them get the result was pleasing for me and added motivation for me to get back in that arena." Gold Coast's quest to win coach Des Hasler's 500th NRL match as a mentor just got much harder. Captain and prop Tino Fa'asuamaleaui will miss Saturday's away clash against the Warriors with a medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury suffered in the 21-20 loss to Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday. The last-placed Titans are looking down the barrel of a third wooden spoon in their 18-year history and the loss of the Test and Queensland forward is the last thing they needed. Prop Moeaki Fotuaika said it was up to his teammates to lift in Hasler's milestone game. "I spoke to Tino this morning and he is in high spirits but obviously disappointed," Fotuaika said on Tuesday. "He is our captain and he is a massive loss. A few of us are going to have to step up." The Titans lost to the Tigers with 17 seconds remaining courtesy of an Adam Doueihi field goal after they led 20-16 in the 77th minute. They played what Hasler called "dumb football" and paid the price. "It was a tough one to take after we got so close. I thought we defended our tryline well but ill-discipline got us in the end," Fotuaika said. "We take confidence out of it. We have just got to stick together. We are going to New Zealand where we will spend a couple of days together so it is a good time to regroup against the Warriors." Video has circulated of Hasler giving his players a vitriolic dressing down in the sheds after the game, displeased with their attitude after throwing away the win. Fotuaika was asked about the coach's spray and said it was understandable. "Obviously it was disappointing getting so close," he said. "You can imagine what the feeling is in the sheds after a game like that." Fotuaika was dropped from the Queensland side for the State of Origin decider, won 24-12 by the Maroons, after playing the opening two games of the series. It has been a roller coaster ride for the front-rower over the past six weeks. "As much as it was disappointing missing out on game three it was probably a blessing in disguise for me," he said. "I had a newborn a week before game one and that Origin period takes a lot out of you, travelling and being away from family. "That week (of game three) was our bye week so I caught up with family and friends. I did go down to Sydney on the Wednesday night and to see them get the result was pleasing for me and added motivation for me to get back in that arena."
