‘No excuse’: Hasler blasts Titans after humiliating loss to Broncos

I’ll be back tomorrow for two more games of NRL action.

Hopefully, after a combined 60-point winning margin tonight, there will be a little more life in the contests between the Raiders and Rabbitohs, and Tigers and Panthers.

Until then, get some sleep and I’ll see you then.

Adam Reynolds says he’s honoured but glad the week is over with all the attention on him; a nightmare for a team-first player.

“It’s been a busy week, but I’m glad it’s done.”

It’s nice that Reynolds gets to share this moment with Michael Maguire, the man who gave him his debut at the Rabbitohs way back in 2012.

And it was an extra special night with the team sporting their all-black jersey as a nod to the mental health issues facing so many.

“It was a really special night that the boys rallied around,” Maguire says.

“They look good and I don’t know if we’ll be able to wear it every time.”

AJ Brimson got salty while talking to ABC Sport, saying: “F***, wasn’t good. Nowhere near good enough.”

And coach Des Hasler is on a similar bent, although his language is cleaner.

“Probably the most disappointing 40 minutes we’ve played all year,” he says of the first half, after which the Titans trailed 28-0.

“We missed the start and we just chased and chased for that first 40. We missed the jump.”

He said the Broncos’ try in the first set of the game “rocked us and the game was done by half-time”.

“We didn’t aim up enough. There’s just no excuse for it,” he says.

As is the case with most coaches at the bottom of the table, Hasler has faced questions about if he’s the man to turn this team around.

“The players turn the club around. It’s not about turning anything around, it’s about turning up and playing well. And we didn’t do that. And they know that.”

And just like that, he’s gone. Quick and to the point, but what else could he really say?

The Brisbane captain gets the game ball and is honoured as the 55th member of the 300-game NRL club.

“To all the fans, thank you very much. It’s been one hell of a week. Truly love you guys. We play for you every week and glad I could get the win for youse tonight.

“To the boys, thank you. It’s been a busy week. Glad it’s done now and we can get on with life. Love each and every one of you. The club’s been fantastic. Wouldn’t want to do it with any other boys, so thank you very much.

“Lastly to my family and friends, I love you and I do it for you. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me. Your love doesn’t go unnoticed.

The game ends in typically chaotic fashion with Reece Walsh’s shot at a two-point field goal charged down. The Broncos fullback just barely gets back to clean up and boots the ball into touch to officially end the 44-14 win over the little brothers from down the M1.

Look, the Broncos were better than they have been in previous weeks and it’s always good to get a win after losing four straight, but they likely would’ve struggled against any of the top-eight sides if they completed under 80 per cent and played like they did tonight.

The Titans, meanwhile, what more can you say about them? Last on the ladder and playing like it on both sides of the ball.

Reece Walsh and Kotoni Staggs stop Lofi Khan-Pereira from getting a hat-trick on the left wing, but the Titans but a kick back in the middle of the field and some tricky footwork gets him past Corey Jensen and Xavier Willison to crash over.

The Broncos spin it right from deep in their own half and Jesse Arthars unleashes Kotoni Staggs, who fires the ball back in to … guess who … Reece Walsh, who runs it in to take the Broncos past 40 for the first time since their last win on April 24.

The Broncos get a scrum in the middle of the field 10 metres out and gives Reece Walsh early ball. He hits Chris Randall with big left-foot step and holds off Jayden Campbell to score.

The Broncos fullback is back from a knee injury and has it heavily strapped.

He goes up for the bomb and takes it well, then bounces out of a tackle and his right knee seems to buckle under him. He’s in real pain out there, just looking like some instability in that knee.

Walsh is playing on, but he doesn’t look 100 per cent as he passes to Josiah Karapani on the left wing.

There’s a chance for the Titans to win the second half here as Lofi Khan-Pereira is set up with an excellent offload by Brian Kelly.

The Gold Coast centre did well to shake off Kotoni Staggs and get the arm free to pop the ball to his winger to score.

The Broncos’ chip and chase is cleaned up. The Titans fumble backwards, then forwards on successive tackles.

The Broncos attack and go close on the left, then get a fresh set for a ruck infringement and try to reload, but Pat Carrigan’s offload to Payne Haas is pinched by the Titans.

Big cheers from the crowd and a beaming smile from Selwyn Cobbo as the axed winger is shown on the big screen at Lang Park.

There’s more joy on the park as Tino Fa’asuamaleaui is held up over the line and then Adam Reynolds wraps up Kieran Foran on the last tackle.

Straight off the 40/20 the Broncos go within a metre through Jesse Arthars on the right wing. They spin it left and Ezra Mam plants a mammoth spiral pass onto the chest of Josiah Karapani, who has a double now.

He’s been a spark off the bench and now he comes up with a key kick out of dummy half to get the Broncos up into Titans territory.

The Titans get the ball of a short dropout and go up the other end courtesy of a set restart for some lazy work in the ruck.

The Gold Coast get some field position and AJ Brimson sums it up with a lovely cut-out pass for Lofi Khan-Pereira to dive over in the left corner.

The Broncos fullback tries for a booming 40/20 but it sails out on the full. Brisbane looking more like the team we’re familiar with right now.

The Gold Coast get a full set on the Broncos’ line as Reece Walsh knocks on a bomb, but there is absolutely nothing happening in that set and it ends with a one-out hit-up on the last.

“That looked bereft of answers to try and crack the line,” Billy Moore says.

The hulking bench prop is coming off after getting his left knee and ankle caught under him and twisted in a gang tackle.

Looks ugly for his left leg. Not sure if it’s knee, ankle or both but his night’s over.