NRL legend Cameron Smith says he feels “let down” by the Gold Coast Titans’ lukewarm start to the 2022 season.
The Titans snuck into the finals last year but made the most of their chance once there; Patrick Herbert’s decision not to pass to an unmarked Corey Thompson in the dying seconds was all that came between Gold Coast and an upset win over the highly rated Sydney Roosters.
On the back of their solid finals appearance and with a young and exciting spine locked in for 2022, things appeared rosy on the Glitter Strip.
But a quarter of the way through the regular season, the Titans have managed two unconvincing wins from six starts and sit in 10th place on the ladder.
David Fifita has been criticised as underachieving, while Toby Sexton has struggled for consistency in his first season as the Titans’ full-time halfback.
Smith said it was enough to make him feel disappointed.
“I backed the Titans to finish top six,” Smith told SEN.
“But they’re letting me down, the boys.
“They just can’t seem to put the full 80 minutes together.”
Smith said the Titans’ round six loss left him feeling as though they were running out of steam.
“At the start of the year their first halves were pretty good, then they were falling away a bit.
Last week they just didn’t turn up; it was 26-4 at halftime to Manly,” he said.
“Anytime Manly were down their end and the Titans were defending their own tryline, it was as if they said, ‘Just come through boys, score some points.’
“They need to show some resolve and a bit more resilience when they’re on their tryline to turn teams away.”
Things aren’t about to get any easier for the Titans, who face the North Queensland Cowboys in Townsville on Saturday.
Unlike the Titans, the Cowboys were tipped to struggle in 2022, but have surprised one and all by recording four wins from their first six starts.
“I know Manly is in pretty good touch at the moment, but I tell you what, so are the Cowboys,” Smitxjmtzywh said.
“They’re playing some really good footy.”
To make matters worse for the Titans, the Cowboys are enjoying a nine-day break ahead of their round seven clash and are a chance to welcome Origin star Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow back from injury.
