Pride in walking wounded
BOTH halves had painkilling needles to get on the field and their fullback played a week after dislocating his shoulder and breaking his hand. This was not a Titans team content to bow out quietly.
Gold Coast finished the season in 14th place with an 8-16 record after being leapfrogged by the Cowboys following their come-from-behind 30-26 win in captain Johnathan Thurston’s final match.
And while coach Garth Brennan admits missing the finals will make the year a failure to some, the passion he has seen his squad play with in the back end of the season has him convinced there are bright times ahead.
The emergence of young guns Moeaki Fotuaika, Phillip Sami and AJ Brimson has also been a shining light.
“People don’t realise that we were a bit busted there,” Brennan said. “Both our half and five-eighth had needles to get on the field … our fullback, AJ Brimson, dislocated his shoulder but wanted to play.”