Heat turned up on Titans NRL coach Brennan

The heat is on coach Garth Brennan with Gold Coast letting another game slip, Canterbury pulling off a remarkable 22-16 come-from-behind NRL win.

Kieran Foran

Kieran Foran (C) has set up three tries in Canterbury's 22-16 comeback NRL victory over Gold Coast. (AAP)

Pressure is mounting on Gold Coast coach Garth Brennan, with Kieran Foran sparking Canterbury's 22-16 NRL comeback win to relegate the Titans to their worst season start.

But Brennan insisted he would not lose any sleep over his future, saying he was committed to turning around the second-last Titans' dire position.

The heat is on second year mentor Brennan after Gold Coast had slumped to a fourth-straight loss and a 2-8 season start, letting slip a 16-0 lead within 18 minutes on Saturday afternoon after a Foran masterclass.

The Bulldogs' five-eighth set up three tries before No.7 Jack Cogger scored the 70th minute match-winner. The Titans were held scoreless in the second half for the third time in four games.

"We are a side down in confidence. When a bit of adversity comes our way, we don't handle it too well," a shattered Brennan said.

"It's not like they don't care. They are trying. They have to embrace the moment when the game is there to be won.

"But I am sick of seeing sad faces in the sheds."

Asked if he was worried about his future, Brennan said: "Tenure is not something I am concerned about at all - that is out of my control.

"I am super confident we can turn it around. It's just a matter of whether we can do it soon."

Brennan will hope it is sooner rather than later after the Titans had blown another healthy lead in a fourth-consecutive game.

At first, the Bulldogs looked set to stumble to a 2-8 record - their worst season start since 1964 - after an early Dale Copley double in front of 10,105 fans at Cbus Super Stadium.

But Foran - in just his second game back from a si- week ankle injury - found his feet as the Bulldogs cut the deficit to 16-10 by halftime.

Foran grubbered for centre Marcelo Montoya to score in the 25th minute and threw clever cut-out passes for giant winger Jayden Okunbor to grab a double.

"It's his second game back from a nasty injury so he will be better again next week," Bulldogs coach Dean Pay said of Foran.

"And that sort of win gives you confidence and a lot of belief. They showed guts and determination to keep themselves in the game."

When the dreadlocked Okunbor crashed over for his second in the 61st minute, the Bulldogs led for the first time and didn't look back.

The Titans still threatened to lock up the scores in the 78th minute in a see-sawing finish.

Standout Titans prop Jarrod Wallace (171m) charged down a Foran kick and passed to a flying Jesse Arthars for what looked like a try - only for the referee to call it back and rule a Wallace knock-on, prompting boos.


Share

3 min read

Published

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world