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The ‘simple’ reason why Hasler struggled with Titans
Nicholas Quinlan • August 25th, 2025 7:23 pm
The AAP’s Joel Gould has given his reasons as to why the appointment of Des Hasler did not work with the Gold Coast Titans.
Hasler will be let go by the Titans at the end of the season, following what has been a disappointing tenure by the two-time premiership coach.
In the 45 games that he coached Gold Coast, he won 13 games, seeing his win rate sit at 28% which is half the win rate percentage he had at the Sea-Eagles and the Bulldogs.
This season, they currently sit in last place with only five wins, with the worst second point differential.
Gould, who has followed the Titans since their inception in 2007, explained that he believed that Hasler’s approach of being a firm coach did not gel with the players.
But he admitted that some of the issues from the club arose from the players not buying in.
“I think he came in as the hard taskmaster to transform bad habits at the Titans,” Gould said on SEN’s The Run Home with Joel and Fletch.
“I just don’t think the players ever really responded to his methods. It is as simple as that.
“And we know that Des has been a great coach. He’s won two comps, he’s coached over 500 games.
“But whatever Des did there, it just did not sink in with the playing group.
“I think they have to take a lot of responsibility for this. It would be easy to throw darts at Des, but the players haven’t bought into his methods.”
He also noted that having been previously coached by Justin Holbrook, who is far more relaxed in comparison to the standoffish Hasler, would have made the adjustment even harder.
“I couldn’t think of two more polar opposite types of characters (in Des Hasler and Justin Holbrook),”
“I just think it comes down to just a disconnect there.”
The Titans will be coached by Hasler for the remaining two rounds of the NRL season.
Following that, Queensland assistant coach Josh Hannay will then take the reins from the 2026 season onwards after signing a three-year deal.
Their Round 26 clash will be against the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
