Racing
League
Rugby
Cricket
Golf
Motorsport
Combat Sports
Football
Netball
Basketball
Other Sports
Sport Nation
Titans in more pain with skipper out for a month
Joel Gould, AAP • July 22nd, 2025 8:00 pm
Gold Coast captain Tino Fa'asuamaleaui will miss the next four weeks with a knee injury | Photo: Dave Hunt/AAP
Gold Coast's quest to win coach Des Hasler's 500th NRL match as a mentor just got much harder.
Captain and prop Tino Fa'asuamaleaui will miss Saturday's away clash against the Warriors in Auckland with a medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury suffered in the 21-20 loss to Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday.
To make matters worse boom back-rower David Fifita re-aggravated an ankle complaint and has been scratched from the trip across the Tasman.
The last-placed Titans are looking down the barrel of a third wooden spoon in their 18-year history and the loss of the Test and Queensland forward is the last thing they needed.
Prop Moeaki Fotuaika said it was up to his teammates to lift in Hasler's milestone game.
"I spoke to Tino this morning and he is in high spirits but obviously disappointed," Fotuaika said on Tuesday.
"He is our captain and he is a massive loss. A few of us are going to have to step up."
Des Hasler is at long odds to emerge as a winner from his 500th game as coach | Photo: Jason O'Briend/AAP
The Titans lost to the Tigers with 17 seconds remaining courtesy of an Adam Doueihi field goal after they led 20-16 in the 77th minute.
They played what Hasler called "dumb football" and paid the price.
"It was a tough one to take after we got so close. I thought we defended our tryline well but ill-discipline got us in the end," Fotuaika said.
"We take confidence out of it. We have just got to stick together. We are going to New Zealand where we will spend a couple of days together so it is a good time to regroup against the Warriors."
Video has circulated of Hasler giving his players a vitriolic dressing down in the sheds after the game, displeased with their attitude after throwing away the win.
Have the NRL gone too far with gagging coaches?
Fotuaika was asked about the coach's spray and said it was understandable.
"Obviously it was disappointing getting so close," he said. "You can imagine what the feeling is in the sheds after a game like that."
Fotuaika was dropped from the Queensland side for the State of Origin decider, won 24-12 by the Maroons, after playing the opening two games of the series. It has been a roller coaster ride for the front-rower over the past six weeks.
"As much as it was disappointing missing out on game three it was probably a blessing in disguise for me," he said.
"I had a newborn a week before game one and that Origin period takes a lot out of you, travelling and being away from family.
"That week (of game three) was our bye week so I caught up with family and friends. I did go down to Sydney on the Wednesday night and to see them get the result was pleasing for me and added motivation for me to get back in that arena."
