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Tino Fasumalawe was transferred on a horror afternoon for the Gold Coast Titans, who misplaced 32-0 to the resurgent Canterbury Bulldogs at Belmore Sports activities Floor.
The Titans’ inspirational captain remained in apparent discomfort halfway by way of the second half and performed no additional half within the sport, turning what was already an agonizing expertise into an unmitigated catastrophe.
The imaginative and prescient indicated it was a knee harm, though exams can be required.
The rating was 32-0 at that time after an early second half begin that noticed the Bulldogs take the lead. They did not add to it, however they did not must. Belmore was already rocking it, and when Hassler appeared on the large display screen, he was booed triumphantly.
Viliami Kikau was the star, scoring one purpose and establishing one other whereas proving to be a relentless risk in defence. When Tanah Boyd went to sleep tonight, he would see Kikau looming in his goals, he was too terrified to press the kick.
Cameron Ciraldo’s males clearly got here to play, dominating early by way of subject place and possession earlier than choosing up factors late on.
After wobbling early – Kieran Foran and AJ Brimson conspired to blow away the best attempt of the 12 months – Canterbury took over, with Reid Mahoney and Matt Burton doing the kicking and controlling duties that allowed the forwards to take cost.
It was the stuff of books, and too good for the Giants.
Kikau launches the canine ahead
With away journeys to Parramatta and Cronulla first, it’s maybe not stunning that the Terriers began with two losses, however there have been indicators of defensive enchancment which bodes properly for Shiraldo, particularly as this has been their worst space of 2023.
The Terriers could also be a bit removed from an entire staff, however the indicators of enchancment that had been current of their first two defeats have been as soon as once more evident, and with weaker opposition, Canterbury have been capable of play to a few of their strengths as properly.
One would possibly consider it as elevating the bar for this staff. Rugby league is a weak sport, and in earlier terrier groups, it was not troublesome to search out and assault these ache factors.
This 12 months, they’re nonetheless searching for consistency with a variety of new gamers, however while you’re not leaking makes an attempt, you are taking the chance to bother different gamers and decide up wins, particularly towards different vault dwellers.
Canterbury’s makes an attempt weren’t nice, with a low kick and a half-dummy shot on the high of the listing, however the areas of effort they created shall be an enormous encouragement to Schiraldo.
Nobody embodies that higher than Kikau. He took his sport again to the areas of working and onerous work, largely leaving the flashier stuff till the match was gained, and was rewarded vastly.
His attacking try was an ideal instance, however Reid Mahoney’s close-range shot got here from a mistake by Tanah Boyd, which in flip was attributable to inner stress from the Fijian defender. This wasn’t the primary time he’d accomplished this to Boyd both.
With gamers like Kikau, Stephen Crichton and Mat Burton, you are going to get factors from magical moments, so it is about preserving the rating tight sufficient to win the sport. As we speak, that was a deal with.
Des has an enormous job on his palms
The Giants have been questionable defensively for years, and altering that’s Des Hasler’s high precedence.
Brian Kelly has persistently been on the backside of the NFL in defensive metrics amongst facilities: he does not crack the highest 40 in tackling effectivity and common variety of makes an attempt per sport in 2023.
As we speak he added two extra to that listing. The primary was a really poor learn, as Kieran noticed Foran rising on the within however didn’t observe up, and the second was a direct one-on-one foul that allowed Jacob Kiraz to cross previous him. At this stage, it is not ok.
He wasn’t the one one who struggled.
Keanu Kenny, the full-back, is thrilling in possession however has been a legal responsibility underneath the excessive ball and is consistently out of place on lengthy kicks, with Mahoney capable of finding the bottom from dummy half on a number of events.
Jayden Campbell returns to Q Cup motion this weekend and it’s best to anticipate him to be shortly introduced again into the first-row line-up as quickly as doable.
As beforehand talked about, Boyd was fearsome along with his defensive kicks, permitting the Canines to begin virtually each set on the entrance foot.
One may argue that the Giants’ finest half-half possibility in recent times was on provide at Belmore at the moment – as a result of Toby Sexton performed within the reserve grade for the Canines earlier than the NRL.
The Giants have struggled to attain factors this 12 months, with simply 4 up to now, however that is still a secondary concern, as a result of first the Dragons and now the Bulldogs have made them look very common certainly on protection.
If that is what occurs with groups that the majority suppose will end on the backside, what’s going to occur once they face the large boys?
