Titans Coach Josh Hannay Addresses Disappointing Loss to the Raiders
After a 28-12 defeat against the Raiders at home, Titans coach Josh Hannay has confirmed he delivered some “home truths” to his team. The loss was a stark reminder of the challenges the side faces, especially after showing signs of improvement in recent matches.
The Raiders started strongly, taking an early 16-0 lead within the first 20 minutes. From that point on, the Titans struggled to find their rhythm and were never really in the fight. Despite a strong effort from Phillip Sami, who scored a try in the corner to keep the game close at half-time, the Titans couldn’t maintain momentum.
Key Moments in the Match
The Raiders extended their lead early in the second half with a try from winger Simi Sasagi, making it 22-6. Although the Titans managed to cut the gap to 22-12 when Jojo Fifita scored a try in the 66th minute, they failed to secure the crucial four-pointer. In the dying moments of the game, Raiders centre Seb Kris intercepted a pass near the halfway line and raced away for a try, sealing the victory for his team.
Hannay expressed frustration with the team’s performance, particularly in the opening stages. “I’ve got to be careful with what I say here,” he said. “I thought we started with a soft mentality. We had a couple of chances, but the reality is we were never in the (fight). We never had the energy or intent to deserve anything today, we got what we deserved.”
Recent Improvements Under Hannay’s Leadership
Despite the loss, there have been signs of progress under Hannay’s coaching. In the last two matches, the Titans defeated the Eels 52-10 and put up a strong fight against the Warriors, losing only 28-20. However, Hannay admitted that the team has taken a step back in terms of defense.
“I don’t like the word spray, it’s some home truths,” Hannay said. “We built up a really strong rapport over a short time with this group, the players are tight, we’re tight, so it needs to feel like a safe space to have those conversations… we trust ourselves to have honest conversations and that’s what they just got.”
Captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui echoed Hannay’s sentiments, admitting that the team needed to hear the truth. “We needed it, I needed it,” he said. “We need to hear the truth to get better. We’re quite disappointed, we turned up with the wrong attitude today, including myself, in the first half and second half. We just didn’t get our game on, tossed up a lot of shit and need to look in the mirror at ourselves.”
Raiders’ Positive Performance
On the other side, the Raiders enjoyed a satisfying win, particularly with halfback Ethan Sanders delivering one of his best performances since joining the club. Sanders contributed three line break assists, two try assists, and kicked for 628 metres, showcasing his growing potential.
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart praised Sanders’ development, stating, “He will just keep getting better and there’s parts of his game we’re trying to eliminate out of him and there’s parts of his games he’ll have to continue with because it’ll make him a better player. But he’s nowhere near the finished product. Where he’ll be in two years time will be a smart, dominating halfback.”
Injury Concerns for the Raiders
While the Raiders celebrated their win, there was one concern for the team: Joe Roddy broke his hand in the first half. Roddy played on for several minutes before being forced off, with Stuart noting that the young forward had been tackling with one hand.
