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Originally posted by Daily Telegraph
AFTER watching his side slump to their fourth-straight defeat on the Gold Coast last night, captain Braith Anasta needed just two words to sum-up the Roosters' start to 2011.
"It's horrible," the skipper muttered.
Coach Brian Smith was also succinct in his appraisal of the dramatic fall of last year's grand finalists, who conceded two soft tries to the Titans after leading 13-12 with just seven minutes left.
They are now 2-6 with the season one-third of the way completed.
Asked if his men had suffered any injuries in the demoralising loss, Smith dead-panned: "Nope ... just a lot of kicked arse."
The lone positive to emerge from the fulltime hooter was that it cleared the way for next week's opponent - the bye.
With their confidence levels decimated, both Smith and the players admitted the respite had come at the perfect time to re-assess what appears to be an inexplicable demise.
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Roosters' woes worsen on the Gold Coast The Australian, 1 hour ago
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Round Eight Teams: Titans v Roosters The Daily Telegraph, 3 days ago
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"It's pretty obvious we need to make some changes," Smith said. "We need to beef ourselves up and come back bigger and stronger.
"It's worrying from how we are playing, but it's not [yet] worrying about making the playoffs."
Fielding 11 players that contested last year's decider, the Roosters began brightly before a healthy contingent of travelling Tricolour fans among the 15,000-strong crowd.
But after BJ Leilua crossed to give them a 4-0 lead, shoddy handling and ill-discipline invited Gold Coast back into the match and the teams went to the interval on even terms.
The Titans grabbed the lead straight after halftime when nippy pivot Will Zillman claimed the first of his double, and they were unlucky not to forge further ahead after having three more tries disallowed.
The hosts also finished on the wrong end of an 8-4 penalty count, which sparked a running battle between the whistleblowers and prop Luke Bailey.
But just when they appeared destined for defeat, the Roosters lifted courtesy of a 51st-minute hit from debutant Lana Tasi on Greg Bird. Frank-Paul Nuuausala barged over moments later to level, before Mitchell Pearce edged the Roosters in front with a drop goal on 67 minutes.
The Titans refused to wilt and stole back the momentum when winger David Mead charged through four defenders in 73rd minute. Zillman's second try on the siren sealed the win - and another fortnight of soul-searching at Bondi.
"I suppose some of our confidence is down," Anasta said. "That's the big thing at the moment. A few guys are struggling with their own form."
Second-rower Nate Myles is not among the strugglers, but the standout Rooster finished the game with his Test hopes in jeopardy after being placed on report for a dangerous throw on Bird.
"It's the last thing you want if you are fortunate enough to be selected," Myles said.
Smith also ruled out a return from five-eighth Todd Carney when the Roosters next take the field against Cronulla in a fortnight.
"I'll be making the decision when Toddy comes back and I can guarantee that I've not even thought about him playing," Smith said.
"It's horrible," the skipper muttered.
Coach Brian Smith was also succinct in his appraisal of the dramatic fall of last year's grand finalists, who conceded two soft tries to the Titans after leading 13-12 with just seven minutes left.
They are now 2-6 with the season one-third of the way completed.
Asked if his men had suffered any injuries in the demoralising loss, Smith dead-panned: "Nope ... just a lot of kicked arse."
The lone positive to emerge from the fulltime hooter was that it cleared the way for next week's opponent - the bye.
With their confidence levels decimated, both Smith and the players admitted the respite had come at the perfect time to re-assess what appears to be an inexplicable demise.
Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar.
Related Coverage
Titans' hat-trick was a real bruiser Courier Mail, 1 hour ago
Roosters' woes worsen on the Gold Coast The Australian, 1 hour ago
Titans courageous as Roosters fall FoxSports, 4 hours ago
Round Eight Teams: Titans v Roosters The Daily Telegraph, 3 days ago
Roosters set to cut Nate Myles loose Courier Mail, 4 days ago
End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.
"It's pretty obvious we need to make some changes," Smith said. "We need to beef ourselves up and come back bigger and stronger.
"It's worrying from how we are playing, but it's not [yet] worrying about making the playoffs."
Fielding 11 players that contested last year's decider, the Roosters began brightly before a healthy contingent of travelling Tricolour fans among the 15,000-strong crowd.
But after BJ Leilua crossed to give them a 4-0 lead, shoddy handling and ill-discipline invited Gold Coast back into the match and the teams went to the interval on even terms.
The Titans grabbed the lead straight after halftime when nippy pivot Will Zillman claimed the first of his double, and they were unlucky not to forge further ahead after having three more tries disallowed.
The hosts also finished on the wrong end of an 8-4 penalty count, which sparked a running battle between the whistleblowers and prop Luke Bailey.
But just when they appeared destined for defeat, the Roosters lifted courtesy of a 51st-minute hit from debutant Lana Tasi on Greg Bird. Frank-Paul Nuuausala barged over moments later to level, before Mitchell Pearce edged the Roosters in front with a drop goal on 67 minutes.
The Titans refused to wilt and stole back the momentum when winger David Mead charged through four defenders in 73rd minute. Zillman's second try on the siren sealed the win - and another fortnight of soul-searching at Bondi.
"I suppose some of our confidence is down," Anasta said. "That's the big thing at the moment. A few guys are struggling with their own form."
Second-rower Nate Myles is not among the strugglers, but the standout Rooster finished the game with his Test hopes in jeopardy after being placed on report for a dangerous throw on Bird.
"It's the last thing you want if you are fortunate enough to be selected," Myles said.
Smith also ruled out a return from five-eighth Todd Carney when the Roosters next take the field against Cronulla in a fortnight.
"I'll be making the decision when Toddy comes back and I can guarantee that I've not even thought about him playing," Smith said.
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