LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
The Gold Coast Titans have suffered a defeat at the hands of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, going down 40-24 in their season opener for 2025.
After sitting out the first round with a bye, Des Hasler's squad had to wait until the final match of the second round to kick off their campaign.
The early dominance displayed by the Bulldogs made it an uphill battle for the Titans to overcome.
In a match full of twists and turns, the return of Titans captain Tino Fa'asuamaleaui provided a silver lining despite the loss.
It had been almost a year since Fa'asuamaleaui last graced the NRL stage, and his comeback was met with anticipation.
His brief stint of 22 minutes showcased his trademark work rate, with 2 runs, 2 tackle breaks, and a whopping 23 tackles.
The limited playing time could be attributed to his recovery from injury or a strategic rotation plan following the inclusion of Reagan Campbell-Gillard in the forward line-up.
Overall, the Titans will need to regroup and learn from the errors that proved costly in this match.
As they look ahead to the rest of the season, they will need to dig deep, rally together, and show the fighting spirit that has defined them in seasons past.
The road ahead may be tough, but this team has the heart and determination to rise to the challenge.