Titans coach Josh Hannay has expressed strong disappointment regarding the team's poor start during their 36-26 defeat against the Knights on Sunday.
The match commenced at McDonald Jones Stadium with Newcastle quickly gaining momentum, securing three tries in the opening 20 minutes.
Dane Gagai showcased his skills, scoring two tries, while Greg Marzhew added another to the tally.
Although the Titans managed to regroup, scoring two tries before halftime, they still entered the break trailing 16-10, and their disastrous start had significant consequences for the game.
Reflecting on the initial minutes, Hannay remarked, "The start, unacceptable. Discipline, I'd love to get gifted a start like the one we gifted them today."
He further elaborated on the team's challenges: "Just the penalties, the piggybacks, the six agains. It's like 20 minutes of defending your line to start the game... that's on us, that's no one else's fault."
Despite the rough start, Hannay recognized the team's resilience, saying, "So that was unacceptable, as I say and then I liked the grit though when we got back into it. Looked more like us there... we've had a flat couple of weeks."
Ultimately, the Titans' inability to overcome their early mistakes cost them dearly in this match, reinforcing the need for improvement as they move forward in the season.