Gold Coast Titans co-captain Nate Myles says his team is not giving up on finals hopes and their coach is not to blame
TRAVIS MEYN GOLD COAST BULLETIN AUGUST 04, 2014 2:33PM 2
GOLD Coast co-captain Nate Myles insists the *Titans haven’t given up and under-pressure coach John Cartwright isn’t to blame for their dramatic form slump.
The Titans’ hopes of breaking a three-year finals exile took a massive hit on Saturday night with a 28-8 loss to North Queensland in Townsville.
They gave away 11 penalties and looked frustrated in the clash which has left them with the unwanted task of having to win their last five matches to make the finals.
That run begins with a trip to face the Roosters, last year’s premiers, next Monday before coming home to host the table-*topping Sea Eagles.
Co-captain Nate Myles says Gold Coast Titans NRL Coach John Cartwright is not to blame. Picture: Wesley Monts
Cartwright is under the pump to retain his job, having last piloted the Titans to a finals appearance in 2010.
But Myles was quick to deflect attention from his coach, saying the playing group was to blame for their three months of pain.
“Everyone’s under the pump,” he said.
“Carty has our backing 110 per cent. As a playing group, we’re the ones that are disappointing ourselves.
“We’re not disappointed in what Carty and that (coaching staff) are providing. They’re doing everything possible for us. Their mindset hasn’t changed.
“Our playing group isn’t playing enough for each other at the moment. We’re thinking too individually.”
The Titans had a completion rate of 58 per cent against the Cowboys as they slumped to their ninth loss in their past 11 games.
Apart from an inability to hold the ball, the Titans were disjointed in *attack and made schoolboy errors.
“We just didn’t put it *together,” Myles said.
“You can’t get away from the fact everyone’s disappointed. We’re disappointed but the boys are still in good spirits. In that way, it’s refreshing.
“The energy’s got to be funnelled into a constructive way and at the moment we’re not doing that.”
Paul Carter gave away four penalties while Greg Bird and Myles had a running battle with the referees.
It would be a rugby league miracle for the *Titans to make the top eight from here but Myles insisted all hope wasn’t lost.
“Nothing’s out of reach for any team in this competition,” he said.
“We’ve got a long week ahead which is going to benefit us. We’ll look forward to the challenge. No one has given up yet.”
Cartwright admitted his side went “over the top” with its ill-discipline but *denied their frustration was a result of three months of poor form.
“You’d like to see that sort of aggression and energy but it’s got to be within the scope of the game,’’ he said.
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I think Myles has played 3 great games this season but none of them were in Titans jerseys so i wouldn't pay too much attention to what he has to say..