Gold Coast Titans kicked off their 2025 NRL season under the glaring sun at Belmore Sports Ground on March 16, facing the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. Unfortunately for the Titans, it was another disheartening outing, culminating in a 40-24 defeat.
The match began with the Bulldogs making their mark early, establishing dominance with a blistering 22-0 lead within the first 20 minutes. It was clear from the outset what lay on the line—the Titans were tasked with making up for last year’s struggles, where they endured six straight losses to begin the season. This new campaign seemed to head down the same bleak path, as errors continued to plague the visitors
Turnover after turnover allowed the Bulldogs to capitalize on their home turf. The Titans successfully completed only five of their first ten sets, making it challenging to get any footing as the game unfolded. Their struggles manifested both on offense and defense, leaving the Bulldogs early on cruise control with stellar play from players like Matt Burton and Viliame Kikau, who would later both be confirmed to suffer MCL injuries during the match.
Burton was sidelined first, injuring himself during the 27th minute, with Kikau following suit later on, sustaining his injury during the 74th minute. The Bulldogs, already leading by more than three tries, would soon tread water facing the loss of two key contributing players. "I just checked Gus’ Twitter and they’re both getting scans in the next 24 hours, so hopefully we’ll know more then," commented Bulldogs’ coach Cameron Ciraldo, indicating the severity of their injuries.
Despite the setbacks, the Bulldogs maintained composure as they scored through Marcelo Montoya, Jaeman Salmon, Reed Mahoney, and Josh Curran, showcasing their strength as scoring threats. While the Titans were reeling from the onslaught, featuring their star winger Alofiana Khan-Pereira, who managed to score two tries before heading to halftime, providing a glimmer of hope as they came back to trail 22-12.
One positive acknowledgment from the Titans’ effort came through their captain, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, who returned to play for the first time after nearly one year out of the NRL due to injury. His presence was felt as he completed 55 minutes on the field, recording significant stats: one try, 15 runs for 122 metres, 39 tackles, and seven tackle breaks. Fa'asuamaleaui tried to reinvigorate his team during some of the tougher moments, with his return serving as both inspiration and motivation.
The Titans did bring the score to 22-24 as they began to trade tries following the second half, with Connor Tracey handing the Bulldogs the dagger try with only two minutes left to solidify the victory at 40-24.
Too many turnovers and failure to contain their opponents during the game translated to grave concerns for the Titans as the match continued. The early lead and success of the Bulldogs was compounded by the lethargy shown by the Titans, contributing to what many would soon label as another disappointing start to the season.
Adding injury to insult, the Titans had also shifted players whose potential impact was not fully realized early on, like the explosive David Fifita, who spent 50 minutes on the sidelines before finally entering the game when the Titans were already struggling to gain momentum. While his presence did see him perform reasonably with limited carries, his performance metrics fell flat against the pace the Bulldogs set, highlighting the Titans' need for strategic adjustments moving forward.
Fellow newcomer Reagan Campbell-Gillard made his debut with the Titans after overcoming last season’s injuries. The player once marked as one of the league’s decorated had his performance limited but managed to contribute on defense, completing 20 tackles during his first outing. On the contrary, journeyman Brock Gray made his debut later on but received limited chances to flourish as he entered during the match's twilight.
The Gold Coast Titans return to their home ground at Cbus Super Stadium on Saturday to host the undefeated Newcastle Knights next weekend, still seeking to identify their identity early on and re-establish momentum. There is no doubt fans, players, and coaches alike will be watching closely as the Titans attempt to course correct their performance following this setback.
Whether they regroup or falter will provide another telling chapter within their tumultuous beginning to this season.