Titans co-captain Kevin Proctor says an overdue lift in standards and intensity on the training field will deliver better performances during games for the Gold Coast as they brace for impact against the Sydney Roosters on Sunday at the SCG.
While the Titans were beaten 34-12 by the Broncos last weekend, the second half finished at 6-all after a much-improved showing from the Gold Coast after a disastrous first 40 minutes.
Proctor said the Titans were still struggling to adapt to a change in playing style under new Senior Coach Craig Hodges, but said better intensity and quality at training would deliver the performance Gold Coast fans are craving
“It is probably hard for a coach to come in and start his new style, and for us to get it straight away in two weeks,” Proctor said. “But there have been signs there that we are trying to implement what he is trying to do here.
“Our focus is to just finish off the year as well as we can, and then whatever happens after that happens.”
Proctor said greater accountability within the team would be the driver for better performances with only six weeks of the competition remaining.
“I think we just have to change our culture that we have here,” he said. “I know we have a lot of inexperience in key positions, but that is no excuse.
“We have been in a lot of games this year, and haven’t been able to close them out. That is something that we have to learn in these next six weeks to try to build on for next year’s season.
“I think it is just our standards at training. Everything you do at training you are going to take onto the playing field.
“Our quality and standards haven’t been up to scratch as of late. We have been trying to work on that, especially in the last couple of weeks.
“There have been glimpses in game that we have been showing those standards, but most of the time we haven’t been closing out those games.”
Proctor said playing under Craig Bellamy at his previous club Melbourne reinforced the idea that the Titans needed to be more ruthless in punishing mistakes.
“He just had one job for you. If you did your job, you would be in the team next week,” Proctor said of Bellamy.
“It was pretty clear if you didn’t do your job, you were playing Queensland Cup or Premier League.
“I don’t think we’re hard enough on that kind of stuff (at the Titans). But it has changed the last couple of weeks, and there has been a lot of changes (to the team) as well.
“I think they (the coaches) have been pretty strict on it. I don’t reckon our standards were good enough at training, and it showed on the field.”
“It is probably hard for a coach to come in and start his new style, and for us to get it straight away in two weeks,” Proctor said. “But there have been signs there that we are trying to implement what he is trying to do here.
“Our focus is to just finish off the year as well as we can, and then whatever happens after that happens.”
Proctor said greater accountability within the team would be the driver for better performances with only six weeks of the competition remaining.
“I think we just have to change our culture that we have here,” he said. “I know we have a lot of inexperience in key positions, but that is no excuse.
“We have been in a lot of games this year, and haven’t been able to close them out. That is something that we have to learn in these next six weeks to try to build on for next year’s season.
“I think it is just our standards at training. Everything you do at training you are going to take onto the playing field.
“Our quality and standards haven’t been up to scratch as of late. We have been trying to work on that, especially in the last couple of weeks.
“There have been glimpses in game that we have been showing those standards, but most of the time we haven’t been closing out those games.”
He just had one job for you. If you did your job, you would be in the team next week. It was pretty clear if you didn’t do your job, you were playing Queensland Cup or Premier League.
I don’t think we’re hard enough on that kind of stuff. But it has changed the last couple of weeks, and there has been a lot of changes as well. I thinkt they have been pretty strict on it. I don’t reckon our standards were good enough at training, and it showed on the field.
