'Different mentality': Hasler not expecting grudge match against Roosters

Titans coach Des Hasler has heaped ice on the suggested spice that has been reported to come in this weekend's clash against the Roosters.

But he is expecting it to be a battle of the big boys when the two combatants run out at Cbus Super Stadium on Sunday.

Welcoming the return of Beau Fermor and Moeaki Fotuaika to help take on one of the most lethal forward packs in the competition, the Gold Coast mentor is expecting his engine room to take things personally and match it against the tri-colours on home turf. 

"They’re very accentuated and make no secrets about where they like to play," Hasler said of the Roosters.

"They’re very strong and very mobile through the middle, but it’s a great personal challenge and that’s how our players are taking it this week."

Playing down suggestions the Roosters will target David Fifita in his first meeting since turning them down to stay at the Titans in May, Hasler doesn't expect it to come to fruition, suggesting the talk is just all outside noise and not something either side are thinking about ahead of this weekend's clash.

"The players don’t look at it like that. It’s a different mentality for them and different way of going about things," he said.

"Plus you can’t afford to knock his head off... if you do, you’re probably going to get suspended for six weeks.

"I think every player is mindful of that, particularly the Roosters side who are heading into the finals."

All but out of the finals race after back-to-back losses against the Sharks and Dragons, Gold Coast are hoping to finish their season strongly as they build into 2025.

Consistency something that needs to be improved, although not wanting to be used as an excuse for why the Titans won't be featuring in the playoffs this season.

"You've nailed it with consistency, but it's also a growth thing as well and setting the benchmark that we want to achieve," Hasler said at Friday's press conference.

"We make no excuses there. There are probably games [this year] we have lost that we should've won, but at the end of the day, we've got to get out of that habit and get out of that cycle to stop using that excuse [of inconsistency]."