Gold Coast Titans coach Josh Hannay has refused to hit the alarm bells after the side suffered an embarrassing 40-point loss to begin their 2026 campaign.

Entering the match with back-to-back pre-season victories under their belt, there were high expectations for the club, but instead they conceded two tries in the opening ten minutes and a further seven during the contest.

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“You’ve got to look at it and you’ve got to address what went wrong. I’m not one to dwell so I won’t dwell on it but you also can’t ignore it,” Hannay said after his first match as Titans coach.

“We’ve got to take our lessons and there are some really good lessons here tonight for us. We’ll definitely go through it, take out of it what we have to and respond.”

“Made a bit of a statement!” | 03:08

While Hannay was not happy with the result, the former Queensland Maroons assistant understands that the club are still a work in progress and has refused to panic despite the score-line.

“On the encouraging signs of this club, I’m not discouraged at all after one performance. Win or lose tonight, tonight wasn’t going to define us this year,” Hannay continued.

“I’m disappointed for the players and disappointed for the club because I think there’s been a lot of hope built up over the last four months and you walk in here tonight with high hopes.

“But as I say, one game is not going to diminish all that. I know this playing group is capable of better but I’ve also said to them there’s going to be pain.

“You don’t know when it’s going to present but there’s going to be pain for us this year. We’re still on a journey here.

“I don’t for one moment accept the performance or the result. It doesn’t sit well with me or the players but the reality is we’re going to have nights like that and our response to nights like that is probably more important than anything.”

Tino on report after shoulder charge | 00:27

As the Titans look to avenge their loss against inner-state rivals, the Dolphins in the next round, they could be without dummy-half Sam Verrills after he sustained a sternum injury.

“I think everyone saw the contact and it was quite significant,” Hannay said.

“No idea what the severity is but it’s a bad spot to get a painful injury the sternum so we’ll see how he comes up.”

They will also be sweating on the availability of skipper Tino Fa’asuamaleaui after he was placed on report for a high tackle against Blayke Brailey.

“It wasn’t too bad. I think I’ll be right for next week,” the Titans skipper said.