Moeaki Fotuaika in action for the Titans. Photo: titans.com.au
After round 21 the Gold Coast Titans were nestled in the top eight with only a month of footy left, but after three losses in a row they will need a lot to go their way to feature in this year’s finals series.
Recently re-signed prop Moeaki Fotuaika says the team is still preparing as if they are going to make the finals but is aware a lot rests on the result of the Raiders and Roosters Thursday night match up and the Sharks and Storm game on Friday night.
“We’re still preparing as if we are going to make the finals,” he said.
“Those two games are pretty crucial for us and everyone at the Titans will be watching it, but hopefully fingers crossed it all goes to plan and we get to fight for a finals spot on Sunday.”
Even if the results go their way the Titans will have to play an ultra-attacking style of footy to ensure they secure eighth spot.
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As it stands the Titans must make up 23 points on the Sharks to make the finals, and while Fotuaika understands the maths, he and his team are also wary of being too carefree with the ball.
“It’s a bit hard because you don’t want to throw the ball around and end up being behind the goal post,” he said.
“So, I think it is just about sticking too what’s good for us and that’s just playing footy and if we see it just go for it, but we still have to wait for what happens on Thursday and [Friday].”
With that attitude in mind, Fotuaika also knows that he and his forward pack must do the heavy lifting through the middle of the ground to ensure they don’t have to be reckless with the ball on the outside.
“If your forwards are getting you a roll on everything comes off the back of that,” he said.
“It’s no different for us on Sunday, us forwards have to perform so those outside backs can do what they do, and hopefully we can do that.”
While the goal is still to make the finals, if the Titans happen to miss this year, the future is looking incredibly bright on the Gold Coast.
“With the amount of star players that we have and the things they can do is something that I am really looking forward to, as well as some young and exciting players like Toby Sexton and the likes,” Fotuaika said after announcing his three-year contract extension during the week.
Fotuaika also believes that this team can quickly shoot up the ladder over the next couple of seasons and become a force to be reckoned with.
“Hopefully we’re up in the top four, definelty pushing for a grand final spot,” he said.
“I definitely think that that’s what all the boys are thinking, hopefully we can make it to the big dance at the end and win it for this great city that’s been doing it tough for the last couple of years it’ll be good for the fans to really enjoy that success with us too.”
Despite some rumours that the State of Origin prop might be on the way to a new club he said he always wanted to stay and build something special with some of his closest mates who has risen the Titans ranks with.
“It wasn’t a hard decision to make, I always wanted to stay, now I’m just glad I have an extra three years to stay here and hopefully build into a successful team.”
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