Jamal Fogarty says the Titans don't need to change much after Saturday's loss to the Warriors but patience is needed with regards to new combinations.
A team expected to continue rising after a blazing finish to last season and some strong recruitment, the Gold Coast didn't score a try until the 73rd minute in the 19-6 loss at Central Coast Stadium.
Coach Justin Holbrook wasn't too concerned about the attacking display, noting a few missed chances and a couple of soft Warriors tries were the difference. Co-captain Fogarty was also upbeat.
"Our game-plan's good. We've just got to adjust to the ruck. When it's fast, we've just got to stay there. [Improve our] concentration with the errors and we'll be better for it," Fogarty told pan66.com.
"Round one's always going to be scrappy with the heat and combinations [and] adjusting to the new rules. We're definitely going to improve on [Saturday's] effort.
Match Highlights: Warriors v Titans
"We'll get to training, rest up, make sure we're doing all the little one-percenters to get up for Brisbane. Obviously, it's going to take time with combinations. Hopefully, we can sharpen the tools each week.
"I think we dropped too much ball and didn't adjust to the speed of the game like the Warriors did ... [It wasn't] so much the fatigue, just concentration from individuals including myself."
Holbrook wanted more from playmakers Fogarty and Ash Taylor, saying the pair didn't challenge the line as often as their Warriors counterparts, and the Titans No.7 took responsibility.
Thompson try gives the Titans hope
"We've got to stay a bit more calm and relaxed - us as halves, especially. If we're calm and composed then the rest of the team will follow on from that," 27-year-old Fogarty said.
"That's a learning curve for myself to improve on for next week."
Marquee forwards David Fifita, who played 71 minutes despite not being able to train leading into the game due to an ankle infection, and Tino Fa'asuamaleaui made solid if unspectacular club debuts.
"They definitely tried hard, I think everyone tried hard. Especially [with] a lot of expectation on those boys," Fogarty said.
"As a team, we've got to get around them and take a bit of the pressure off them just so they can be Dave and just be Tino."
Disappointment from losing outweighed Fogarty's satisfaction at officially starting his tenure as skipper with Kevin Proctor.
"It was alright. Captaincy is something good to have, but at the end of the day we want to win games and we came up short," he added.
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