'Rumour, innuendo': Des Hasler bats away question on Titans job whispers
Titans coach Des Hasler sidestepped a question about his increasingly shaky hold on the Gold Coast job after a 36-20 loss to Parramatta left his side outright last on the ladder.
Quizzed about whispers that he may walk away from the job at the end of the season, he batted away that talk as "rumour" and "innuendo".
The Eels and Titans were both languishing on 12 competition points ahead of Sunday night's game, but the Gold Coast outfit is now on its own in the cellar after a dire outing at CommBank Stadium.
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The game was evenly poised with Parramatta leading 18-16 at half-time, but the Eels crossed for three second-half tries and kept the Titans to one to run away with a comfortable win.
And the Eels made light work of the Titans despite being without star playmakers Dylan Brown and Mitchell Moses, who missed the game due to suspension and a calf injury respectively.
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The Eels celebrate a try during their defeat of the Titans. Getty
In another blow for the Titans, livewire halfback Jayden Campbell won't be available for next Sunday's clash with the Cowboys due to a failed head injury assessment.
Hasler was asked in his post-match press conference if he expected speculation around his job to pick up following the loss to Parramatta.
"I don't know if there's speculation. It's been reported," Hasler replied.
"Obviously, sitting in last place is a position we don't want to be in.
"It's very tight there at the bottom [of the ladder]. Among those sides it's pretty congested. That's why tonight's game was so important for us.
"I thought we were in it, we had a good chance.
"We can only keep trying and keep working at it."
The 64-year-old was short when asked about talk that he may quit at the end of the season.
He's contracted with the Titans until the end of 2026.
"They're just whispers, mate," Hasler replied.
"It's just rumour, innuendo."
After the Titans' 38-18 defeat to the Bulldogs in round nine, News Corp reported that Hasler had two clauses in his contract.
According to News Corp, one clause states Gold Coast can sack him at the end of this season, and not have to pay out his contract, if the Titans don't qualify for the finals, while the other states the club can cut him loose once the team is mathematically unable to reach the finals.
The Titans have won four games and lost 10 this season.
Their differential is minus 138, the second-worst in the competition behind North Queensland's, which is minus 140.
