Titans coach Justin Holbrook questioned game-delaying moments in the second half that he believes cost his side crucial momentum in the heart-breaking 40-30 loss to South Sydney on Friday night.
Holbrook was devastated after the Gold Coast surrendered a 24-10 half-time lead as the Rabbitohs piled on 20 points in 13 minutes in a second half of near perfection inspired by Benji Marshall.
But it was what happened when Tyrone Peachey levelled scores in the 69th minute that infuriated the coach as a minor push and shove between players stopped the game as both captains were called out for a discussion as the Rabbitohs rested.
Holbrook believes the Titans were disadvantaged by an unnecessary discussion, along with another moment in the second half when a scrum had to wait to form while a Rabbitohs forward was treated for cramping.
"I thought we got a bit of momentum there with that try from Peach and the game is meant to quicken up but then we stop for 15 minutes, I thought that's terrific there goes our momentum gone now," Holbrook said.
Match Highlights: Titans v Rabbitohs
"Souths got a 10-minute break, they then got a good rest at a scrum which the new rule is if you have cramp you go off the field.
"They're the things I'm talking about we just couldn't get a chance.
"Score the try, kick the goal, get back, let them kick off to us and all of a sudden the game must've stopped for 10 minutes.
David Fifita with a try you need to see to believe
"We must've gone over the timeslot, that second half must've gone for two hours. There's too many officials to have a chit-chat, just get on with the game.
"You need everything to go right to win games of footy. Even right from the start we had to use a captain's challenge to get a try and I thought 'oh geez'. Because we're playing a good side I feel like you can cop a lot of harsh decisions and six-agains for no reason and things like that I find difficult to take but I've got to cop it."
Not even a first-half hat-trick to David Fifita was enough for the Titans as they managed to put 30 points on the second-placed Rabbitohs but conceded 40 just a week after they let in 36 against Manly.
Holbrook though was pleased with the attitude U-turn by his men after last week's meek effort against the Sea Eagles, especially after they lost centre Patrick Herbert (calf) just after half-time and prop Sam Lisone (pec).
"I think obviously in the first half we played some great footy and got ourselves a good lead. Never got a chance in second half. We couldn't get the ball or get any momentum to finish the game off," he said.
"When I settle down in a few days' time I will see plenty of plus sides but I just felt it was a tough night to watch as a coach and we didn't get any opportunities to win the game.
Fogarty finishes off length of the field Titans try
"We weren't good enough defensively to leak 40.
"We scored 30 points against a really good side and that's losing a centre [Herbert] and front-rower [Lisone] early, so we were makeshift and then we had no ball on top of that.
"If we had a bit of possession we would've done alright so I'm not critical of our boys at all.
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"The two games are just so different, last week we were just horrible straight away tonight we had blokes out of position against a strong side that just kept the ball.
"Our attitude was okay tonight it was Souths' execution that we were not good enough to stop.
"We don't want to be leaking that many points that's for sure."
