Sam Verrills has full faith his Titans team can turn it around this Sunday against the Eels after seeing plenty of green shoots in the first five rounds of the season.
After being dealt a big learning curve by preliminary finalists Cronulla in week one, Gold Coast have been in the fight in every appearance since that day at Shark Park as Josh Hannay continues to implement his DNA upon his arrival.
Taking the defending premiers to task in last Saturday's sold-out derby against the Broncos, a second half lapse in a few small areas saw Brisbane take victory 26-12 at full-time - the squad down but not out knowing what they need to do to bear the fruit of all their hard-work over the pre-season.
"We're definitely getting better. I think our group believes in that," Verrills said.
"The Broncos are a good side and with it only being 8-6 at half-time, we thought we could come out and go on with it but there's still areas of the game we need to be better.
"We've got to focus on that. It's not much but as a playing group, we know we've got to fix a few little things and we'll get there.
"Once we get some of the fundamental things of the game right, we know we'll be a team that will be hard to handle."
'It's going to be a good challenge against Parramatta': Verrills
Verrills has echoed Hannay's post-game call for improvement in helping their back five by limiting meterage in last play options, a key focus to helping minimise Mitchell Moses' influence in the halves.
"[As a squad] we need to help the back five out with the opposition's last plays," he said.
"Everyone always looks at the back three [and how they contest the football] but as a team, we need to help them out a lot more as we are just letting players get straight to our fullback and wingers.
"It's a good learning period for us and I have so much belief in this team.
"It's still early days in the season and we have a good challenge ahead of this weekend against Parramatta.
"I'm looking forward to going down there to play them and hopefully turn our season around."
Match: Eels v Titans
Round 6 -
home Team
Eels
14th Position
away Team
Titans
15th Position
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
A great opportunity awaits to strike while the iron is hot at CommBank given the outcome of the brutal Easter Monday thriller which ended in golden-point.
The Eels are missing a number of their key stars to injury - including Isaiah Iongi, Jonah Pezet, Sean Russell and two-try debutant Apa Twidle; but they are expected to welcome back Will Penisini to the centres.
"I watched them on Monday night and it was a good game of footy to watch," Verrills said.
"They were in the wars. I want to send a shoutout to Bailey Simonsson for the gruesome injury he copped... I feel for him.
"They're a tough side Parra so I'm looking forward to going down there and facing them this Sunday."
