- Renewed Cantebury Bulldogs destroy hapless Titans at Belmore
- Things could go from bad to worse for Titans, with the skipper getting injured in a flogging
- Stumbled off the field and couldn’t get back
Gold Coast Titans skipper Tino Fa’asuamaleaui has limped off the field with a suspected knee injury after a hammer blow for the club, who were already on the receiving end of a 32-0 drubbing of the Bulldogs on Saturday.
The pressure valve has well and truly been released on Canterbury coach Cameron Ciraldo after his side defeated a hapless Gold Coast 32-0 in Belmore.
But it was a devastating return to Belmore for Des Hasler – who coached the Bulldogs to the 2016 grand final – losing captain and key forward Fa’asuamaleaui to a suspected serious knee injury.
The Queensland and Australia forward was clearly uncomfortable when he was assisted from the field with twelve minutes left on the clock and the result already beyond doubt.
Fa’asuamaleau had to be helped off the field by two trainers after a seemingly innocuous goal caused his counterpart Max King to fall awkwardly on top of him.
“The medical staff are still testing Tino’s knee in a private room in the locker room,” Matt Russell told Fox League.
‘They expect to know more soon, but scans will obviously be needed to confirm the damage.’
Gold Coast captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui receives off-field help after injuring his knee against the Bulldogs
The Gold Coast Titans are in big trouble early in the season after two tough losses and injuries to key forwards
It was an unhappy return to Belmore for former Bulldogs coach Des Hasler, who took the club to the NRL grand final in 2016
Fa’asuamaleaui is an integral part of the Titans team and was re-signed on a ten-year contract in February.
The extent of the injury is unclear, but any extended spell on the sidelines would be devastating with the club already missing running back David Fifita.
“It’s definitely his knee,” coach Des Hasler confirmed after the match.
“I think at this point it could range from MCL to ACL. So as soon as we get some confirmation on that through some scans, we’ll know a little more.
“But it didn’t look good to walk away.”
Medical personnel have reportedly cleared Fa’asuamaleaui of an ACL tear, but he could still miss significant time in a major blow to the Titans’ season.
“Well, if not, then that’s a positive outcome,” Hasler replied. “But we won’t know until it’s confirmed.”