'Million dollar passenger': Titans star lashed for last-minute clanger

It was the ultimate coach killer.

With the game on the line, Gold Coast Titans star Ash Taylor was caught on the final tackle with 45 seconds left to play - effectively handing Canterbury a 22-16 win.

The Titans had already coughed up a 16-point lead, but it was Taylor’s brain fade late in the piece that broke Gold Coast’s back.

Carrying a star player already down on confidence heading into the match, Titans coach Garth Brennan said Taylor would continue to fight through it.

“He’s trying hard and he’s feeling in there at the moment,” Brennan said.

“He hasn’t had a real good run with injuries at the start of the year and he’s another one who’s lacking that week-in, week-out combinations with the halfback and the fullback behind him. The more they play together the better Ash will get.

“I don’t think (the team’s confidence) sits solely on Ash. Tyrone put his hand up in the sheds today and said he could’ve been better in certain areas. A lot of players in there know where they can be better.

“It’s not a finger pointing or a blame exercise for us at the moment … the belief’s there, it’s just the confidence we need to show.”

Unfortunately for Taylor, Titans fans and league pundits were less kind about his form.

Pressure mounts on Brennan

Pressure is mounting on Brennan, with Kieran Foran sparking Canterbury's 22-16 NRL comeback win to relegate the Titans to their worst season start.

But Brennan insisted he would not lose any sleep over his future, saying he was committed to turning around the second-last Titans' dire position.

The Bulldogs' five-eighth set up three tries before No.7 Jack Cogger scored the 70th minute match-winner. The Titans were held scoreless in the second half for the third time in four games.

"We are a side down in confidence. When a bit of adversity comes our way, we don't handle it too well," a shattered Brennan said.

"It's not like they don't care. They are trying. They have to embrace the moment when the game is there to be won.

"But I am sick of seeing sad faces in the sheds."

Asked if he was worried about his future, Brennan said: "Tenure is not something I am concerned about at all - that is out of my control.

"I am super confident we can turn it around. It's just a matter of whether we can do it soon."

Brennan will hope it is sooner rather than later after the Titans had blown another healthy lead in a fourth-consecutive game.

At first, the Bulldogs looked set to stumble to a 2-8 record - their worst season start since 1964 - after an early Dale Copley double in front of 10,105 fans at Cbus Super Stadium.

But Foran - in just his second game back from a si- week ankle injury - found his feet as the Bulldogs cut the deficit to 16-10 by halftime.

Foran grubbered for centre Marcelo Montoya to score in the 25th minute and threw clever cut-out passes for giant winger Jayden Okunbor to grab a double.

"It's his second game back from a nasty injury so he will be better again next week," Bulldogs coach Dean Pay said of Foran.

"And that sort of win gives you confidence and a lot of belief. They showed guts and determination to keep themselves in the game."

When the dreadlocked Okunbor crashed over for his second in the 61st minute, the Bulldogs led for the first time and didn't look back.

The Titans still threatened to lock up the scores in the 78th minute in a see-sawing finish.

Standout Titans prop Jarrod Wallace (171m) charged down a Foran kick and passed to a flying Jesse Arthars for what looked like a try - only for the referee to call it back and rule a Wallace knock-on, prompting boos.

WITH AAP