Gold Coast players have had a good, hard look at themselves following their deflating 30-2 NRL defeat to Newcastle last Saturday.

The Titans now look odds-on to fail to reach the NRL finals for a fifth consecutive season, with just Wests Tigers between them and the bottom of the competition ladder.

Veteran forward Luke Douglas says the defeat to the Knights had provoked some earnest discussion amongst the players.

“We’ve got to have the mentality of constructive criticism,” Douglas said.

“We can tell each other what we did wrong and what we need to work on. We’ve got to take responsibility as individuals and make up for poor performances.

“The effort’s there, that’s not letting us down, it’s just a matter of turning up and getting the job done.

“We get judged on an 80-minute performance each week and if we’re not on song that 80 minutes comes unstuck.”

The Titans face local rivals Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.

In stark contrast to the Titans form, the Broncos sit atop the ladder after seven straight wins.

Five-eighth Aidan Sezer has returned to full training following a month on the sidelines with a torn hamstring and will be given the week to prove his fitness for the game.

Another halves option, Daniel Mortimer, will be assessed after copping a head knock during the clash with the Knights but should be clear to take on the Broncos.

Douglas said Sezer’s return would be a welcome one for the club but shouldn’t be seen as a cure-all.

“He’d be a big acquisition for the team but in saying that if he’s not back we’re the ones that have got to be there and do the job,” he said.

“I’ve got every faith in us being able to turn it around, it’s just a matter of getting in there … It doesn’t matter what the weather’s like, five-day turnarounds, we get judged on an 80-minute performance and we’ve got to get out there and get stuck into it.”