Foundation Gold Coast coach John Cartwright says the Titans urgently need help from the NRL to help fight for football’s hearts and minds on the holiday strip.

In his final media conference as Titans coach following their loss to the Roosters on Monday night, Cartwright launched an impassioned plea aimed at the game’s governing body for help fighting the AFL on the Gold Coast.

A battle Cartwright, who stepped down from the post he had held for eight seasons last week, says the NRL is losing.

“It’s not the immediate two or three years I’m worried about, it’s the next generation, the kids who would be playing league,” Cartwright said.

“Their parents played rugby league, their family all played rugby league but they are being sold AFL on a big scale.

“You need to live up there to see what its like. It’s a battle, there is no two ways about it and we are putting our head in the sands if we think anything else.

“I’ve lived on the Gold Coast for eight years, I just think it’s so important for rugby league to be strong there. They can’t do it on their own, they need some help.”

The AFL has thrown millions at its Gold Coast franchise The Suns, with superstar Gary Ablett drafted in to help the cause.

The Titans crowds have slumped in recent years and this will be the fourth successive year they will miss the finals.

Cartwright’s comments echoes those of Brisbane legend and Broncos board member Darren Lockyer, who took to his weekly newspaper column last Saturday to say the Titans desperately need the NRL’s help and has called for them to be granted salary cap exemptions.