Look at the bottom half of the NRL ladder and statistically he should have been shot off the fast-moving coaching merry-go-round earlier than most.

But, just like his charges of late, he's digging in. According to some sources the Gold Coast has started talks with him in a new million-dollar-plus deal that will seek to keep him at the Titans for at least the next three years.

The Warriors (sitting in 11th), the Dogs (16th), the Cowboys (14th) and, today, the Dragons (12th) have had their coach's departure announced mid-season.

Of course, the second from last Broncos' boss Anthony Seibold has a welter of problems on his plate. Not least of them right now is probably being halfway through the second year of his five-year deal.

The other two coaches under the line and out of the top eight are Manly's Des Hasler (9th) and Tiger Michael Maguire (10th). Of the two, you've got to think Dessie has the rails run to job security in a bunched pack.

* This edition of Tackle Count was written by Janine Graham.

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