An upbeat Jason Taylor says South Sydney are still a finals side despite enduring another tough NRL defeat to the Titans at the weekend.

South Sydney looked stiff to lose 22-14 after being forced to defend their try line for sustained periods in the second half, Taylor praising his players' courage after the narrow loss.

"We just have to fix a few little things and we're definitely in the finals mix," said Taylor, who felt too much went against his side.

"We're not about to talk about massive problems and huge disappointments.

"There was a lot of real quality stuff out there and we just need some simple improvements."

The result was in the balance until Mat Rogers scored in the 71st minute.

But the Rabbitohs had what would have been a spectacular try for halfback Chris Sandow disallowed in the 76th minute which would have put them back in the lead.

South's forwards made close to 250 tackles - almost 40 more than the Gold Coast pack - a key factor given the Titans players were backing up from a Monday night game.

"We just couldn't hang on today, it was too hard," said Taylor.

"It's just too hard to give quality teams that much ball on your try line.

"It wasn't just turnovers, nothing would go our way all day.

"It was an enormous effort from the boys to keep turning up and do what was needed to defend the try line but in the end it was just too hard.

"We held to two tries for 79 minutes in a game where they got all the ball and they've got some quality attacking players.

"It was a superb defence effort and I couldn't be happier in that regard or prouder of the team and the way they went about it."

Titans coach John Cartwright also sung the praises of his troops given they had a curtailed preparation comprising just one full training session.

"I think that effort can't be understated," said a proud Cartwright after his side bounced back from last Monday's 34-20 loss to Penrith.

"Not many sides win off a Monday night game.

"I was really worried there at one stage in the second half, I thought we were just going to run out of juice. It's typical of our efforts, we just keep rolling the sleeves up."

Meanwhile overnight X-rays have cleared Titans pair Campbell (bruised ribs) and forward Mark Minichiello (forearm) of any serious injury.

Campbell finished Saturday night's game battered and bruised with his left arm in a sling.

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