RHYCE Shaw was disappointed with Gold Coast's loss at the weekend but won't be overreacting despite the Suns losing their grip on a top-four spot.

The 10-point loss to Adelaide not only snapped a six-game winning streak, but it also saw the Suns drop to fifth place ahead of a final fortnight against Richmond and Greater Western Sydney.

Speaking on Tuesday, Shaw said Gold Coast would learn from a defeat in which they still had a chance to snatch victory in the final minute.

"We talk about themes rather than instances," he said.

"That was one instance on the weekend that didn't marry up with the rest of the year. 

"It's easy to go hard when you lose but there's got to be some common sense at play and some understanding we've had a really good year and we're a really good team.

"We're going to continue to believe that.

"I'm really looking forward to the girls going out there this week."

Gold Coast's rise from wooden spooner to all-but finals lock has been one of the feel-good stories of the 2026 season.

Laced with young talent acquired through their Academy at last year's draft, the Suns have impressed against allcomers, with a recent win over Melbourne and narrow early-season loss to Geelong.

Shaw said despite the good position after 10 rounds, they weren't looking at the ladder ahead of facing the Tigers.

"We've had a real strong mindset this year of looking at the next challenge. We don't talk about winning, we talk about process. I'm really strong on that," he said.

"It's a tough competition and there's challenges every week.

"Richmond have pushed sides at different times throughout the year. We're very wary of what they can do.

"They pose a real threat."