DIEHARD
06-02-08, 02:25 AM
40 Titans battle for top positions
TITANS coach John Cartwright expects intense competition for positions will spur his troops on to a higher level of performance this season.
Close to 40 players are vying for 17 spots in the Titans round one team to take on the Cowboys at Skilled Park on March 14.
Cartwright will use the club's first trial against Canberra in Ipswich on Saturday week to whittle the extended squad down to approximately 25 before taking on the Cowboys in Cairns on February 23.
He will field an NRL-ready side in the final trial against Wests Tigers at Robina on March 1.
"At the moment there is a lot more pressure on just about every position ... and that creates better performance," said Cartwright. "Last year at stages there was not a lot of pressure for positions, just through injuries and suspensions and whatever.
"So the main thing it will do is keep pressure on guys to keep their performances up."
At least five spots in the starting 17 are up for grabs.
Five-eighth has been one of the most publicised trouble spots for the Titans, with Mat Rogers, Ashley Harrison and Josh Lewis in the mix to line up outside star halfback Scott Prince.
With Rogers set to get first crack at the No.6 jumper, it leaves his centre position vacant.
Tweed product Luke O'Dwyer played some of his career best football in the centres at Parramatta and could loom as a possible replacement.
Cult hero Matt Petersen looks to have one wing spot sewn up but the other will be fought out between Brenton Bowen, Smith Samau, Ben Jeffrey and highly touted teenager Shannon Walker.
Luke Bailey's propping partner is shaping as a showdown between Brad Meyers, Aaron Cannings, Ian Donnelly, Matt Cross and Michael Henderson.
It also remains to be seen if workhorse lock Luke Swain can hold on to his position with the arrival of Harrison.
Cartwright is yet to discover how much the alteration of the interchange rule -- dropping it from 12 to 10 per match -- will affect team make up.
"We don't have to change too much," he said.
"We were very fit last year and we will be just as fit this year. It is going to be interesting to see how it pans out. When teams are out of the contest and running out of interchanges you might see some real blow out scores."
Source: http://www.gcbulletin.com.au
TITANS coach John Cartwright expects intense competition for positions will spur his troops on to a higher level of performance this season.
Close to 40 players are vying for 17 spots in the Titans round one team to take on the Cowboys at Skilled Park on March 14.
Cartwright will use the club's first trial against Canberra in Ipswich on Saturday week to whittle the extended squad down to approximately 25 before taking on the Cowboys in Cairns on February 23.
He will field an NRL-ready side in the final trial against Wests Tigers at Robina on March 1.
"At the moment there is a lot more pressure on just about every position ... and that creates better performance," said Cartwright. "Last year at stages there was not a lot of pressure for positions, just through injuries and suspensions and whatever.
"So the main thing it will do is keep pressure on guys to keep their performances up."
At least five spots in the starting 17 are up for grabs.
Five-eighth has been one of the most publicised trouble spots for the Titans, with Mat Rogers, Ashley Harrison and Josh Lewis in the mix to line up outside star halfback Scott Prince.
With Rogers set to get first crack at the No.6 jumper, it leaves his centre position vacant.
Tweed product Luke O'Dwyer played some of his career best football in the centres at Parramatta and could loom as a possible replacement.
Cult hero Matt Petersen looks to have one wing spot sewn up but the other will be fought out between Brenton Bowen, Smith Samau, Ben Jeffrey and highly touted teenager Shannon Walker.
Luke Bailey's propping partner is shaping as a showdown between Brad Meyers, Aaron Cannings, Ian Donnelly, Matt Cross and Michael Henderson.
It also remains to be seen if workhorse lock Luke Swain can hold on to his position with the arrival of Harrison.
Cartwright is yet to discover how much the alteration of the interchange rule -- dropping it from 12 to 10 per match -- will affect team make up.
"We don't have to change too much," he said.
"We were very fit last year and we will be just as fit this year. It is going to be interesting to see how it pans out. When teams are out of the contest and running out of interchanges you might see some real blow out scores."
Source: http://www.gcbulletin.com.au