DIEHARD
13-06-08, 02:38 AM
TITANS coach John Cartwright marked the season's halfway point yesterday by declaring the Gold Coast's premiership destiny was 'in their own hands'.
After 13 rounds of the 26-round competition, the Titans are clutching an equal share of the overall lead alongside the Sea Eagles, Storm, Roosters and the Sharks.
They are well on the way to securing their historic first finals berth, needing to win an estimated five of their remaining 12 games to lock in a spot in the top eight.
The Gold Coast enjoy a bye this weekend, with Cartwright telling his troops to get their minds off football before returning and refocusing for the back-end of the season.
"Our destiny is in our own hands now," said Cartwright.
"That is what we wanted at the start of the year when we looked at this bye round, was to be up there entrenched in the eight.
"Now it is up to us to stay there."
Titans co-captain Luke Bailey will use the week-long break to return home to Wollongong with his family, while backrower Mark Minichiello is planning a weekend getaway to Noosa with partner Milena Angelucci.
Hooker Nathan Friend will return home to Toowoomba in between playing a couple of games of golf, while backrower Luke Swain's grandparents will make the trip to the Gold Coast from the NSW mid-north coast to meet their three-month-old grandson Lachlan for the first time.
Prop Michael Hodgson has been looking forward to the bye round more than most, after his wife had to move back to Canberra a couple months ago with the couple's two young children to manage the family beauty salon.
"It will be good to see them," said Hodgson.
"It is good to have the break because you will get the boys coming back in like it is all starting new and fresh and with more enthusiasm that I think will carry us on through the second half of the season."
Cartwright said it was important the Titans look inwardly over the next week and come back ready to 'rip in' on the road to the finals.
"It is a good chance to freshen up and evaluate where we are and reassess some goals," said Cartwright.
"It is easy to say things but you have got to live it and do it."
Source: http://www.goldcoast.com.au
After 13 rounds of the 26-round competition, the Titans are clutching an equal share of the overall lead alongside the Sea Eagles, Storm, Roosters and the Sharks.
They are well on the way to securing their historic first finals berth, needing to win an estimated five of their remaining 12 games to lock in a spot in the top eight.
The Gold Coast enjoy a bye this weekend, with Cartwright telling his troops to get their minds off football before returning and refocusing for the back-end of the season.
"Our destiny is in our own hands now," said Cartwright.
"That is what we wanted at the start of the year when we looked at this bye round, was to be up there entrenched in the eight.
"Now it is up to us to stay there."
Titans co-captain Luke Bailey will use the week-long break to return home to Wollongong with his family, while backrower Mark Minichiello is planning a weekend getaway to Noosa with partner Milena Angelucci.
Hooker Nathan Friend will return home to Toowoomba in between playing a couple of games of golf, while backrower Luke Swain's grandparents will make the trip to the Gold Coast from the NSW mid-north coast to meet their three-month-old grandson Lachlan for the first time.
Prop Michael Hodgson has been looking forward to the bye round more than most, after his wife had to move back to Canberra a couple months ago with the couple's two young children to manage the family beauty salon.
"It will be good to see them," said Hodgson.
"It is good to have the break because you will get the boys coming back in like it is all starting new and fresh and with more enthusiasm that I think will carry us on through the second half of the season."
Cartwright said it was important the Titans look inwardly over the next week and come back ready to 'rip in' on the road to the finals.
"It is a good chance to freshen up and evaluate where we are and reassess some goals," said Cartwright.
"It is easy to say things but you have got to live it and do it."
Source: http://www.goldcoast.com.au