Ryan
10-03-10, 10:41 AM
2010 NRL premiership season preview with Greg Alexander: Gold Coast
By Belinda Cotter
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,26776027-5018866,00.html
March 10, 2010
Foxsports.com.au and Greg Alexander bring you all you need to know about Gold Coast Titans, Brandy's tip to finish third in the 2010 NRL premiership season.
New faces: Joseph Tomane (Storm); Riley Brown (Roosters); Marshall Chalk (Crusaders); Greg Bird (Catalans Dragons); Clinton Toopi (Leeds)
Shown the door: Daniel Conn (Roosters); Brett Delaney (Leeds); Chris Walker (Bradford); Brenton Bowen (Northern Pride); Siosaia Vave (Sharks)
Last year: 2009, the year the Titans made their first finals series but forced fans to watch their season wash away in the blink of an eye. After a consistent season saw them finish the season a credible third, it all came unstuck during the finals when they suffered consecutive defeats to bow out for the year with not much to show for it. The losses came despite a strong finish to the season, where they won 10 of their last 14 regular-season matches.
Room for improvement: After going through finals heartache last year, the Titans need to learn how to improve their consistency when it matters most in 2010. They finished the regular season with a poor loss to Manly, followed up with a near miss against Brisbane Broncos in week one of the finals to finally be outpaced by Parramatta a week later. They?ll also need to work on their away form; they made improvement in 2009 compared with earlier seasons, but it wasn?t premiership-winning material with eight away losses in total.
Game breaker: The finesse that Scott Prince provides the Titans is undeniable. Only missing two games in 2009, his presence was a major factor towards the consistency the side enjoyed throughout the season. More often than not, he holds the key to his team's success; just look back to 2008, when he missed eight matches and Gold Coast lost six of them. Last season?s statistics saw him finish with figures of 24 try assists and 27 line-break assists. The good news for fans is he signed a new contract last year that will effectively see him a Titans player for life.
Rising star: He arrived on the scene with a bang in 2009, and David Mead finished the year with eight tries from just 14 games. The flying winger?s impact during this short time saw him establish himself as a first-grade regular by year's end. In 2010, the 21-year-old from Papua New Guinea will be looking to cement himself in the right wing position, with his super pace sure to be a major feature of the Titans game plan.
Last chance: Greg Bird is heading to Gold Coast Titans looking to redeem himself in the NRL after rejecting a massive offer to stay with French-based Super League club Les Catalans. After being dumped by the Sharks following his much publicised off-field drama, he says the move north will help him focus on his footy. "I?m looking forward to my time on the Gold Coast. I?m out of Sydney and I?m away from everything that happened down there." If all goes to plan, his strength and presence in the five-eighth position should deliver Gold Coast some much needed grunt.
Coach factor: John Cartwright is a man who wears his heart on his sleeve. In 2010, he is confident his side will have the added edge to go all the way this season and has built up a stable side around him. But he?ll need to learn to keep his cool in 2010, after ending the season with a $10,000 fine for approaching the officials in the tunnel at half-time during the fianls match against the Broncos.
Key stat: For the Titans to become premiership contenders, they need to improve their discipline. In 2009, they were 14th in the NRL for penalties conceded (6.7 per game). In 2008, they were 13th (7.2 per game). And in 2007, they were 10th (6.8 per game).
Greg Alexander says: "The key to the Titans is the signing of Greg Bird. The Titans were good last year, but I think Bird adds a real bit of class to an already strong side that broke into semi-finals football last season."
The Adjudicator says: "The NRL should have exercised some autonomy and ordered the Titans to surrender their top-four spot in 2009 to a team capable of challenging for the title. It seems only fair. Either that or the minor premiers should play the Titans in what would pretty much be a first-round bye in the finals. C'mon David Gallop, give us something to stop this team meandering into another play-offs, where they will be fodder for a genuine contender."
Fantasy banker/darkhorse: While Anthony Laffranchi (7.5) doesn?t start this season as the most hyped Fantasy prospect like he did in 2009, he is still the Titans' most reliable work horse, worth almost as many points as Scott Prince last year but at a fraction of the cost. Joseph Tomane (5.5) burst onto the scene with Melbourne Storm in 2009 and then promptly signed with the Titans. Many would have forgotten about this youngster who averaged almost a try a match last season.
Gold Coast TitansNickname: The Titans
Coach: Tim Sheens
Co-Captains: John Cartwright :laugh:
Home ground: Skilled Park
2009 membership: 6205
NRL Premierships: 0
Most recent: NA
2009 finish: 3rd
2010 prediction: 3rd
2010 squad: Jordan Atkins; Luke Bailey; Selasi Berdie; Preston Campbell; Aaron Cannings; Nathan Friend; Josh Graham; Ashley Harrison; Michael Henderson; Anthony Laffranchi; Will Matthews; David Mead; Brad Meyers; Mark Minichiello; Luke O'Dwyer; Scott Prince; Mat Rogers; Sam Tagataese; Esikeli Tonga; Shannon Walker; Matthew White; William Zillman
By Belinda Cotter
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,26776027-5018866,00.html
March 10, 2010
Foxsports.com.au and Greg Alexander bring you all you need to know about Gold Coast Titans, Brandy's tip to finish third in the 2010 NRL premiership season.
New faces: Joseph Tomane (Storm); Riley Brown (Roosters); Marshall Chalk (Crusaders); Greg Bird (Catalans Dragons); Clinton Toopi (Leeds)
Shown the door: Daniel Conn (Roosters); Brett Delaney (Leeds); Chris Walker (Bradford); Brenton Bowen (Northern Pride); Siosaia Vave (Sharks)
Last year: 2009, the year the Titans made their first finals series but forced fans to watch their season wash away in the blink of an eye. After a consistent season saw them finish the season a credible third, it all came unstuck during the finals when they suffered consecutive defeats to bow out for the year with not much to show for it. The losses came despite a strong finish to the season, where they won 10 of their last 14 regular-season matches.
Room for improvement: After going through finals heartache last year, the Titans need to learn how to improve their consistency when it matters most in 2010. They finished the regular season with a poor loss to Manly, followed up with a near miss against Brisbane Broncos in week one of the finals to finally be outpaced by Parramatta a week later. They?ll also need to work on their away form; they made improvement in 2009 compared with earlier seasons, but it wasn?t premiership-winning material with eight away losses in total.
Game breaker: The finesse that Scott Prince provides the Titans is undeniable. Only missing two games in 2009, his presence was a major factor towards the consistency the side enjoyed throughout the season. More often than not, he holds the key to his team's success; just look back to 2008, when he missed eight matches and Gold Coast lost six of them. Last season?s statistics saw him finish with figures of 24 try assists and 27 line-break assists. The good news for fans is he signed a new contract last year that will effectively see him a Titans player for life.
Rising star: He arrived on the scene with a bang in 2009, and David Mead finished the year with eight tries from just 14 games. The flying winger?s impact during this short time saw him establish himself as a first-grade regular by year's end. In 2010, the 21-year-old from Papua New Guinea will be looking to cement himself in the right wing position, with his super pace sure to be a major feature of the Titans game plan.
Last chance: Greg Bird is heading to Gold Coast Titans looking to redeem himself in the NRL after rejecting a massive offer to stay with French-based Super League club Les Catalans. After being dumped by the Sharks following his much publicised off-field drama, he says the move north will help him focus on his footy. "I?m looking forward to my time on the Gold Coast. I?m out of Sydney and I?m away from everything that happened down there." If all goes to plan, his strength and presence in the five-eighth position should deliver Gold Coast some much needed grunt.
Coach factor: John Cartwright is a man who wears his heart on his sleeve. In 2010, he is confident his side will have the added edge to go all the way this season and has built up a stable side around him. But he?ll need to learn to keep his cool in 2010, after ending the season with a $10,000 fine for approaching the officials in the tunnel at half-time during the fianls match against the Broncos.
Key stat: For the Titans to become premiership contenders, they need to improve their discipline. In 2009, they were 14th in the NRL for penalties conceded (6.7 per game). In 2008, they were 13th (7.2 per game). And in 2007, they were 10th (6.8 per game).
Greg Alexander says: "The key to the Titans is the signing of Greg Bird. The Titans were good last year, but I think Bird adds a real bit of class to an already strong side that broke into semi-finals football last season."
The Adjudicator says: "The NRL should have exercised some autonomy and ordered the Titans to surrender their top-four spot in 2009 to a team capable of challenging for the title. It seems only fair. Either that or the minor premiers should play the Titans in what would pretty much be a first-round bye in the finals. C'mon David Gallop, give us something to stop this team meandering into another play-offs, where they will be fodder for a genuine contender."
Fantasy banker/darkhorse: While Anthony Laffranchi (7.5) doesn?t start this season as the most hyped Fantasy prospect like he did in 2009, he is still the Titans' most reliable work horse, worth almost as many points as Scott Prince last year but at a fraction of the cost. Joseph Tomane (5.5) burst onto the scene with Melbourne Storm in 2009 and then promptly signed with the Titans. Many would have forgotten about this youngster who averaged almost a try a match last season.
Gold Coast TitansNickname: The Titans
Coach: Tim Sheens
Co-Captains: John Cartwright :laugh:
Home ground: Skilled Park
2009 membership: 6205
NRL Premierships: 0
Most recent: NA
2009 finish: 3rd
2010 prediction: 3rd
2010 squad: Jordan Atkins; Luke Bailey; Selasi Berdie; Preston Campbell; Aaron Cannings; Nathan Friend; Josh Graham; Ashley Harrison; Michael Henderson; Anthony Laffranchi; Will Matthews; David Mead; Brad Meyers; Mark Minichiello; Luke O'Dwyer; Scott Prince; Mat Rogers; Sam Tagataese; Esikeli Tonga; Shannon Walker; Matthew White; William Zillman