Orara Sevens: Titans names side for maiden outing.

[Queenslander]

An historic day for the NRL?s newest club the Gold Coast Titans when coach John Cartwright this afternoon named the side which will play in the Orara Valley Axemen Seven?s competition this weekend.

Cartwright said, ?Its basically an opportunity to get some of our good juniors together and see how they perform against more experienced opposition. It?s great to be representing the Titans for the first time particularly in one of our catchment areas. We hope to develop a great relationship with the Coffs Harbour area in the future.?

The team is made up of members of the Titans Elite Academy and Queensland Cup players from Titans Feeder clubs - Burleigh Bears, Ipswich Jets and Tweed Heads Seagulls.

Cartwright named former Penrith Panthers back rower Matt Pow as Captain of the Inaugural Sevens side and will be looking to the current Seagulls Queensland Cup player to lead the younger team members from the very first clash, when they take on Malta on Saturday morning.

As far as results go, Cartwright is not expecting miracles but is more focused on looking at the individual to see how competitive they are and what sort of attitude is displayed.

He said, ?It?s very hard to go into a 7s tournament expecting to win. That?s the appeal of the game, it?s fast, open and gives all sides a chance.

Regardless of the result this weekend the enormity of the Titans becoming a reality also holds great significance.

?There is enormous excitement from within the Titans club about this 7s tournament. I think it?s a realization from all the people who have worked so hard on making the club a reality of how close we are to 2007.We have also had a lot of local media coverage which suggests a high level of interest from our supporters?, said Cartwright

The Titans will play Malta, the Australian Maoris and Crescent Head in the first round of competition on Saturday.
Gold Coast Titans 7?s Team

? John Dean- Ipswich Jets
? Chris Sandow ? Gold Coast Titans Elite Squad
? Shannon Walker - Gold Coast Titans Elite Squad
? Matthew Pow (C) - Tweed Seagulls
? Matt Austin-Tweed Seagulls
? Dimitri Pelo- Burleigh Bears
? Nat Barnes-Tweed Seagulls
? Michael Walker - Gold Coast Titans Elite Squad
? Dennis Gordon Gold Coast Titans Elite Squad
? Bo Dene Thompson Gold Coast Titans Elite Squad
? Mitchell Herlihy Gold Coast Titans Elite Squad
? Matthew Lindsey-Tweed Heads Seagulls
? Matthew Francis - Gold Coast Titans Elite Squad
? Ben Thomas - Gold Coast Titans Elite Squad

? STAFF
? John Cartwright - Coach
? Scott Sattler ? Football Manager

From http://www.titans.com.au/pages/page.php?mod=newsroom&page=71

[Queenslander]

Its looks like a good bunch of up and coming Rugby League players. Congrats to them all for being the first Titans and to Matthew Pow from the Tweed Seagulls for being the first Gold Coast Titans Captain :clap: :clap:

[chocco]

kicking off the tournament against the maltese!!

the malts are ready for a big one!!

a story on their website tonight

CLASH OF THE TITANS
Tuesday 24 January 2006
By Anthony Micallef

Knights and Titans will do battle in fourteen dynamic minutes of rugby league action to kick off the 2006 Orara Valley Sevens at Coffs Harbour this weekend, January 28 and 29.

With two international fixtures ultimately kicking off the Orara Valley Axemen Big Week of League on January 26, it will be the Malta Knights and the Gold Coast Titans that kick off the two-day Sevens carnival, underwritten by resident local and Hollywood star Russell Crowe.

History beckoning, the Titans who will make their entry into the NRL competition in 2007 are fielding a squad jam-packed with players from the Gold Coast?s elite academy as well as QLD Cup talent that includes captain and ex Penrith Panthers back rower Matt Pow leading out the Titans for the first time.

Maltese Rugby League will enter the code?s history books for the second time in only three months, as the first up opponents to the newly formed Gold Coast, who are being represented under the ?Titans? banner for the first time. Titans? head coach John Cartwright isn?t denying the excitement leading up to this weekend.

?There is enormous excitement from within the Titans club about this Sevens tournament. I think it?s a close realization from all the people who have worked so hard on making this club a reality of how close we are to 2007? said Cartwright.

Cartwright isn?t expecting miracles in the Titans? first outing.

?It?s very hard to go into a Sevens tournament expecting to win. That?s the appeal of the game, its fast, open and gives all sides a chance?

Opening the tournament against the Malta Knights before taking on Crescent Head and the Australian Maoris, Cartwright is using the budding sevens tournament to test his players who are challenging for roles in the club?s approaching NRL return in 2007.

?It?s basically an opportunity to get some of our good juniors together and see how they perform against more experienced opposition? Cartwright said.

Ten of the fifteen players selected in Malta?s sevens squad were members of a history making rugby league tour to Malta 12 weeks ago, taking on the England Lionhearts, selected from England?s amateur rugby league conference competitions. Malta defeated England 36 to 6.

Newcastle Knights premier league utility Daniel Spiteri was consequently sent off in the third minute of the historic encounter after tensions simmered in the international friendly on a muggy 30-degree plus afternoon.

Evenly, Ashley Klein, the Engage Super League 2005 referee of the year dismissed Spiteri and his opposite number Lionhearts? Brendan Lewis as well as placing a further member of each team in the sin bin.

Spiteri is adamant that his return for Malta at the Orara Valley Sevens will bring a positive bang.

?People insist on bringing up the darkest moment in my footy career. It was very disappointing and won?t happen ever again?

?Is the pope a catholic? There is more fire in me then the sun itself, controlled though, no send offs this time!? Spiteri assures.

Spiteri, who has been granted a release from the Newcastle Knights, is motivated to play to his best at the Orara Valley Sevens, granted there will be scouts from several NRL clubs about.

?Huge incentive, all you have do to is look of likes of Benny (Sammut) and Clewsy (Brad) and you see what playing at the top level does for you, to be earning a huge salary and doing it by playing footy which is something you love would be great? said Spiteri.

Only weeks before the fateful match, Spiteri was the instrumentalist in a last second try that helped Malta to a 24-22 win over Greece in Sydney, dashing sixty metres to bring the pro Maltese crowd into raptures.

?The try itself just proved his evasiveness?

?He was positioned on the left wing and scored on the opposite (right hand side) of the field? Malta coach Joe Grima said.

South Sydney Rabbitohs have named flying winger Luke MacDougall as captain in a line-up selected from throughout the foundation club?s grades, jersey flegg to first grade.

Drawn into the same group as defending champions Lebanon, Fiji A has listed former Tigers NRL star James Langaloa in their 15-man squad.

Malta Knights sevens squad:
N Attard, S Azzopardi, S Borg, B Clews, P Galea, A Grech, W Grech, P Harris, P Marzella, J Micallef, S Micallef, B Russell, B Sammut (C), J Sammut, D Spiteri.

2006 Orara Valley Sevens Tournament
Saturday 28th January (Day One)
9:00am MALTA vs GOLD COAST Titans
10:40am MALTA vs CRESCENT HEAD Roos
11:40am MALTA vs WAIRERE AUSTRALIAN Maoris

The Maltese Rugby League Association, a voluntarily run organisation whose main source of income is the retailing of their popular merchandise range which includes replica jerseys, polo shirts, t-shirts, caps and dvd?s. During the Orara Valley Sevens, supporters have the opportunity to purchase the Malta Knights jersey at a special price of only $75.

Related links:
www.malteserugbyleague.com
www.oraravalleyaxemen.com

[DIEHARD]

Ah we announced our team!

I can't wait! I'm pumped up! We are gonna give it to them! :box: YEE-HAH!

[DeeGan]

Exciting times for Gold Coast Titans fans!

Hope this appeases those looking for more info on the official website ;)

DeeGan

[Ipswich Fan]

I'm a bit surprised to see Luke Walker from the Jets not named, he is one of the quickest players in the Qld Cup & would be ideally suited to Sevens football.

[Kingytek]

Keep an eye on Nat Barnes, his style suits open running and he will score a few tries!

[chocco]

malta's backline is sh*t hot!

there's some players in there the titans should look at.

unfortunately, i think crescent head are goin to be overshadowed big time by the titans, maoris and malta.

[russiarlman]

HI I am a big fan of the Titians- but yes I had a look athe the Malta Knights Team it is good with some old names and guns in the team I am maltese living up the Gold coast.

THIS is history in the Making the first Rugby league game by the titians against the malta knights I will be watching the local news- good luck to both teams GO THE TITIANS AND THE MALTA KNIGHTS.

[Dakink]

Welcome Russiarlman!!

Titans v Malta Knights what a dream game !