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View Full Version : Round 24: Gold Coast Titans vs Parramatta Eels



DIEHARD
11-08-12, 03:03 PM
https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/246959_429364350438147_212279650_n.jpg

Jamal's Hamstring
11-08-12, 03:45 PM
Subtitle- The Return of Hendolololololololololol.

Bayside Titan
11-08-12, 04:22 PM
Subtitle- The Return of Hendolololololololololol.
Dam I hope Goat Boy does not get picked for the rest of the year he offers nothing at all. BJ or James should be picked but you just know that Carty will be true to form and pick Hendol.

Jamal's Hamstring
11-08-12, 04:42 PM
James #17 for Tweed Heads, Hendololol #10 and BJ #8 for Burleigh. Be good to see who performs. Anyone going to either game?

teke
11-08-12, 06:31 PM
Ok Photoshop Savvy posters.

I want a Hendololol pic in full super hero uniform to advertise this upcoming match.

Title: Hendololol; Returns the Spoon !!!

Jamal's Hamstring
11-08-12, 07:19 PM
na na na na nanana na Hendololololol.

Titanic
12-08-12, 10:14 AM
Any Billy Thorpe fans on here? How about Hendolol to the tune of Oo-poo-pa-doo? In fact, why change the words at all?

Now seriously guys, we need this win and we have injuries. Bailey and maybe Harrison, Bird and Myles are busted. Henderson, Lawrence and James will probably all get a run.

Jamal's Hamstring
12-08-12, 04:40 PM
Any word how those blokes performed this weekend?

patskE
12-08-12, 09:03 PM
tbh i rkn it time to move mead to fullback or centre, or even gordon n give em the rest of the year to try n find there feet there. waste having them both on a wing.

karnage
13-08-12, 07:57 PM
WInning is not good enough this week. Our 'For and Against' is -14, we need to boost it by atleast 30 this week against the pathetic Eels.

Jamal's Hamstring
13-08-12, 08:08 PM
The only problem is they are no longer so pathetic.

This game is extremely dangerous. We're just clinging to life after the Knights, Raiders and Tigers won. Parra have looked quite good at times and if they get a roll on it's entirely possible we'll be blown off the park.

It's another game where solid defence, grinding metres from our forwards and brilliance from Gordon and Mead might cut them open. We need to dictate terms. If we miss 46 tackles again they'll put fifty on us.

Jamal's Hamstring
13-08-12, 08:09 PM
In short we need to bottle that first half from last week, make gallons more of it and unleash it on the Eels, Panthers and Sea Eagles.

karnage
13-08-12, 08:16 PM
The only problem is they are no longer so pathetic.

This game is extremely dangerous. We're just clinging to life after the Knights, Raiders and Tigers won. Parra have looked quite good at times and if they get a roll on it's entirely possible we'll be blown off the park.

It's another game where solid defence, grinding metres from our forwards and brilliance from Gordon and Mead might cut them open. We need to dictate terms. If we miss 46 tackles again they'll put fifty on us.

Not pathetic are you kidding me???? The Tigers put 52 through them and they conceded 22 to the Roosters at home. We smashed the Roosters away. There is not the slightest hint of danger in the world about this game this weekend. If we can't smash that team of heartless pretenders then we should be down with Easts and Penrith at the foot of the ladder.

If the team is professional in their build up and discipline we will brain them.

Jamal's Hamstring
14-08-12, 08:05 AM
Deadly serious. They also put on 26 and 36 in those games. Their win loss over the last three or four weeks is better than ours if I remember rightly. Like I say, if it turns into touch footy they win. We need to make them play our game.

And nevermind deserves, if we can't put Parra and Penrith away we will be down the bottom. It is testament to how tight the competition is this year- there are no safe games.

Titanic
14-08-12, 08:54 AM
If the team is professional in their build up and discipline we will brain them.

That is the $60,000,000 dollar every week in our case.

Titanic
14-08-12, 03:07 PM
Titans:
1. William Zillman
2. Kevin Gordon
3. Jamal Idris
4. Steve Michaels
5. David Mead
6. Aidan Sezer
7. Scott Prince
8. Nate Myles
9. Matt Srama
10. Luke Douglas
11. Greg Bird
12. Ben Ridge
13. Ashley Harrison

Interchange:
14. Matthew White
15. Mark Minichiello
16. Luke O’Dwyer
17. Beau Falloon

TITAN PETE
14-08-12, 03:12 PM
I like the side Ridge is a future star a Hindmarsh/Menzies of the future :thumbsup:

DIEHARD
14-08-12, 04:32 PM
Pre-Match BBQ

If you are planning to attend the pre-match BBQ at this weekend's game (Jetstar Titans v Eels), Sunday 19th August at Skilled Park it will be open between 11:15 am and 1.45pm.

Please send your RSVP to membersinfo@titans.com.au

DIEHARD
14-08-12, 04:35 PM
Get your tickets to TITANS v PARRA, let's back up the great Souths crowd with another good one.

CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS NOW ONLINE (http://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/Show.aspx?sh=TIT2412)

DIEHARD
14-08-12, 05:58 PM
Titans will lift for Bailey in NRL: coach

Filling the void left by Luke Bailey is easier said than done - but Gold Coast coach John Cartwright is confident the injured prop's influence will help the Titans pull off a bold NRL finals bid.

The improbable task of winning their final three games to remain a top-eight chance only became harder for the Titans when Bailey went under the knife on Tuesday for a season-ending ruptured Achilles.

To boot, Ashley Harrison (hip/glutes), Greg Bird (rib) and William Zillman (sternum) were given until the weekend to prove their fitness for Sunday's Skilled Park clash with Parramatta despite being named in the starting side.

However, Cartwright was confident the Titans would lift for a last gasp top-eight tilt thanks to a man who won't even be on the field.

"Bails is a hard man to replace - just the little things that he does for us. He is one of our leaders," he said.

"But he has left his imprint on the boys that are there.

"They will want to fill the void that he has left, I am sure."

Cartwright again fended off talk that Bailey's 231-game NRL career was in doubt after the 32-year-old prepared for a six-month recovery.

Asked why it was not career-threatening, Cartwright said: "Because Achilles tendons are repaired every year.

"Several players have had them done. We have done them here ourselves and players have come back from them.

"If there was one bloke you would not doubt could beat the injury, it is Bails."

Cartwright said he had taken a "wait and see" approach with Bird, Harrison and Zillman.

"If you take three players out of your side, it is going to hurt but we have dealt with it in previous games especially during the Origin period - we are confident whoever comes in, they will do a job," he said.

The Titans' coach also did not appear thrown by the season resurgence of weekend foe Parramatta, who have won three of their past four games in a bid to avoid the wooden spoon in skipper Nathan Hindmarsh's final season.

"They have really turned their season around ... but in the end, we are playing for more than what they are playing for," Cartwright said.

"We will be out there fighting until the end."

http://www.nrl.com

teke
15-08-12, 12:18 AM
I like the side Ridge is a future star a Hindmarsh/Menzies of the future :thumbsup:How about this comparison...Luke Ricketson, that's who Ridge reminds me of.

Nick
15-08-12, 07:14 AM
How about this comparison...Luke Ricketson, that's who Ridge reminds me of.

minus the pretty boy part?

TITAN PETE
15-08-12, 11:25 AM
minus the pretty boy part?

Pretty boys don't belong in our game :laugh:

TITAN PETE
15-08-12, 11:26 AM
Titans' fighting words for Eels
Emma Greenwood | 09:03am August 15, 2012

TITANS coach John Cartwright expects his team's desperation to play finals football will help an undermanned squad repel a revitalised Eels outfit.

The Gold Coast yesterday named Origin forwards Ashley Harrison and Greg Bird and form fullback William Zillman in the side for Sunday's clash against Parramatta at Skilled Stadium despite them remaining in doubt.

They will be given until Saturday to prove their fitness.

The Eels thumped the Titans 32-12 at Skilled Park in the last round of the 2011 regular season to hand the Gold Coast the wooden spoon. And this time around, Parramatta have the chance to end the Titans' finals dream.

The Coast need to win their final three matches to have any chance of scraping into the eight. "In the end, we're playing for more than they're playing for," Cartwright said of his expectation that the Titans' desperation will be enough to overcome the rejuvenated Eels.

"I think the last two weeks, (the players) have given their absolute everything.

"And bar a couple of things that didn't go our way, I thought we could have won both those games.

"The fact is we didn't and that just makes this weekend all the more important. We'll be out there fighting 'til the end."

Scans have revealed Harrison has only a minor tear in his glute, a relief considering there was early talk the injury sustained in the match against the Storm could end his season.

"It's a one-to-two-week injury," Cartwright said. "It'll be nine days on Sunday, so he's around the timeframe and he looks after himself, so he'll give himself every chance."

Zillman missed last week's clash with a sternum injury but is likely to return on Sunday, slightly ahead of schedule, and Bird is expected to play. "It will just depend whether they can push through the pain barrier," Cartwright said.

"There's nothing long-term about (the injuries) but whether we've got enough time to get them on the paddock, we'll just wait and see. We'll give them up to Saturday."

Already without workhorse prop Luke Bailey for the rest of the season, the Titans will be sweating on the availability of their stars.

But Cartwright is confident in the ability of his players to rise whatever the eventual make-up of the team.

On paper, the Titans are heavy favourites against the cellar-dwelling Eels but Cartwright is paying them plenty of respect.

"Parra's won four out of their last five and beaten sides in the top four. It doesn't matter who you play, if you're not out there every week giving your best, you lose," he said.

TITAN PETE
15-08-12, 03:20 PM
ROUND 24 GAME PREVIEW
GOLD COAST TITANS v PARRAMATTA EELS
Round 24, 2012 NRL Premiership
Sunday, August 19, 2012

NRL Kick-Off 2:00pm, NYC Kick-Off 11:45am
Skilled Park, Gold Coast

Referees: Gerard Sutton/Steve Lyons

Coming In To Round 24

Gold Coast Titans are 2-2 in their last four games, and are coming off a 24-16 loss to the Storm in Round 23.
They have averaged 21.0 ppg since Round 20, and have conceded 18.0 ppg in that period.
They sit 11th on the competition ladder, 4 points out of the Top 8.
Parramatta Eels are 3-1 in their last four games, and are coming off a 36-22 win over the Roosters in Round 23.
They have averaged 30.0 ppg since Round 20, and have conceded 26.3 ppg in that period.
They sit 16th on the competition ladder, 10 points out of the Top 8.
Last Time They Met
Round 26, 2011 - Watch game highlights of their final round clash last season.
Last 10 Games - Titans 4, Eels 3.
The Eels won both games in 2011 and have won 3 of the last 4 since their clash in the 2009 Finals.
Team Changes and Late Mail
Find all the Jetstar Gold Coast Titans Team and Injury News from Tuesday and full Round 24 Lineup here.
GOLD COAST TITANS
W Zillman, K Gordon, J Idris, S Michaels, D Mead, A Sezer, S Prince ?, N Myles, M Srama, L Douglas, G Bird, B Ridge, A Harrison.
Bench: M White, M Minichiello, L O?Dwyer, B Falloon.
PARRAMATTA EELS
J Mullaney, L Burt, R Morgan, C Blair, K Sio, B Roberts, C Sandow, T Mannah, N Smith, FF MoiMoi, N Hindmarsh ?, J Horo, R Maitua.
Bench: J Paulo, T Tautai, J Poore, T Lasalo, P O?Hanlon.

Bottom Line
Just three regular season games remain on the Gold Coast schedule in 2012 but their coach says that even if there wasn?t a mathematical chance of making the Top 8 - his team will not be giving up this week against the Parramatta Eels.
?28 points will probably be the cut-off mark and we can get to 28 points, so while ever we are mathematically possible, and even if we are not, every game is important,? Titans coach John Cartwright said at training.
?As it stands at the moment we are still a chance and no one is going to give up at this stage of the year.?
Ashley Harrison, Greg Bird and Nate Myles have all been playing through the pain barrier in recent weeks and will be desperate to help keep the Titans in the Top 8 hunt with a win over the Eels on Sunday.
The Eels come to town on a point-scoring tear, averaging 30 points per game over the last month with wins over the Storm, Broncos and Roosters. Thankfully for the Titans - their defence over the same period is conceding just 18.0 ppg, and the Eels have leaked points in a big way despite their improved form.
The Titans must also look to improve their points differential of -14 over the next three weeks, because as it stands they would only leapfrog the Raiders (-43) on the table should they finish on the same amount of points as the Broncos, Tigers, Raiders and Knights.
But right now their only consideration is simply getting the win.

DIEHARD
15-08-12, 08:28 PM
From memory we have a rotten record against the Eels late in the season. I hope we can turn that around.

DIEHARD
15-08-12, 10:46 PM
Gold Coast Titans v Parramatta Eels
Skilled Park Sunday 2pm

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/246959_429364350438147_212279650_n.jpg

The Gold Coast have enjoyed quite a resurgence over the back half of the season, but after a slow start to the year and a poor second half showing that saw them throw away a 10-point lead against Melbourne last week, the equation for the Titans is now very simple: keep winning and they sneak into the finals ? lose one more game and they?re gone.

With Parramatta and Penrith to come over the next fortnight, Titans fans will no doubt be looking at their Round 26 clash with Manly as the defining game but there comes an inherent danger in looking too far ahead in this competition.

The first step for the Gold Coast will be to down the Eels ? a task that hasn?t proved too difficult for much of the season but looks much tougher now with Parramatta starting to find some form. Having won just three games over the first 19 rounds of the season up until the departure of former coach Stephen Kearney, the Eels have since won three of their past four and have plenty of motivation to continue their late surge: not only are they now a real chance of avoiding the wooden spoon, they are also determined to send retiring veterans Nathan Hindmarsh and Luke Burt out on a high note.

Key to Parramatta?s results of late has been a simple change in their attacking ethos. No longer are they shackled to the no-frills structure that never quite gelled with current squad, caretaker coach Brad Arthur instead giving them a licence to throw the ball around when the opportunity presents itself.

The result has been 118 points scored in their past four games, including 42 against Brisbane in Round 21.

Still, defence remains a concern for the visitors and the Gold Coast should have the firepower to claim the two points this Sunday.

The Titans? finals hopes have been hurt by two narrow losses to South Sydney and Melbourne but they could easily have won both. Prior to those games, they had won three in a row with the return of a number of key players from injury ? Luke Bailey, Ashley Harrison, Greg Bird and Nate Myles ? playing a key role in their resurgence.

They have since lost Bailey again with a season-ending Achilles heel rupture but are hopeful of having Bird, Harrison and William Zillman on deck this week with all battling their own injury concerns but named in the side to face the Eels. Zillman missed last week?s clash with Melbourne with a sternum injury.

Myles has been named in the front row this week in Bailey?s absence, with Ben Ridge starting in the back row. The return of Zillman sees David Mead return to the wing, Steve Michaels move into the centres and Luke O?Dwyer drop back to the bench.

Justin Horo moves into the starting line-up for Parramatta for Matt Ryan with Taniela Lasalo and Patrick O?Hanlon added to an 18-man bench.

The Titans will have their work cut out for them if they are to win in Bailey?s absence, having won just 12 of 34 games without him.

Watch Out Titans: Rookie Eels fullback Jake Mullaney has been highly impressive since in his four games this season. The loss of Jarryd Hayne is usually considered a disaster out Parramatta way but Mullaney will pose plenty of threat himself to the Titans defence this week, having averaged 134 metres, scored three tries and made five line-breaks during his brief time in the top grade.

Danger Sign: If there is one area that the Eels are masters at it is winning a quick play-the-ball. In fact, they rank alongside North Queensland as the best in the business this season with 16.2 per cent of their play-the-balls qualifying as fast. Given that Parramatta?s attack is starting to flow it is vital that the Titans work hard in the tackle.

Watch Out Eels: Parramatta?s long kicking game will be put to the test this weekend because no side is as effective when it comes to bringing the football back than the Gold Coast. Their back three ranks first in the NRL this season for average metres per run (with 12.2) and third for average metres per match with 124.8 (behind the Dragons and Brisbane).

Danger Sign: The Eels will need to improve on their edge defence this week if they hope to upset the Titans and continue their winning form. The NRL cellar-dwellers have been woeful defending out wide this season with their right side having conceded 38 tries and their left a whopping 52 in 2012. It?s worth noting that while they have scored 118 points in the past four weeks, they?ve also conceded 105 (51 of them against Wests Tigers).

Scott Prince v Chris Sandow: An entertaining dual of the halves pits veteran playmaker Prince against the enigmatic Sandow. Prince?s superb form this season has played a huge role in his side?s resurgence, while Sandow has finally started to exhibit his attacking skills in recent weeks after a slow start to the year.

Where It Will Be Won: With defence out wide. Both of these sides can score points and they will ask plenty of questions of one another ? but can they hold out their opponents? Whoever holds firm most often when defending their line will go a long way towards winning the two points.

The History: Played 7; Titans 4, Eels 3. The Titans lead 2-1 in clashes at Skilled Park but more telling is the fact that Parramatta have won just four of 11 games ever played on the Gold Coast.

The Last Time They Met: Parramatta scored a crucial 32-12 win in the final game of Round 26 to leapfrog the Gold Coast and consign John Cartwright?s men to the wooden spoon.

Determined to end their disappointing 2011 season on a high, the Eels shot out of the blocks with winger Ken Sio scoring on debut after just eight minutes following a brilliant backline move on the right edge.

Three minutes later they were in again, this time going the length of the field after a Preston Campbell grubber ricocheted into the arms of Jarryd Hayne who raced down the left touchline.

And it was a point a minute in the 17th minute when Hayne?s grubber ricocheted off the uprights and the ball was shuffled out to Ryan Morgan to cross. Morgan added a second after 30 minutes to top off a memorable half of football for Parramatta who went to the break leading 22-0.

The second half was only four minutes old when Ben Smith added to Parramatta?s tally ? the veteran back-rower swooping on a cross-field chip from Hayne to score. Smith then became the second Eels player to make it a double for the night when he scored a near identical try from another Hayne kick to push the score out to 32-0 with 30 minutes remaining.

At that stage it looked like becoming a cricket score, but to the Titans? credit they managed to hold the Eels out for the rest of the game and scored two consolation tries themselves ? the first after Ben Ridge sliced through to send Luke O?Dwyer over and the second a scrappy effort from David Mead as the fulltime siren sounded.

The Titans were always going to struggle, given their poor 59 per cent completion rate, with Parramatta completing at a far superior 83 per cent. As a consequence the Eels ran for 1757 metres to the Gold Coast?s 1365 and made just 294 tackles to the home side?s 412.

Hayne was typically brilliant for Parramatta, running for 295 metres and producing five try assists. Anthony Laffranchi made 51 tackles in his final game for the Titans.

Match Officials: Referees ? Gerard Sutton & Steve Lyons; Sideline Officials ? David Abood & Clayton Sharpe; Video Referee ? Rod Lawrence.

The Way We See It: This is a danger game for the Gold Coast, who can?t afford a single slip-up but must surely be looking ahead to Manly in Round 26 as the game that will make or break their season. Still, on home soil they should have enough firepower to take advantage of the Eels? wobbly defence. We see them getting home in a high-scoring affair. Titans by eight points.

Televised: Fox Sports 2 ? Live 2pm.

? Statistics: NRL Stats

http://www.nrl.com/

DIEHARD
17-08-12, 10:24 PM
PARRAMATTA players will continue to train through the finals because incoming Eels coach Ricky Stuart is keen to get a preliminary gauge on their fitness and skill levels ahead of what promises to be a gruelling pre-season.
Originally expected to report for duty in November, Stuart last night confirmed he would begin two months early and keep the underperforming Eels at work until grand final week.

"I just want to do a bit of testing to see where they are at physically," Stuart said. "They will be training as well.

"Aside from that, I don't want to go into too much detail as we're still drawing up the schedule."

Stuart has attended the two Eels games since his appointment and will only miss Sunday's fixture at Skilled Park because of a prior commitment to Channel 9's Footy Show.

"I'll obviously watch that game (on TV) and then plan to be at the next two matches (against Souths and St George Illawarra)," he said.

One player who is likely to be spared is back-rower Ben Smith, who was this week ruled out for the season so that he can have shoulder surgery.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au

DIEHARD
17-08-12, 10:30 PM
98 days since the Bulldogs were last defeated..... by the mighty Gold Coast Titans in Brisbane!

DIEHARD
17-08-12, 10:39 PM
Country boy Ridge to tackle Eels

EELS second-rower Nathan Hindmarsh receives plenty of praise for his courage. And while his opponent on Sunday doesn't have the same high profile, Ben Ridge sure is one tough nut.

Ridge gets a needle in his shoulder before every game to manage an AC joint complaint, and he also has niggling pectoral and medial ligament injuries.

But when you're brought up on a property near the proud football town of Roma, playing tough on a footy paddock runs in your blood.

Ridge, 22, attended Bymount East State School - between Roma and outpost Injune.

The school had just 19 students and one teacher when he was there, with the tiny community enabling Ridge to learn valuable leadership skills.

That is why you won't see him shirking his duties, despite the fact he is walking wounded, because the Titans need to win their remaining three games to make the finals.

"It's do or die for us so you've just got to get out there and be amongst it. There aren't many games left in the season so you may as well be out there giving it your all," he said.

It was also Ridge's country roots that saved Titans legend Preston Campbell from a brown snake attack at training in 2010, with the back-rower stepping in to throw the reptile into a nearby creek.

"That (the jibes) stuck for a while and they only recently stopped," he laughed.

In Years 11 and 12, Ridge was good enough to attend rugby league nursery St Brendan's College, Yeppoon, playing alongside Rabbitohs superstar Dave Taylor.

Taylor will join the Titans next year, something Ridge is excited about.

"He was so damaging with his size. He was so quick and he had great ball skills," Ridge said.

"There would've been something wrong if he didn't make it to where he is now."

Despite being adept at handling snakes, Ridge knows it is a legendary Eel in Hindmarsh who will indeed be a handful at Skilled Park this Sunday.

"He's a relentless kind of footy player. I've always looked up to him even though he's from New South Wales," he said.

Ridge believes the Eels' no-fear attacking approach has been a big factor in them winning three of their past four games.

He surely won't be panicking though - he will follow his pre-game ritual of listening to country music stars including Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks and Kenny Chesney.

"I love the country and I'll probably end up heading back out there after footy," he said.

"At the moment I'm contemplating doing my helicopter licence so that'll open a few windows.

"I'll end up on the farm with the old man."

http://www.coffscoastadvocate.com.au

TITAN PETE
19-08-12, 08:47 AM
Bird, Harrison ready to take on Eels
Adam Gardini
Saturday 18 August 2012 11:41 AM

State of Origin duo Greg Bird and Ashley Harrison have been declared certain starters for tomorrow's 'must win' clash against the Parramatta Eels at Skilled Park.
The pair both completed the team's final training session at Skilled Park this morning and were given the green light by Jetstar Titans Coach John Cartwright to take their place in the side.
With fullback William Zillman also cleared to make his return from a sternum injury, Cartwright said the Titans would line-up from 1-17 tomorrow.
"They were fine, they did fitness tests then and they got through it okay so they'll take their place,'' said Cartwright.
"We should be 1-17.''
Centre Jamal Idris left training early with some back tightness but Cartwright said he was not in doubt for the Eels clash.

TITAN PETE
19-08-12, 08:52 AM
It's a beautiful sunny morning on the GC & with a top Tempature of 21 degrees it should make for a very quick game of Footy :fist:


Woohoo it's Game Day :salute:

shamus
19-08-12, 09:15 AM
It's a beautiful sunny morning on the GC & with a top Tempature of 21 degrees it should make for a very quick game of Footy :fist:


Woohoo it's Game Day :salute:

There ya go again Pete with that sunny outlook of yours. I personally support some Melbourne weather for just an hour or two this arv. I doubt if that is gunna happen though.

TITAN PETE
19-08-12, 09:18 AM
There ya go again Pete with that sunny outlook of yours. I personally support some Melbourne weather for just an hour or two this arv. I doubt if that is gunna happen though.

I thought u liked using a Salute all day :salute: , do u mean it's really because the sun is in your eyes :laugh:

Smakked
19-08-12, 10:07 AM
Wont be there today due to drunk skate boarding and elbow dislocation lastnight LOL.

Go titans

Titanic
19-08-12, 12:17 PM
"Drunk" and "elbow dislocation" don't require skateboarding in this family ... get better soon.

DIEHARD
19-08-12, 01:01 PM
What is the crowd looking like?

Titanic
19-08-12, 01:27 PM
not too many by the sporadic look I get ... internet speed is crap today.

DIEHARD
19-08-12, 01:27 PM
Sweet Im watching. Titans up 6 nil

Titanic
19-08-12, 01:42 PM
myles classic

Boofhead
19-08-12, 01:49 PM
... Great work there...

Titanic
19-08-12, 01:50 PM
that's the type of error that prevents us winning the tight games

teke
19-08-12, 01:51 PM
Im enjoying this game, compared to the Warriors game earlier :doh: :doh:

Eels will hang tough til the 50/60th min and we should be able to run over them.

DIEHARD
19-08-12, 01:53 PM
14 to 6. Shame to see us concede just seconds before half time off an error.

DIEHARD
19-08-12, 01:54 PM
Im enjoying this game, compared to the Warriors game earlier :doh: :doh:

Eels will hang tough til the 50/60th min and we should be able to run over them.

Looking forward to that!

Hail Sezer
19-08-12, 02:09 PM
Not entirely sure how to describe that last set.

Smakked
19-08-12, 02:11 PM
this is a frustrating game to watch, what the hell are the titans doing?

Smakked
19-08-12, 02:18 PM
DO the titans realise they need to win this, seems like they have given up the season already

Titanic
19-08-12, 02:20 PM
We are truly poor disciplined.

DIEHARD
19-08-12, 02:21 PM
Not entirely sure how to describe that last set.

Up there with the worst of our sets ever. We had better not let this one slip away.

DIEHARD
19-08-12, 02:24 PM
Woohoo we are in with magic Michaels off Harro.

Titanic
19-08-12, 02:25 PM
The best passes have come to us from the other team :-(

DIEHARD
19-08-12, 02:26 PM
Did some Parrascum fan just use an airhorn to try and put off Prince kicking for goal?

Titanic
19-08-12, 02:29 PM
Great effort Gordon.

ChargerPete
19-08-12, 02:29 PM
Here we go woo hoo.

DIEHARD
19-08-12, 02:29 PM
Great take by Gordon, great to see him score! He looks pretty happy about it too.

Hail Sezer
19-08-12, 02:33 PM
I'm liking that cross kick from Sezer to Gordon. Its becoming quite regular

DIEHARD
19-08-12, 02:33 PM
14169? isnt a bad crowd at all. We always struggle to draw against Parra. So decent crowd in my book.

ChargerPete
19-08-12, 02:34 PM
Crowd is 14,159 pretty dissapointing.

Titanic
19-08-12, 02:46 PM
great hit Stevie Stevie lol lol

Titanic
19-08-12, 02:47 PM
We take the win but so little desperation ... that poor tackle attempt from Zillman.

Smakked
19-08-12, 02:50 PM
A win is a win but..........
2 weeks till we meet Manly, if we play like that against them they will put 100 on us.

gotitans101
19-08-12, 02:50 PM
Disappointed with that win. We have to be better than that if we're to make the 8.

teke
19-08-12, 02:52 PM
Timing was way off in this game.

Im content to get the 2 pts. Mathematical myth to make the finals but I will enjoy the last few games

Toads
19-08-12, 04:12 PM
that poor tackle attempt from Zillman.

Which one? There were two vital tackles that Zillman missed that I noticed. Also, I'm pretty well over seeing him running outta steam after a 50 metre sprint, If a supposive Fullback can't go the full length of the paddock. Well, your strugglin' to make a Fullbacks A-hole (imo). Tear up his contract, along with Carty's 'n get the Titans back on track..

I usually avoid tearing strips off players, but enough is enough for me. Time for a decent Fullback like someone mentioned earlier this week.

TITAN PETE
19-08-12, 04:41 PM
Great to see Bird show he's on the way back ,thought Harro was easily man of the match but great games from Michaels, Ridge,Myles & Idris , average match from Mead & Zillman in the 2nd half.

Will take the win any day :D

Did anyone notice Hindmarsh spewing his guts up on the field before kick off for 2 or 3 minutes :?)

teke
19-08-12, 04:44 PM
Great to see Bird show he's on the way back ,thought Harro was easily man of the match but great games from Michaels, Ridge,Myles & Idris , average match from Mead & Zillman in the 2nd half.

Will take the win any day :D

Did anyone notice Hindmarsh spewing his guts up on the field before kick off for 2 or 3 minutes :?)Med was crook as today, he played with chest infection and a couple others are starting to feel it aswell.

Bird still trying to milk a penalty every tackle

thelwall
19-08-12, 04:55 PM
fui fui got hammered soooo many times

Jamal's Hamstring
19-08-12, 05:49 PM
Today sums up this team for me.

Coaster
19-08-12, 06:10 PM
I'm pretty stoked tbh.
To be 2 games away from end of the season, and still be in the hunt for finals is fantastic.

Our attack is rubbish, but our defence is great.

teke
19-08-12, 06:34 PM
I'm pretty stoked tbh.
To be 2 games away from end of the season, and still be in the hunt for finals is fantastic.

Our attack is rubbish, but our defence is great.Defence is super.

shamus
19-08-12, 07:17 PM
No one has mentioned Mini. I thought he had a ripper!

DIEHARD
19-08-12, 07:47 PM
I'm pretty stoked tbh.
To be 2 games away from end of the season, and still be in the hunt for finals is fantastic.

Our attack is rubbish, but our defence is great.

I agree mate, Im stocked to be this far in a season many wrote off after several weeks. We can still make it into the Finals, jsut need the Raiders and Wests Tigers to be hammered. Of course the key game is our match against Manly who will be gearing up to defend their Premiership. There will be a big crowd on hand for that.

Especially if Finals positions are still in play goind into Round 26.

I take great great pride in our quality of defence. Hopefully we perform well in the last two rounds, and if we fall short, I still think we will be well placed to build for 2013, on and off the field.

DavidBouveng
19-08-12, 08:08 PM
i agree with last few posts, it is great to be in contention after our poor start.

but its frustrating to know that despite the start, if we could have closed out a couple of games this year, wed be entrenched in the top 6 or so.

either way, Manly at home will be a good test with alot on the line, and should make for a great atmosphere and crowd.

just got to take care of a pesky penrith first, but as most would agree, if we cant beat them, whats the point of making the 8 anyways....

DIEHARD
19-08-12, 08:10 PM
Myles boosts Titans to 24-16 win over Eels

Gold Coast coach John Cartwright described his side's 24-16 must-win victory over Parramatta at Skilled Park on Sunday as a "wake-up call" as the Titans walk a tightrope towards the NRL finals.

The Titans have moved within striking distance of the top eight but still need to win matches against Penrith and Manly to have any hope of making the top eight.

The home side led 12-0 after 34 minutes and although they did enough in the second half to get the vital two points, it was hardly the performance of a premiership contender.

Missing inspirational prop Luke Bailey, who suffered a season-ending achilles injury in the loss to Melbourne last week, the Titans notched only their fourth home win this season in front of 14,159 fans to move to 24 points on the ladder - two behind eighth-placed Wests Tigers.

Without looking for excuses, Cartwright said the Titans were "lethargic" after putting so much energy into their back-to-back losses to top-four sides South Sydney and the Storm.

"I was a bit disappointed at times but in hindsight it was a dangerous game and we got a victory. We win our next two games and we'll be there (in the finals)," Cartwright said.

"Hopefully that was a bit of a wake-up call for us. You can't be flat, it doesn't matter who you play at the moment, especially us.

"After the first third of the competition, I think we were favourites for the wooden spoon so if we can somehow land ourselves in the eight, it'll be just reward for the players' efforts."

The Titans must have been in a slumber after the halftime break as they ran onto the field with only 12 men before Ashley Harrison belatedly joined the action.

Gold Coast skipper Scott Prince joked at the post-match press conference that the Queensland Origin back-rower must have been busy on the toilet as the kick-off was delayed slightly.

Parramatta's scheming halfback Chris Sandow was put on report for a high shot on fullback Will Zillman, who scored the opening try, and 11 minutes later he gathered a Fuifui Moimoi off-load and ran 50m to cross under the black dot.

Trailing 14-10, the Eels had a sniff of victory but tries to Steve Michaels (59m), despite the hint of an obstruction in the lead-up, and Kevin Gordon (64m), who brilliantly snatched a Prince bomb, took them one step closer to the dreaded wooden spoon held by the Titans.

Both Cartwright and star forward Greg Bird conceded the Titans would have to lift against Penrith at Centrebet Stadium on Saturday night to keep their finals aspirations alive.

"I think mentally we were a little bit down, Cartwright said.

"The way the game was officiated, it didn't allow for an open brand of footy. It was a pretty dour game."

Bird added: "If we want to be competing with the big sides, we have to be consolidating leads like that (12-0) rather than struggling away in the second half.

"I'm happy we got the win but there's a few defensive errors that we spoke about at the start of the week and we just lacked discipline."

http://www.nrl.com/

Titanic
19-08-12, 10:12 PM
Apart from the litany of selection issues, the thing that has really got under my skin this season has been the leaking of points when we had games well won.

Smakked
19-08-12, 10:26 PM
Apart from the litany of selection issues, the thing that has really got under my skin this season has been the leaking of points when we had games well won.

Spot on Titanic, it pisses me off aswell. Seems like they think we are in front by enough thats all we need to do.

TITAN PETE
20-08-12, 09:00 AM
Titans fight to keep finals hopes alive
Travis Meyn | 07:17am August 20, 2012



One down , two to go.

It was far from pretty but the Titans' 24-16 victory over Parramatta at Skilled Park yesterday achieved their one and only goal -- winning.

Handling errors, a scrambled attack and staggered defensive line at times highlighted there is work to do if the Titans are to scrape into the NRL finals.

The Titans looked nothing like the side that challenged possible premiers Melbourne and South Sydney in previous weeks.

Integral forwards Ashley Harrison and Greg Bird have played little football lately and their combinations will improve by the week. Man-of-the-match Nate Myles was critical of his performance.

Halves Scott Prince and Aidan Sezer didn't take control of attacking possession like they normally do, while cracks appeared in a usually watertight defensive line.

It may have just been an off day but time is of the essence and coach John Cartwright is under no illusions to the task at hand.

The Titans can't afford to stumble in their position.

"It's nice (to still be in contention). That was the whole purpose of the day," Cartwright said.

"It's been a really hard month for our boys. A lot of effort went into the Souths and Melbourne games and I really believe we were a little bit hard done by in those two games, we could have come away with the victory in both. Coming off the back of that, to turn up and grit away a win is nice.

"We are still in there with two rounds to go.

"Mentally we were a little bit down and with the way the game was officiated, it didn't allow for an open brand of footy."

Cartwright's team must firstly win its remaining two matches to have any chance of making the finals but they must also fix some flaws to make sure they aren't making up the numbers if they do get there.

Eleven errors and a completion rate of 72 per cent isn't woeful but there was little potency at the end of those sets. The Titans' sloppy defence gifted the Eels 22 tackles inside their attacking 20m zone.

The Titans meet the lowly Panthers in Penrith on Saturday in the next piece of their puzzle.

Losses by Brisbane, Wests Tigers and Newcastle at the weekend have helped their cause, but their goal won't change against Penrith -- winning is the only option.

C-Whiz
20-08-12, 02:16 PM
Sorry to burst any rose coloured bubbles with a dose of reality, but we struggled to beat the side that are the new wooden spooners.

Sure, we can take the win, and talk about mathematical probabilites, and it would be great if we make the finals, but I am not impressed with where we are at, where we have been at all season, and the fact that we still look like a fragmented team.

We wrote of 2012 after about round 6 as a "rebuilding" season, like we did for our wooden spoon season of 2011, but I don't see that we've come all that far over the past 2 seasons that suggests we are ready to be serious contenders for the title next year.

Lets not delude ourselves in a comp with half the field hovering around 20 points that we are achieving great things. We should have beaten the Eels by 30 or 40.

That is all. :mad:

Coaster
20-08-12, 04:00 PM
To me the reality should be our expectations.
We finished last in 2011.

We now have the best first half defence in the whole comp.
We have blooded 2 fantastic new players in key positions in Srama and Sezer.
Our back row is one of the strongest in the comp.
We have a wrecking ball in DTaylor coming to the club.

Not to mention the strides the club has made this year to keep us alive.

I'm ok with this season, I think after first third, I was ready to quit the club with all the BS surrounding us, and the dismal performances, but I like the fight we have shown to get into this position.

Smakked
20-08-12, 04:11 PM
Yeah i am happy with our effort considering a few months ago i didnt think we were going to have a club at all.

DavidBouveng
20-08-12, 06:25 PM
To me the reality should be our expectations.
We finished last in 2011.

We now have the best first half defence in the whole comp.
We have blooded 2 fantastic new players in key positions in Srama and Sezer.
Our back row is one of the strongest in the comp.
We have a wrecking ball in DTaylor coming to the club.

Not to mention the strides the club has made this year to keep us alive.

I'm ok with this season, I think after first third, I was ready to quit the club with all the BS surrounding us, and the dismal performances, but I like the fight we have shown to get into this position.

all of this.

well said and we have alot to look forward too in my opinion.

as well as Srama and Sezer, i think White and Ridgehave come on in leaps and bounds, and Douglas has been pretty immense after a slow start.

as long as we play with heart and have a dig in these last two games (unlike the woeful parra game in last round last year, where the team couldnt even muster any effort in prestos last game) then ill look forward to 2013.

Titanic
20-08-12, 08:59 PM
I sort of agree, however, we all know where our shortages are and as much as I agree with the assessments of this year's progress, I would find it hard to face next season with the same squad doing the same old things.

teke
20-08-12, 11:58 PM
Sorry to burst any rose coloured bubbles with a dose of reality, but we struggled to beat the side that are the new wooden spooners.

Sure, we can take the win, and talk about mathematical probabilites, and it would be great if we make the finals, but I am not impressed with where we are at, where we have been at all season, and the fact that we still look like a fragmented team.

We wrote of 2012 after about round 6 as a "rebuilding" season, like we did for our wooden spoon season of 2011, but I don't see that we've come all that far over the past 2 seasons that suggests we are ready to be serious contenders for the title next year.

Lets not delude ourselves in a comp with half the field hovering around 20 points that we are achieving great things. We should have beaten the Eels by 30 or 40.

That is all. :mad:I think it has been a fairly decent rebuilding season. Srama has solidified himself, Ridge is starting to raise eyebrows and Sezer has put the 5/8 position to bed. This team will be solid top 8 all year next season - guarantee.

As for the Eels game, there were a fair few blokes playing sick, some were quite crook and i think it showed in the teams timing.

DIEHARD
21-08-12, 01:19 AM
Yea at the start of the season seeing Sezer in a Titans #6 was just a fantasy.

Jamal's Hamstring
21-08-12, 08:31 AM
I sort of agree, however, we all know where our shortages are and as much as I agree with the assessments of this year's progress, I would find it hard to face next season with the same squad doing the same old things.

I agree more with this. I am concerned that we will look at this season as at least moderately successful and rest on our laurels. As was said last week, sure we are a game or two out of the eight, but we were also three games from the bottom. The fact we are midpack speaks more about how close the league is this year- not how well we have performed.

teke- as for top eight all next year, didn't we say the same thing last year? Weren't we supposed to be top four? The squad we have is better than going 1-5 through the first six rounds, so why did that happen? Why were we so poor early on? Origin doesn't mean bugger all in the context of our season- I know it's a bit out a cop out for some (not directed at you teke) but we were cooked long before that. ****- even going 3-3 would have seen us relatively comfortable in the eight.

There is a problem somewhere. We have a team that on paper should be performing to a very high standard, however it seems to be the same ol' story- ill discipline giving up metres via penalties when we need to tighten up, basic skill errors such as gaping holes in our defensive line and too much dropped ball and a lack of creative play (which to be fair seems to have improved in the second half of the season).

It's a real mixed bag. To call it a success isn't right, but there were a few positives to save it from the label of a complete failure. I'd like to think of it as a bit of a springboard that has hopefully highlighted a number of issues which can be rectified over the summer. I just hope our mentality isn't to spend up big on Taylor and let him solve all of our problems... I think we tried that last year and it got us no where.

Positives for me:

Seeing the development of Ridge, Srama, Sezer. These are the guys you can build a club around.
Being more competitive that last year.

teke
21-08-12, 12:14 PM
Look outside this squad and the exact same things are being said by most other clubs...under achieving, too much this, not enough of that etc etc.

Titanic
21-08-12, 04:35 PM
Give credit where credit's due; know your limitations, and; never accept mediocrity.

Princey's Titanz
21-08-12, 04:45 PM
The strong point of our game is our defence and i think Carty has a lot to do with that. So we have to give credit to where its due.

Titanic
21-08-12, 06:29 PM
and Gilmeister.

C-Whiz
21-08-12, 07:44 PM
I agree more with this. I am concerned that we will look at this season as at least moderately successful and rest on our laurels. As was said last week, sure we are a game or two out of the eight, but we were also three games from the bottom. The fact we are midpack speaks more about how close the league is this year- not how well we have performed.

teke- as for top eight all next year, didn't we say the same thing last year? Weren't we supposed to be top four? The squad we have is better than going 1-5 through the first six rounds, so why did that happen? Why were we so poor early on? Origin doesn't mean bugger all in the context of our season- I know it's a bit out a cop out for some (not directed at you teke) but we were cooked long before that. ****- even going 3-3 would have seen us relatively comfortable in the eight.

There is a problem somewhere. We have a team that on paper should be performing to a very high standard, however it seems to be the same ol' story- ill discipline giving up metres via penalties when we need to tighten up, basic skill errors such as gaping holes in our defensive line and too much dropped ball and a lack of creative play (which to be fair seems to have improved in the second half of the season).

It's a real mixed bag. To call it a success isn't right, but there were a few positives to save it from the label of a complete failure. I'd like to think of it as a bit of a springboard that has hopefully highlighted a number of issues which can be rectified over the summer. I just hope our mentality isn't to spend up big on Taylor and let him solve all of our problems... I think we tried that last year and it got us no where.

Positives for me:

Seeing the development of Ridge, Srama, Sezer. These are the guys you can build a club around.
Being more competitive that last year.Good post. You said what i was trying to say.

I'll try again.

Unless we took the spoon again, we were always going to be "improved" over last years performance. All the positives that people have mentioned are the reasons I am being negative. This idea that we have created something form the ashes. We were meant to be top 4, at least top 8 in 2011. We took out the spoon by being beaten by the Eels at home. Old news now, but almost anything is an improvement on that.

This year we spent big, really big, and are currently "mathematical" to make the 8. Apart from gaining Dave Taylor next year, and having let players find their positions this year (which is what we were all talking about in 2010!!), we assume next year we are going to magically put everything in place and suddenly we are top 4.

I'm happy we have a club, and I am happy we aren't spooners in 2012, but we are far from where we should be. I don't look at our roster and say nearly making the 8 is a good result.

teke
21-08-12, 11:44 PM
Good post. You said what i was trying to say.

I'll try again.

Unless we took the spoon again, we were always going to be "improved" over last years performance. All the positives that people have mentioned are the reasons I am being negative. This idea that we have created something form the ashes. We were meant to be top 4, at least top 8 in 2011. We took out the spoon by being beaten by the Eels at home. Old news now, but almost anything is an improvement on that.

This year we spent big, really big, and are currently "mathematical" to make the 8. Apart from gaining Dave Taylor next year, and having let players find their positions this year (which is what we were all talking about in 2010!!), we assume next year we are going to magically put everything in place and suddenly we are top 4.

I'm happy we have a club, and I am happy we aren't spooners in 2012, but we are far from where we should be. I don't look at our roster and say nearly making the 8 is a good result.From an outside point of view we were never top 4 and barely top 8 going into 2011 and the odds showed it. Way too many injuries from the start of the pre season which stayed right through to the end.

To be honest I dont think we are far from where we should be, there are just better teams ahead of us at the moment.

C-Whiz
22-08-12, 03:37 PM
To be honest I dont think we are far from where we should be, there are just better teams ahead of us at the moment.
Teams like Sharks, Tigers, Raiders..... :?)

teke
22-08-12, 11:56 PM
Teams like Sharks, Tigers, Raiders..... :?)Sharks definitely.

General census at the start of the year had Titans anywhere from 7-10th position. I couldnt see it but it ended up being correct.

C-Whiz
24-08-12, 06:34 PM
Sharks definitely.

General census at the start of the year had Titans anywhere from 7-10th position. I couldnt see it but it ended up being correct.

See, this is where my thinking differs.

We are a much better team than the Sharks. Have a look at the teams. They are just playing better football, so now it's easy to say they are a "better" side. This is my point. We are a top 4 team, with some of the games best players, but we have been playing average football.

Sharks have found a way to get the best out of a team of average players (with obvious exceptions). We have found a way to get average performances out of some of the NRL's best players (with obvious exceptions).

Titanic
24-08-12, 09:13 PM
I can't agree with this at all Whiz ... our outside backs are very average. Idris is an ocean-liner, Michaels hardly an A Grader, Gordon is on one leg, Mead under-utilised and Zillman so predictable in attack that apart from when backing-up he gets flattened every time he does the Cartwright inside ball bs.

Anybody on here sick of this? First it was the forwards then the halves and now the fullback ... geez.

Chaos
24-08-12, 09:48 PM
I agree with C-Whiz...looking at our side on paper, we are a very good football team but we have been playing average football.

There's no doubt we should be in the top 8 already and this time of the year pushing for a top 4 spot.

Titanic
24-08-12, 10:11 PM
Just can't see it ... our forward pack out-performs our opposition week in week out but we are not really within coo-ee of the four let alone the eight ... the coach has to bear a lot of that but in the end he isn't playing.