Not wrong, probably the strongest I have seen for a long time.
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I have a bad feeling about this game :ugh:
Quote:
Toopi to reach 150 games against former club
Adam Gardini | 5/07/2011 1:36:45 PM
Former Kiwi International Clinton Toopi will play his landmark 150th NRL match against his old club when the Jetstar Gold Coast Titans travel across the Tasman for Friday night’s clash against the New Zealand Warriors at Mount Smart Stadium.
Toopi, 31, was today named by Jetstar Titans Coach John Cartwright in an extended 18-man squad which also includes the club’s State of Origin representatives in Ashley Harrison and Greg Bird.
Dual International Mat Rogers was not included in the 18-man squad but Cartwright said the 35-year-old was still likely to travel to New Zealand to be involved with the team.
Reaching the 150 game milestone is a significant achievement for Toopi, who thought his professional rugby league career may have been over when he left the UK Super League in 2008 before being given a lifeline by the Jetstar Titans for the 2010 season.
Since then the Mt Wellington Warriors junior has revived his career to play 21 NRL games for the club and although he is unsure whether this year will be his last at the top, he is determined to make the most of every minute.
“So many players only get a limited opportunity and I’m just thankful. Playing back home playing against the Warriors, it’s kind of fitting in a way,’’ said Toopi as he and the rest of the Jetstar Titans squad joined 300 kids for a Kids 2 Kangaroos Coaching Clinic at Pizzey Park, Miami today.
“We’ve had a few boys that have had milestones this year and a lot of players look at it and think it’s not a big deal. But when you finish, it is something that means something, playing in the toughest game in the world and accomplishing something like that is definitely special.
“I just wish I had the mindset that I do now when I first started out.’’
Toopi, who played 22 Test for New Zealand from 2001-07, said it was nice feeling to be reaching the milestone in front of a huge contingent of family and friends ranging from his parents to childhood school mates.
“They’ve already started racking up tickets. I think it’ll be a bit of a battle with (fellow New Zealand born) Bodene Thompson so we’ll see what happens with the tickets.’’
Cartwright said he was happy for Toopi to be reaching the milestone on his former home turf and hoped that he would step up a notch against his old club.
“I’m glad to be able to do that for him, especially over in NZ. He’ll have a lot of family over there and it’s the club where it all started for him,’’ said Cartwright.
“You tend to get the guys that come out of the Warriors, they go back there and they go up a notch so we’re hoping Toops does that this week.’’
JETSTAR TITANS v NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Friday, July 8 | 8.30pm (NZ TIME), 6.30pm (AEST), Mount Smart Stadium
1 Jordan Rankin
2 Steve Michaels
3 Clinton Toopi
4 Esi Tonga
5 David Mead
6 William Zillman
7 Scott Prince
8 Luke Bailey
9 Matt Srama
10 Michael Henderson
11 Anthony Laffranchi
12 Mark Minichiello
13 Ashley Harrison
INTERCHANGE
14 Matthew White
15 Brenton Lawrence
16 Greg Bird
17 Bodene Thompson
18 Luke O'Dwyer
TITANS NYC TEAM v WARRIORS
1 Shaun Carney
2 Lausii Taliauli
3 Japeth Vaoa
4 Hymel Hunt
5 Blake Anderson
6 Alec Jones
7 Matt Beddow
8 Luke Page
9 Sam Irwin
10 Sam Ross
11 Nick Harold
12 Jackson Springer
13 Sam Martin
INTERCHANGE
14 Lain Windley
15 Dylan Hartin
16 Sam Saville
17 Sam Meskell
http://www.titans.com.au/default.asp...st-former-club
Not another milestone!
Why is Michaels still in the team - his form has been diabolical
Good to see them keep Lawrence in
i like rankin but better of the bench not at the start
I just hope at the last second Rogers moves to FE, Zillman to FB and Rankin on the bench.
Legion Podcast is up for this round
Audio version
Have a dig at the boys, have a massive rip at Rothfield, and look at the Rat the Warriors and heaps of other stuff.
Enjoy
Coaster
Wow scary Warriors team. It's going to be quite a match!
I'm excited about Rankin at #1 in the absence of Campbell.
Not long now only a couple of days until kick off. Very unusual to have a Warriors game on a Friday night. Might be rather cold over there.
Our boys will need to be on red alert, because the Warriors will be out to pound us.
Once again I hope Ash and Greg come out of Origin well.
I wonder which will count for more: the dreaded milestone curse or the morale boost of Rogers. Either way, it'll be good to see how Rankin handles a starting spot
WEll if we loose i hope it is only a few points andnot get flogged :|
Fingers crossed Birdy and Harro get through tonights game unscathed - think we may need them come friday night against a strong warriors outfit!
Bloody milestones - really, I think we should NOT harp on them until after the game is played - they are like a curse!!!!!!!
Would be nice to get a much needed win on NZ soil on Friday night - lets hope!!!!!