Yea I am much more optimistic than Steve this week. I agree with Coaster.
Agree we could have really used Rankin's boot on Friday.
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:rolf: insideword is that Dave Taylor to be named at Half back with Bird to 5/8 this week against Para.....:rolf: :rolf: :rolf: :rolf: :helpme: :helpme: :helpme:
I think we will well and truly dispose of the Eels. No matter our halves.
all i hope is for bird to stay in the pack and micheals to piss off hah
Michaels hasnt played too badly the last few weeks, numbers in defence on his side was the teams biggest problem v the Broncos which is a direct result of a few players not communicating.
Does anyone know how Don is going or if he's even a viable option?
Albert Kelly in line for shock return for the Gold Coast Titans
ALBERT Kelly could be a shock inclusion for the Titans' team to play Parramatta on Sunday, with his medial ligament strain not as serious as first thought.
Kelly appeared set for an extended stint on the sidelines when he was carried off Skilled Park after a collision late in the game against the Broncos.
While he left the ground on crutches and in a full leg brace, it seems to have been only precautionary.
The Titans were expected to regain one of their injured halves for the Eels clash but it was expected to be Aidan Sezer (hamstring) rather than Kelly.
While Sezer was confident last Friday he would play, the Titans would be reluctant to risk him if he is not fully recovered.
Sezer's tactical kicking was badly missed on Friday but with the injury to his kicking leg, he could be kept out for another week.
Kelly may not be named by coach John Cartwright today but it is understood he will be given every chance to play on Sunday.
Titans physio Greg Condon said Kelly would be monitored over the week but could play if he moved without discomfort by the weekend.
"Obviously, we don't want to take any risks with him at this stage of the year," Condon said.
"He's progressing nicely. It's just all the agility stuff he needs to be able to do at the end of the week."
Condon rated Sezer a "low chance" to return and said Ben Ridge (pectoral strain) would definitely be out this week, with Brad Takairangi (hamstring) also likely to miss the Eels clash.
"With the nine-day turnaround, (Sezer) is probably a low chance of of playing this week," Condon said. "You usually need two to three weeks for those (hamstrings) to heal."
Front-rower Luke Bailey hoped the combinations were settled on quickly to allow the Titans to avoid the situation that occurred last week when the side was unable to train with Sezer's replacement Greg Bird at five-eighth.
"Obviously it hurt us to have that late omission last week," Bailey said.
"When (Sezer's injury) happened we just thought we'd shuffle and throw Birdy out there and everything would be sweet, but it was quite evident we were just mixing it up and it wasn't the greatest footy."
While Luke O'Dwyer is likely to be recalled at least to the bench for Sunday's clash, Bailey said Mark Minichiello was another candidate champing at the bit for an NRL recall with Ridge ruled out.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/
Has been reported by travis meyn that don is to debut
Can't post team list because on phone..but big news is dave taylor stood down for 2 weeks for breaking team rules
Titans team announcement vs Eels
Adam Gardini
iSelect Gold Coast Titans Coach John Cartwright has today named Beau Henry, Mark Minichiello, Luke O’Dwyer and Anthony Don as the new faces in a 17-man squad for Sunday’s twilight clash against the Parramatta Eels at Skilled Park.
In a boost for the side, halfback Albert Kelly has been named to face the Eels despite sustaining a minor knee injury in last weekend’s loss to the Broncos, while in-form interchange hooker Beau Falloon will start the match in place of the injured Matt Srama (shoulder).
Henry has been named at five-eighth in place of the injured Aidan Sezer (hamstring), while O’Dwyer comes in for starting back rower Ben Ridge (pectoral).
Forward David Taylor has also been ruled out of the match after being stood down for two weeks for disciplinary reasons for breaking team rules.
Centre Steve Michaels has been promoted from the interchange bench to the starting line-up in place of the injured Brad Takairangi (hamstring) while Minichiello and Don are the new faces on the interchange bench.
The match marks Don’s NRL debut, capping a meteoric rise to the top for the 25-year-old, who only three years ago was playing for the Grafton Ghosts in the Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League competition.
iSelect Titans vs Parramatta Eels
Sunday, April 14
6.30pm – Skilled Park
1 William Zillman
2 Kevin Gordon
3 Steve Michaels
4 Jamal Idris
5 David Mead
6 Beau Henry
7 Albert Kelly
8 Luke Douglas
9 Beau Falloon
10 Nate Myles
11 Greg Bird
12 Luke O’Dwyer
13 Ashley Harrison
Interchange
14 Luke Bailey
15 Ryan James
16 Mark Minichiello
17 Anthony Don
DT? What happened.