NYC Round 11: PARRAMATTA vs TITANS

Round 11: NYC Holden Cup Preview


Eels Digital


The Pirtek Parramatta Eels Holden Cup team will be flying solo for their round eleven fixture as they take on the Gold Coast Titans on Sunday.

While the NRL team travels to Mudgee for a special Parramatta Eels home game at Glen Willow Stadium, the NYC clash moves to McCredie Oval in Guildford.

The match sees the return of fullback Corey Makelim to the Blue and Gold line-up, shuffling Mitchell Brasington into the five-eighth position, Mark Daoud to halfback, and Zach Dockar-Clay to starting hooker.

Coach Andrew Webster's forwards were stand-outs in the first half of last week's victory over the St George Illawarra Dragons, with both Sean Jackson and Fred Junior Mauala breaking the line to score.

Webster will be hoping his charges can continue their solid form from round ten, as centre John Folau joins Makelim in returning to the side this round.

The young Eels face a Titans side fresh from a 34-18 win over the Broncos, boasting a strong forward pack that includes an under-18s Queensland representative in Caleb Binge, and Zach Friend, former hooker for the dominant 2012 Penrith Panthers under 20s side.

But the Gold Coast Holden Cup squad isn't without changes, as Coach Jamie O'Connor calls up two new faces to replace Oliver Percy (out through suspension) and Sam Johnson in the round eleven clash.

And Webster's Parramatta side may be down a forward as well this week, with NRL Head Coach Ricky Stuart calling Pauli Pauli into camp in Mudgee to cover for any potential injuries in his Eels forward pack.



Parramatta Eels


1. Corey Makelim
2. James Tuitahi
3. John Folau
4. Connor Broadhurst
5. Takai Moeakiola (c)
6. Mitchell Brasington
7. Mark Daoud
8. Pauli Pauli
9. Zach Dockar-Clay
10. Daniel Alvaro
11. Fred Junior Mauala
12. Sean Jackson
13. Joseph Ualesi

Interchange:
14. Luke Vescio
15. Jordan Latham
?16. Diamond Charlie
17. Chad McGill
18. William Budgen

Coach: Andrew Webster


Gold Coast Titans


1. Jahrome Hughes
2. Kurtis McDonald
3. Rian Diffey
4. Mitch Ardler
5. Jared Teo
6. Matthew Beddow
7. Kane Elgey
8. Francis Veukiso
9. Zach Friend
10. Caleb Binge
11. Hymel Hunt
12. Kyle McConnell
13. Mitchell Hall

Interchange:
14. Mitch Sharp
15. Sam Gee
16. Sam Harrold
17. Tom Rowles

Coach: Jamie O?Connor

Beddow key to NYC Titans resurgence

http://staticnrl.sportalhosting.com/...-leadimage.jpg

IT?S no shock that the Titans NYC team?s startling form reversal has coincided in a return to prominence of captain Matt Beddow.

The talented Number Six was outstanding in the Gold Coast?s upset 34-18 win over the Broncos last weekend and coach Jamie O?Connor is predicting Beddow to be the cornerstone in the Titans youngsters charging from last into the final eight by mid-season.

?We have ninth-placed Parra this weekend, then the Cowboys, who are 15th, and then the bye,?? said O?Connor.

?If results fall our way we could end up in the top eight after the bye.?

That would be an amazing turnaround for the baby Titans who were languishing last before the Broncos clash. However with Beddow in top gear the Gold Coast turned potential into fact.

?Matt played his best game of the year by far,?? said O?Connor, referring to the Brisbane clash.

?He is back to his best. He played with confidence and gave the team great direction as he led them around the park.

?Matt has been dogged with injury in the opening games of this season. His confidence was down and his form suffered.

?He is a great leader. His communication is first class and he has a commanding presence when he is at his best. I think we will see some super things from Matt in the next month and I expect that to flow through the whole team.?

O?Connor knows Beddow?s game inside-out. He coached him for two years in the Mal Meninga Cup Under 18 competition and this is the second year the duo have paired up in the NYC.

?Matt is a very good footballer - a great thinker, top defender and has an excellent pass,?? said O?Connor.

?But more than that he is a good all-round kid. He?s a true local who came up through the Southport Tigers and Keebra Park.?
Most pleasing for O?Connor is the fact that Beddow is only one of a number of Titans who are running into sensational mid-season form. He is expecting more outstanding efforts from fullback Jahrome Hughes (250 metres in attack last Friday), prop Caleb Binge (80 minutes against the Broncos) and Hymel Hunt, who comes back into the back row from the centres for the Eels.

?Despite our poor start to the season I will not be shocked to see us up in the eight,?? O?Connor said.

?We just need consistency. It is a mental thing. Physically, skill-wise and fitness-wise we can match anyone. We have shown that against top teams Penrith, the Warriors and Brisbane.?

With the Titans' NRL match against the Eels being played in Mudgee this weekend, the Under-20s fixture will be played on Sunday at 2pm at McCredie Park in Sydney.

http://www.titans.com.au/

NYC Titans make it two on the trot

http://staticnrl.sportalhosting.com/...-leadimage.jpg

A spirited second half fightback helped the Gold Coast Titans Under-20s to their second win on the trot with a gutsy 30-28 victory over Parramatta in Sydney over the weekend.

The Titans looked down and out at halftime after conceding four first-half tries to trail 22-0 at the break.

But the visitors produced a gallant second half fightback highlighted by two tries to Shaun Hudson to hit the lead at 30-22 with 15 minutes remaining.

The Eels hit back through a try Sean Jackson to reduce the margin to 30-28 inside the final 10 minutes but the Titans hung to register a memorable victory.

It followed on from a big 34-18 win over the Brisbane Broncos last weekend and moves the Titans into 13th spot on the ladder.

The Titans take on the 15th-placed North Queensland Cowboys Under-20s at Skilled Park on Sunday as they look to make it three wins in a row.

http://www.titans.com.au/