Put laffranchi next to lewis and minichello next to cambell in the defense line, and give them both a task, no one tramples the halves. Got it.
No ifs, buts or maybes, we will win this game.
Go Titans.
Titans must nullify Merritt: Minichiello
Wednesday, July 25, 2007 - 5:05 PM
Titans back-rower Mark Minichiello fears South Sydney's electrifying fullback Nathan Merritt will rip Gold Coast to shreds if they don't stiffen their defence this weekend.
With the Rabbitohs and Titans sitting on 18 competition points, just a win outside the top eight, the NRL clash at Telstra Stadium on Saturday shapes as critical for both teams' finals prospects.
Minichiello insists the injury-ravaged Titans aren't low on confidence following four consecutive defeats but, after conceding 92 points in their past two games, he admits their defence needs to be rock-solid against the Bunnies.
"I think our confidence is pretty good," the City Origin representative told AAP.
"I don't think we're down in the dumps or sulking with our heads down.
"It'll just take one win to get a second wind. We're ready to go."
Merritt was superb at fullback in the Rabbitohs' 20-14 victory over North Queensland on Sunday when he made 14 runs for 121 metres, busted nine tackles and contributed to a line break.
"He's great in open space and being at fullback just gives him more room to move," former Rabbitoh Minichiello pointed out.
"If your kick-chase isn't up in one line he's going to cut you in two.
"He's the type of player who sniffs around the ruck for any half-breaks and he pounces on them.
"We've got to watch him this week. He's going to pop up everywhere around the ruck and our defence has to be solid."
The return of star forward Anthony Laffranchi from a serious knee injury is a major fillip for the Titans, who are missing a stack of key players including former Kangaroos halfback Scott Prince (collarbone).
"It's a bit of a different feel having him back because he was so strong for us before he got injured (on June 23)," coach John Cartwright said.
"I don't want to put any pressure on Anthony. He's coming back from a pretty bad injury and he has to get his own game right.
"I definitely know he'll be leading from the front. He's only had the four weeks off so he'll be ripping in."
Cartwright has worked hard at training this week on fixing the defensive lapses that have plagued the Titans over the past fortnight.
"Hopefully we've come up with a solution," he said. "We just can't give away as many clean breaks as we did last week (in a 36-12 loss to the Bulldogs)."
In a further blow to the Titans, winger Matt Petersen underwent an arthroscope on his knee but it is hoped he'll be sidelined for just two weeks.
Interestingly, the Rabbitohs are yet to register a win under whistle-blower Gavin Badger, who is a South Sydney juniors referee.
Source: AAP
Rabbitohs v Titans Preview
Wednesday, July 25, 2007 - 11:47 AM
Although there are six games still till the finals you could almost say the winner of this game has given themselves a real hope of qualifying, while the loser will be one step closer to falling off the tightrope.
It’s team nine (South Sydney) against team 10 (Gold Coast) and both sit on 18 competition points, just a win outside the top eight.
The Rabbitohs fought hard to grind out an impressive 20-14 win over the Cowboys last start and will be feeling confident while the Titans have now lost four in a row – the last two losses by big margins against the Raiders and Bulldogs leaving their confidence at an all-time low.
With Scott Prince still injured the Titans aren’t the same side – although this week they finally welcome back star player Anthony Laffranchi and they have also named Chris Walker at fullback after he made a successful comeback off the bench last week.
This moves Preston Campbell to five-eighth and Matt Hilder to the bench.
Coach John Cartwright has also brought Luke O’Dwyer into the centres, sending Josh Graham back to the bench.
The make-up of their side could easily change, with both Nathan Friend and Ian Donnelly trying their luck at the judiciary tonight (Wednesday) in a bid to play in this crucial encounter.
Should they fail in their quest, the test will be all the more difficult for the competition’s new boys as they look to qualify for the finals in their first year.
The Rabbitohs are still very much in the finals frame and are on track for the best ever season since 1999 (10 wins) and their first post-season appearance since 1989.
Jason Taylor has given young halfback Eddie Paea another crack at halfback after his impressive effort against the Cowboys, leaving Jeremy Smith to fight his way back from the lower grades while the same can be said for David Peachey after Nathan Merritt carved up from fullback.
Taylor has named only two changes, with Manase Manoukafoa and Eddy Pettybourne making way off the bench for Shannon McPherson and Scott Geddes.
Watch out Rabbitohs: While some of his team-mates struggle with consistency, Titans captain Luke Bailey is leading by example.
Even with his side getting a pasting from the Bulldogs, Bailey made 19 runs for 179 metres, 49 tackles, two line breaks and two tries in 73 minutes.
The former Dragons prop is averaging 67 minutes a game in 2007 – no mean feat for a bookend – and is pumping out an average 17.5 runs for 154.1 metres and 32.2 tackles in his time on the paddock.
Watch out Titans: The move to put Nathan Merritt back to fullback paid immediate dividends for the Bunnies as the electrifying attacking whiz provided 14 runs for 121 metres, busted nine tackles and contributed a nice line break.
Merritt will only get better with more time in the custodian’s jersey and with a licence to support ball-playing forwards like Roy Asotasi, fans should expect to see Merritt in open spaces more often.
Where it will be won: The Titans have to muscle up in the middle and give Bailey a hand if they are to win this one.
The Rabbitohs have shown their hand by selecting plenty of big-bopping forwards, knowing that the lack of size in the Titans pack is a problem for the Gold Coast boys.
The return of Laffranchi will definitely boost the Titans but if Donnelly and Friend are out, they are very thin in the engine room.
Bailey, Laffranchi and Donnelly are the only fit Titans forwards to average over 100 metres a game.
They are already the least dangerous side in the competition from dummy half and the same can be said for attacking from long range – although maybe Walker can spark something for them.
For Souths, it may well be a case of how well young Eddie Paea can play two weeks in a row.
If he can spark the Souths still half-dormant attack, then they should be able to get the points at home.
The History: Played 1; Rabbitohs 0, Titans 1. There was plenty of feeling in the round 11 clash earlier this season won by the Titans 25-18, the only match between these two teams in the Titans’ short history.
Conclusion: Both teams have everything to play for but unfortunately the Titans are without their top strength line-up leaving the Bunnies as favourites in this one.
It should still be a cracking affair but there is one “trend” that may stall the Bunnies.
The Rabbitohs are yet to register a win under referee Gavin Badger – who ironically is a South Sydney juniors referee.
No-one is suggesting the whistle-blower is over compensating, just highlighting one of those little hoodoos the league world throws up from time to time.
Match officials: Referee – Gavin Badger; Sideline Officials – Darren Lang & Allen Foster; Video ref – Bill Harrigan.
Televised: FoxSports 3 – Live 7.30pm
Source: NRL
According to Channel 7 news... this game could be in for quite a twist... with Mat Rogers ready to return from injury sooner than expected...
He will have tests later on this week but if he passes them, then he could be a late inclusion to the side this weekend....
I reckon that gives us a real chance of giving the Rabbits a tough game.... Rogers is X factor plus and will give the side more confidence if he does play.
id put some focus on eddie paea and issac luke, they remind me a lot of the likes of preston and matty bowen. small fast and know when and when not to pass. could be a big danger
luke is a gun player
but paea looked sooooo bad in defence jsut run at him all day
This isn't going to be an ordinary game, we might be striving for a Finals berth in our first year, but Souths are looking for their first Finals appearance since the 1980s.
They are going to be fired up and they won't give up.
PUT EM TO THE SWORD! SHOW SOME STEEL!
Moejoe: "REMEMBER!!!! SLIP - SLOP - SLAP in the sun. Skin Cancer is a growing problem. It could happen to anyone!!"TITANS, DIEHARDS, WARRINGTON WOLVES, MAROONS, KANGAROOS, HONG KONG THUNDER