Round 18: Gold Coast Titans vs Parramatta Eels

[DIEHARD]

Gold Coast Titans vs Parramatta Eels

Mon 13 July 7pm - Skilled Park

Buy tickets here:
http://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows...8-f8896b5a6cbb

Titans
1. Preston Campbell, 2. Kevin Gordon, 3. Esikeli Tonga, 4. Brett Delaney, 5. Chris Walker, 6. Mat Rogers, 7. Scott Prince, 8. Luke Bailey, 9. Nathan Friend, 10. Michael Henderson, 11. Anthony Laffranchi, 12. Mark Minichiello, 13. Brad Meyers.

14. Matthew White, 15. Will Matthews, 16. Daniel Conn, 17. William Zillman, 18. David Mead, 19. Josh Graham. (2 to be omitted).

Parracrappa
1. Luke Burt, 2. Krisnan Inu, 3. Joel Reddy, 4. Ben Smith, 5. Eric Grothe, 6. Daniel Mortimer, 7. Jeff Robson, 8. Nathan Cayless, 9. Matthew Keating, 10. Fuifui Moimoi, 11. Nathan Hindmarsh, 12. Joe Galuvao, 13. Todd Lowrie.

14. Kevin Kingston, 15. Broderick Wright, 17. Tim Mannah, 19. Jeremy Latimore.

[Boofhead]

Team lists TBA...

[lonegull]

carty must have a few headaches with the backs for this clash

[Boofhead]

I'm expecting a similiar team to last week, although Rogers will come back in so there will be a back line reshuffle. Would be good if Carty experiments a little with the backline this game.

I reckon we can clock up a big score against the Parramatta side without Hayne.

[karnage]

I'm expecting a similiar team to last week, although Rogers will come back in so there will be a back line reshuffle. Would be good if Carty experiments a little with the backline this game.

I reckon we can clock up a big score against the Parramatta side without Hayne.

I hope your right on all of those accounts.

This is a MUST WIN game.

[lonegull]

Bailey is a chance i have been reading that would be good, mead deseves his chance it will be interesting cant wait for the announcement

[DIEHARD]

Not sure if odds have been posted yet...

Gold Coast $1.25
Parramatta $3.75

[DIEHARD]

Milestone a pointer on Titans' road to finals
Luke Turgeon

THE Gold Coast Titans will reach a little known club milestone with victory over Parramatta on Monday at Skilled Park.

For the first time in two years of trying, they have the chance to win more than 10 games in a season.

While on the surface it doesn't seem like much, it is another small yet significant step in the club's quest to reach the finals summit.

But just like any good mountain climber, Titans coach John Cartwright isn't looking at the snowy peak in September. His eyes are focused on his feet, his next step. That next step is disposing of the Eels.

"We have been very good this week, the players have been enthusiastic and keen and we have had a long preparation," said Cartwright.

"We are looking forward to Parramatta. But in the competition at this stage there are no easy games.

"Everyone has got something to fight for. No one is really out of the eight and the sides down the bottom don't want the wooden spoon."

Titans five-eighth Mat Rogers is expected to return from a month-long layoff with a rib injury while second rower Mark Minichiello comes back from six weeks out with ankle ligament damage.

The Gold Coast are sweating on the results of scans on co-captain Luke Bailey's forearm fracture, which will be known today.

Tough young prop Michael Henderson will continue playing with a broken thumb after being told by a specialist this week he does not need surgery. The Titans are undefeated at home this season, with five games remaining at their Robina fortress.

Just four NRL teams in the past 15 years -- Canberra (1994), Manly (1996), Brisbane (2000) and Melbourne (2007) -- have gone through the regular season unbeaten at home.

They all went on to take out the premiership. Heading into Round 18, only the Bulldogs and the Titans are yet to drop a match on home turf.

If the Titans beat the Eels, it sets up a mouth-watering clash with the Bulldogs next Friday at Suncorp Stadium. The game, which will be played after the Broncos host Souths in the first NRL double header to be held in Brisbane, is actually a Dogs' home game.

Source: http://www.goldcoast.com.au

Full marks for Luke for calling it the Fortress. I love it.

[DIEHARD]

Titans' stats top the Blues' pack

NSW will be relying on their forward pack to prevent the first Queensland Origin clean sweep since 1995 at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night.

But statistics obtained by the Weekend Bulletin prove they wouldn't even lead the Blues to victory over the Titans at Skilled Park on Monday night.

Three of the Titans' five starting forwards for Monday night's home clash with Eels have better figures in key performance areas than their opposite numbers in the best pack NSW can produce.

The figures came on the same day the Titans re-signed forwards Aaron Cannings and Matt White, locking in the entire pack for next season.

The Bulletin can reveal the Titans are set to announce the long-term signing of Queensland Origin star Ashley Harrison in the coming weeks.

The figures put paid to the constant criticism the Titans' pack receives.

Titans managing director Michael Searle declared he would back his big men to match it with any pack in the game.

"I don't know why, I don't get it but every time you turn around there is someone bagging them," he said.

"I think they get criticised a lot for what is perceived to be our lack of toughness but we couldn't be happier with them."

Searle revealed the long term stability of the pack and the strong statistics were a part of a united front the Titans pack have taken.

"I think the boys are starting to hunt like a pack in defence and attack," said Searle.

"All the criticism of our pack -- it just fires them up.

"I've got absolute faith in our forward pack matching it with anyone they come up against."

White, 25, and Cannings, 27, join Queensland's Harrison, forgotten rep trio Luke Bailey, Anthony Laffranchi and Mark Minichiello, as well as Brad Meyers, Michael Henderson and Will Matthews in staying at the club next season.

Both White and Cannings could have attracted more money at other clubs but elected to remain on the Gold Coast.

The news was a big relief for White, who moved his family to the Coast, from Newcastle, on a one-year deal then suffered a lengthy suspension at the beginning of the year.

"It's good to get that out of the road so I can just concentrate on playing some good footy for the rest of the season," said White.

Bailey was last night given the all clear to take on the Eels.

Bailey missed yesterday's training session to get scans on a broken arm which came back clear.

Preston Campbell also missed yesterday's session with the flu but is expected to train with the side tomorrow.

Mat Rogers and Minichiello trained strongly and will take their place on Monday night.

Source: http://www.goldcoast.com.au

[DIEHARD]

I hope Presto is ok to play, I know a virus would be a nasty and debilitating thing to play with.

I am looking forward to a home match after last week's match at Canberra Stadium. We really need to lift our game as a crowd, there was onlu about 9k there but they made alot of noise and really rode on the Titans trying to encourage penalties for offside and going high. It's something we need to add to our ****nal and make Skilled Park even more unpleasant.

[Rage]

AAP Sun, 12 Jul 2009 12:21:18

Fullback Preston Campbell is battling the flu and has failed to train with the main group on Sunday, barely 24 hours ahead of the Gold Coast Titans' NRL clash with Parramatta.

The veteran will be given until the last minute to prove his fitness for the Skilled Park showdown.

The third-placed Titans (10-5) are just one win away from top spot and will be hoping to keep their winning (7-0) home record for the season against the out of sorts Eels (13th; 5-9).

Parramatta have never beaten the Titans.

Source: www.nrl.com

[DIEHARD]

Titans shoot for eight straight at home
Adam Gardini

Jetstar Gold Coast Titans co-captain Scott Prince says his side cannot afford to rest on their unbeaten home record in tomorrow night?s clash against Parramatta at Skilled Park.

The third-placed Titans are shooting for eight straight wins at home for 2009 and have been installed as favourites for the clash against the 13th-placed Eels.

However, Prince said the Titans could not just expect things to turn around for them in their return to home turf after last weekend?s 34-28 loss to the Raiders in Canberra.

Click here to listen to audio interviews with Prince and Titans coach John Cartwright

?We?ve got a good record at home but that means nothing,?? said Prince.

?We have to go out there and stick to our game plan and hopefully get the two points.

?The record doesn?t really mean much, it?s tomorrow night and the 80 minutes that likes ahead.

?We have to go out there and complete our teams goals and personal goals and see where that leaves us at the end of the day.??

The Titans will be boosted by the return of senior trio Luke Bailey, Mat Rogers and Mark Minichiello for the clash and Prince said that the experiences campaigners were ?jumping out of their skin? ahead of the match.

?It?s a good feel at the moment, a few of the guys have been on a contiki tour so it?s good to have Rat (Rogers), Bails and Mini back,?? he joked.

?They?re jumping out of their skin so the break has been good for them.??

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

[Adelaide Titan]

I cant wait for the game I'll DEFINATELY be sitting in front of the TV cheering them on all the way from SA

Im very confident for a win, as long as the boys play their game and dont do some silly things, which im sure they wont

GO YOU TITANS!!!!

[teke]

I cant wait for this friday nights match against the doggies.

I want the Titans to steam roll them while causing some big injuries. Im starting to get a 2003 Panthers/2005 Tigers type of feeling to this Titans team.

[DIEHARD]

Prince winds up for a KO punch

LAST week Scott Prince gave himself an uppercut. Tonight at Skilled Park he is determined to KO the Eels.

The inspirational Gold Coast skipper took the extraordinary step of blasting his own performance following last Sunday's flop in the nation's capital.

Prince called his part in the 34-28 loss against the Raiders `dreadful' and has spent the week stewing over a missed chance to break the club's Canberra hoodoo.

It should serve as worrying news for Parramatta, attempting to be the first side to beat the Titans at their Robina fortress this season.

Especially worried should be young half Daniel Mortimer.

Prince has been keeping a close eye on the Eels rookie for the past few rounds and is not about to be shown up two weeks straight.

"He is playing confidently," said Prince. "Especially the last two weeks. He is one of those guys that plays off instinct.

"When a young kid is confident they are dangerous."

Used to being the centre of the Titans universe during the club's first two seasons, Prince has taken on a slightly different role this year.

With Preston Campbell and Nathan Friend taking on more playmaking responsibility in an attempt to alleviate pressure on the clever halfback and add more dimensions to their attack, Prince has had to adjust.

The dominance Prince enjoyed in 2007 and 2008 has largely been diluted by his own side. But with the Titans sitting third on the NRL ladder and just three wins from qualifying for their maiden finals series, Prince can see the merit in the club's new approach.

"I feel like after the games that I haven't done enough," he said.

"But we always get the win in those games.

"Carty and the coaching staff really worked hard in the pre-season to give everyone across the park the responsibility, if they see something, to play what they see.

"I think it has been working for us. "We have now got a number of guys that will take the ball and have a go.

"I guess it would be hard for a defensive team now to pick who is going to get the ball at certain times.

"Instead of looking towards me to do something now, we have got Preston and even Nathan Friend doing a lot more stuff with the ball.

"It helps with Nathan playing well. When he is running it gets the markers thinking.

"They have to watch him now so it obviously helps."

If the Titans beat the Eels, it will be the first time they have won more than 10 games in a season.

It will also equal the winning record of the most successful Gold Coast side, the Chargers, who qualified for the 1997 finals series after finishing the season with 11 wins.

With the finals fast approaching, the Titans are aware they must start stamping themselves as a team to be feared and would love to start racking up some big scores.

http://www.goldcoast.com.au