Round 20: Gold Coast Titans vs Brisbane Broncos

[bigjim]

I'm hoping Nathan Friend takes the field this weekend but the loss of Matt Rogers is a huge loss.
I know we can still win well but the boys had better not under estimate the Broncasses.
A wounded animal is a very dangerous creature.

[Supergoose]

I'm hoping Nathan Friend takes the field this weekend but the loss of Matt Rogers is a huge loss.
I know we can still win well but the boys had better not under estimate the Broncasses.
A wounded animal is a very dangerous creature.

Is a Broncass an animal? I guess if a lame duck is an animal then so is a Broncass...

[DIEHARD]

Brisbane's Darren Lockyer and Sam Thaiday to miss Gold Coast Titans clash

Brisbane will again be without captain Darren Lockyer and representative forward Sam Thaiday for Friday night's NRL derby against Gold Coast Titans.

The struggling Broncos, who desperately need a win to get their top eight campaign back on track, have named hooker Aaron Gorrell at five-eighth for the second successive week with Lockyer battling a knee injury.

Thaiday will miss the match with rib cartilage damage.

Both missed last Friday's loss to South Sydney.

Brisbane have won just one of their last five games.

However, Broncos' coach Ivan Henjak says the team has reviewed their poor defence against South Sydney last Friday night and has fixed up some left-hand side defensive communication problems.

Apart from Lockyer and Thaiday, Brisbane are also feeling the absence of giant winger Israel Folau, who is not expected back on the paddock until just before the finals.

The Gold Coast, who are firmly entrenched in the top eight, have only one major injury concern with hooker Nathan Friend battling a severe ankle injury.

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

[DIEHARD]

Gold Coast Titans' Ian Lacey on collision course with Broncos

The shock withdrawal of Mat Rogers forced another Gold Coast Titans team reshuffle as Ian Lacey was placed on a collision course with the club that left his NRL career in tatters.

After Rogers was a no-show at training on Tuesday, Titans coach John Cartwright dropped the bombshell that the dual international had succumbed to a groin injury and would not run out against the Brisbane Broncos at Skilled Park on Friday night.

It was another blow for Cartwright, who was already sweating on the availability of inspirational hooker Nathan Friend (ankle).

Lacey and 20-year-old rookie Kayne Lawton have been placed on standby for Friend who will be given until Thursday to prove his fitness.

Cartwright said it would be tempting to let Lacey make his Titans debut against the Broncos.

It would mark the first NRL game for Lacey after he and teammate John Te Reo sensationally had their contracts torn up by the Broncos in October, 2007 following the assault of a man outside an inner-city Brisbane hotel.

?It always helps playing against your old club - he will definitely be very enthusiastic,? Cartwright said.

?But we will give Friendy until the last minute - if anyone can play with that injury it is him but we have Ian and Kayne there.?

Showing true utility value, regular fullback Preston Campbell will slot in at pivot after initially being on standby for hooker Friend.

In some welcome good news, Cartwright welcomed back Queensland Origin backrower Ashley Harrison (ankle) and prop Aaron Cannings (hamstring).

Meanwhile, the battling Broncos will again be without captain Darren Lockyer (knee) and Origin forward Sam Thaiday (rib) while Tonie Carroll (knee) also joins the injury list that also boasts star winger Israel Folau (ankle).

Broncos coach Ivan Henjak hoped Lockyer would return next week but was unsure of the availability of Thaiday and Carroll, who is feeling the effects of accidentally kneeing referee Tony De Las Heras last round.

But Henjak kept the door open for a surprise return from a knee injury by bruising forward Nick Kenny.

?He only started running the other day and he'll have another run tomorrow and we'll see how he is,? Henjak said.

?We are pretty limited at this stage after losing three hookers.?

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

[DIEHARD]

Brisbane Broncos enduring horror run but coach Ivan Henjak retains faith

The heat is on Brisbane coach Ivan Henjak with the Broncos in danger of missing the NRL finals for the first time since 1991 after a recent horror run of results.

The Broncos' 1-5 match return during the 2009 Origin series is the poorest the club has endured since its inception in 1988.

It tops the 1-3 record under Wayne Bennett in 1996 and also marks the first time the Broncos have lost more than three games during the interstate series.

While Bennett often had the last laugh at critics, such as in 2006 when the side lost three games during the Origin but bounced back to win the premiership, the Broncos 2009 season seems less assured.

After a dream 5-1 start to his coaching career, Henjak has endured those numbers in reverse. The side's defence has been the major issue, having leaked an alarming 231 points in six weeks.

When Brisbane won the premiership in 1998 they conceded just 52 points more (283 points) for the entire 24-match season.

While it's not unusual for Brisbane to do it tough in the Origin period - their overall match record during the series is 57 wins, 48 losses and two draws, it's virtually unheard of for them to concede so many points in such a short period of time.

Despite the losses stacking up, Henjak is confident the side could work through the form slump.

?I needed to remind myself what this club has been through over the last 10 years,'' he said.

?I went through each year individually and there's been some long spells when we've been out of favour.

?We've gone 1-9 and 3-8 and even 3-11 during long runs of losses.

?Out of the last six games we're 1-5 so, it's not good, but we've been here before.

?I know it can turn around because I've seen it turn around in those years as well.''

A successful player with Canberra, Henjak served a decade as Bennett's apprentice in Brisbane.

He replaced one of the game's most successful premiership winning coaches after Bennett opted out of the final year of his contract to coach the Dragons.

Bennett, who had coached at Origin level, took five years to win his first premiership and he started with a playing roster which included Wally Lewis, Gene Miles, Allan Langer, Greg Dowling, Steve Renouf and Kerrod Walters.

Henjak doesn't have a roster quite as illustrious.

A number of Bennett's 2008 recruits have yet to deliver while 2009 signings Ben Teo and Langi Setu have not lived up to early expectations in their debut seasons.

And with skipper Darren Lockyer (knee), forward Sam Thaiday (ribs), Israel Folau (ankle), prop Nick Kenny (hamstring) and veteran Tonie Carroll (knee) on the sidelines this weekend for the match against third placed Gold Coast, things may not get easier any time soon.

?We're going to find out a lot about our character this weekend,'' said Henjak.

Source: AAP

[bigjim]

Brisbane Broncos enduring horror run but coach Ivan Henjak retains faith

?We're going to find out a lot about our character this weekend,'' said Henjak.

Source: AAP

They certainly are!!!!

[bigjim]

I Hope.

If we don't show some character ourselves and do to the Broncos what South Sydney did but couldn't finish off properly, we will also be judged going into the finals.

[amaline]

This isn't good for the Broncos. If I were to pick two more players for them to have out, aside from Hodges, they would be Hunt and Wallace.

Karmichael Hunt, Peter Wallace injury dramas rock Broncos ahead of Titans clash

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/s...003409,00.html

BRISBANE'S preparations for Friday's NRL derby clash with Gold Coast have been rocked by injury concerns to stars Karmichael Hunt and Peter Wallace.

Hunt limped off the training paddock this morning with a leg injury, with initial suggestions he had suffered a corked thigh.

Star halfback Wallace failed to train all.

Concerns over a tight hamstring saw the playmaker consigned to the role of an onlooker just two days out from the crunch clash.

The Broncos, desperate for a win against their south-east Queensland rivals to get their NRL finals tilt back on track, are already missing injured stars Darren Lockyer and Sam Thaiday for the Skilled Park clash.

But they remain confident Hunt and Wallace will be right to tackle the Gold Coast.

The Titans are battling injury concerns of their own, with veteran five-eighth Mat Rogers (groin) already ruled out and hooker Nathan Friend (ankle) in extreme doubt.

[Adelaide Titan]

This is what Origin does to teams, in this case Brisbane who have some injury concerns from last week. It will be good having Harrison back in the team and im looking forward to the game and am confident the Titans will win on home soil in front of a noisy home crowd!

[Rage]

By Laine Clark AAP Tue, 21 Jul 2009 18:38:40

The shock withdrawal of Mat Rogers forced another Gold Coast Titans team reshuffle as Ian Lacey was placed on a collision course with the club that left his NRL career in tatters almost two years ago.

After Rogers was a no-show at training on Tuesday, Titans coach John Cartwright dropped the bombshell that the dual international had succumbed to a groin injury and would not run out against the Broncos at Skilled Park on Friday night.

It was another blow for Cartwright, who was already sweating on the availability of inspirational hooker Nathan Friend (ankle).

Lacey and 20-year-old rookie Kayne Lawton have been placed on standby for Friend who will be given until Thursday to prove his fitness.

Cartwright said it would be tempting to let Lacey make his Titans debut against the Broncos.

It would mark the first NRL game for Lacey after he and teammate John Te Reo sensationally had their contracts torn up by the Broncos in October, 2007 following the assault of a man outside an inner-city Brisbane hotel.

"It always helps playing against your old club - he will definitely be very enthusiastic," Cartwright said.

"But we will give Friendy until the last minute - if anyone can play with that injury it is him but we have Ian and Kayne there."

Showing true utility value, regular fullback Preston Campbell will slot in at pivot after initially being on stand-by for hooker Friend.

In some welcome good news, Cartwright welcomed back Queensland Origin backrower Ashley Harrison (ankle) and prop Aaron Cannings (hamstring).

Meanwhile, the battling Broncos will again be without captain Darren Lockyer (knee) and Origin forward Sam Thaiday (rib) while Tonie Carroll (knee) also joins the injury list that also boasts star winger Israel Folau (ankle).

Broncos coach Ivan Henjak hoped Lockyer would return next week but was unsure of the availability of Thaiday and Carroll, who is feeling the effects of accidentally kneeing referee Tony De Las Heras last round.

But Henjak kept the door open for a surprise return from a knee injury by bruising forward Nick Kenny.

"He only started running the other day and he'll have another run tomorrow and we'll see how he is," Henjak said.

Meanwhile, regular pivot Travis Burns has been called in as the Cowboys' fourth-choice hooker for Saturday night's clash with Penrith after a "battered and bruised" Anthony Watts copped a one match ban for striking.

"We have to be a bit creative with who ducks into the nine spot," Cowboys coach Neil Henry said.

"We are pretty limited at this stage after losing three hookers."

Meanwhile, former Test fullback Anthony Minichiello will hit the ground running in his return for the Sydney Roosters - on the wing.

Minichiello will collect the captaincy reins before running out against South Sydney at ANZ Stadium on Monday night - just his third game of the season due to an ankle injury.

He takes over from Roosters skipper Craig Fitzgibbon, who will be out for two to three weeks with a fractured cheekbone suffered in last Sunday's loss to the Warriors.

But the Golden Boot winner will start on the wing after Kiwi international Sam Perrett was retained at fullback.

However, his return is some welcome good news for a club that has lost eight of its last nine games and is reeling from the handling of coach Brad Fittler's end-of-season departure.

In other major team news, the cavalry has returned for the St George Illawarra's Sunday clash with the Warriors at Auckland.

Darius Boyd, Neville Costigan, Ben Creagh and Justin Poore return from Origin duty while Blues prop Michael Weyman (ankle), Kiwi international Jeremy Smith (ankle) and Matt Prior (virus) have also been welcomed back.

But the Warriors also have reason to smile with captain Steve Price named to play his first game since becoming embroiled in controversy after sensationally being knocked out in the dying stages of Origin III.

And Ben Hannant (knee), Greg Eastwood and try scoring machine Bryson Goodwin (both suspension) have been named to return for the Bulldogs' Saturday clash with the Eels at ANZ Stadium.

[karnage]

I was punching air when I saw channel 10 news tonight with the vision of Hunt limping away from the training paddock and then the news that Wallace is only rated 50-50.

With the injuries that plagues us for the past 2 seasons we are overdue to meet some teams going through the same dramas. What goes around comes around.

We just need to capitalise on it the way that teams like Melbourne, Canberra and New Zealand did against us.

The only downside is that Channel 10 said the Titans were struggling to sell tickets with only 20,000 sold. Broncos fans are reluctant to travel to see a depleted team. (Sums up what I think of Broncos fans really... Smug is the word I like to use on my Bronco sister.) Let's just fill those seats that would have been Broncos with Titans fans, I have been drumming up interest at work and I reckon everybody should do the same - I have convinced 7 people so far to go out and buy some tickets.

[TITAN PETE]

Bronco's fan won't travel to a game they can't win & at a sportsman lunch today Lockyer said it was up to the Bronco's to slow the Titans scoring down to help their fore & against , thats almost conceding isn't it , i'm more chance of playing than Lockyer is this week , people had to wait while he walked up a flight of stairs

[Ryan]

The only downside is that Channel 10 said the Titans were struggling to sell tickets with only 20,000 sold. Broncos fans are reluctant to travel to see a depleted team. (Sums up what I think of Broncos fans really... Smug is the word I like to use on my Bronco sister.) Let's just fill those seats that would have been Broncos with Titans fans, I have been drumming up interest at work and I reckon everybody should do the same - I have convinced 7 people so far to go out and buy some tickets.

I'll be surprised if it's not a sell-out - even if bugger all Donkey supporters turn up, the ones that do will go home at half time anyway........

Anyway, I got onto a far king bargin. Jupiters Casino has got rooms going for $150 for Friday night. So get in while you can, it's only a stroll across the road to catch a bus to the game. Then I'm capping off a good night at skilled with a dabb of roulette and a touch of Blackjack. If I'm lucky there might be a game or two of Texas Hold 'em. Then my room is only a short crawl away......

[Nathalie]

They're making excuses already. Are you serious.. jeebuz..

[Steve]

Only 20,000 sold? Do they realise the capacity is 27,500? That's only 7,500 to sell with a week to go and there'd be a lot of people who like to turn up on the night to buy their tickets.