Round 5: Gold Coast Titans vs Melbourne Storm

[DIEHARD]

Titans plan stingy pickings for Storm

The Gold Coast Titans, so generous against the North Queensland Cowboys on the weekend, plan to play the stingy host when the Melbourne Storm drop in on Friday night.

The error-riddled Titans saw their most successful start to an NRL season grind to a halt in Townsville, as the Cowboys dined out on 16 Gold Coast errors to run up a 32-18 scoreline.

And with no disrespect to the North Queenslanders, the Titans know a repeat performance against the premiers could get even uglier on the scoreboard.

Last week it was Jonathan Thurston calling the shots on the other side of the ball. This week Cooper Cronk will marshal assaults on the Titans line.

On Saturday Willie Tonga crossed for a hat trick. On Friday Billy Slater could do the same, given half a chance.

Throw in internationals Cameron Smith, Greg Inglis, Ryan Hoffman, Brett White, Jeff Lima and Adam Blair and the Titans face the biggest test of the season to date.

"Of all the teams in the competition, that's why they're so successful - they take their opportunities and we need to give them minimal opportunities on the weekend or we're in for a hiding,'' said workhorse Titans hooker Nathan Friend.

Despite sitting undefeated atop the ladder, the Storm has scored a modest 67 points in the 2010 campaign. Eight teams have done better.

But for the Titans, the fear lies in the obvious potential the visitors have to run in points, with the Storm having recorded the second-best points differential in the league in 2009.

And with Cronk making his presence felt after missing the first two games with a groin injury and try-scoring machine Inglis being eerily quiet with just one try so far, Melbourne seems poised to ratchet up their points output.

Friend, who spent four years with the Storm until 2006, knows who the likely suspects will be Friday night.

But that doesn't mean he has a sure-fire way to stop them.

"Wherever Coops is you see Billy sniffing around and that's proven by his try on the weekend (against the St George-Illawarra Dragons),'' he said.

"It's hard to say what we have to do to nullify them. Obviously our defensive pattern has to be pretty tight on the weekend to not allow an opening.

"It's hard to say what to do against Cooper Cronk because he's their go-to man, so hopefully we can just put a little bit of pressure with line speed on him.''

With their high-calibre offence still finding its feet, the key to the Storm's early-season success has been defence. The southerners have allowed 38 points spread thinly across the first four games of the season.

It's the most miserly unit in the NRL, with the second-placed Dragons (43) the only other team to concede less than 60 points so far.

But Friend backed the Titans' potent ball-players, even in the absence of injured skipper Scott Prince, to rack up points, as long as they are given opportunities.

"I don't think we had too many attacking sets on (the Cowboys') line and the couple we did have I think we scored,'' he said.

"If we can complete 70-80% this week I think we'll go close.''

The Titans hope to have second-rower Anthony Laffranchi back in the mix Friday night.

The Kangaroos forward was ruled out of Saturday night's game with a back injury once the side arrived in Townsville.

"He's just stirred something up when we trained up there. Hopefully he'll be right this week,'' said Titans coach John Cartwright.

"(Forward Brad) Meyers had a bit of a calf strain but I think he should be OK as well.''

Cartwright said he wasn't panicking after the loss to the Cowboys and would stick to the game plan that had ``served us pretty well this year and last year''.

"Just dropped ball really, we didn't build any pressure (on Saturday),'' he said.

"They were there to be beaten and we gave it to them on a platter really.

"We scrambled pretty well in defence but we put ourselves under a lot of pressure.

"We're confident. We know there are a couple of areas from the game against the Cowboys that we need to fix. Just some individual errors, nothing major structurally.

"We just need to make sure we don't drop so much ball.

"They're very clinical, they play a pretty simple game, with good players right across the park, so if you invite them into the game (with dropped ball) you're asking for trouble.''

Source: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/rugby-league/

[TITAN PETE]

Titans plan stingy pickings for Storm



Throw in internationals Cameron Smith, Greg Inglis, Ryan Hoffman, Brett White, Jeff Lima and Adam Blair and the Titans face the biggest test of the season to date.

"Of all the teams in the competition, that's why they're so successful - they take their opportunities and we need to give them minimal opportunities on the weekend or we're in for a hiding,'' said workhorse Titans hooker Nathan Friend.



Source: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/rugby-league/

Friendy told me to stop reading the papers so i'll let him know he should maybe look at the team sheets every now & again

[DIEHARD]

Friendy told me to stop reading the papers so i'll let him know he should maybe look at the team sheets every now & again

LOL that is hillarious.

[DIEHARD]

Inglis told to lift his game, says skipper

MELBOURNE Storm superstar Greg Inglis has been told to lift his game for Friday's clash against Gold Coast, captain Cameron Smith said yesterday.

Inglis has had a relatively quiet start to the season after being troubled by chronic hip soreness and having to shed several kilograms after returning from his post-season break. However, he had been more involved in his past two games, especially during the 17-4 win over the Dragons last Friday.

Inglis' work ghosting behind Dane Nielsen contributed to the Storm's first try, while he threw the last pass for Anthony Quinn to score the second and his powerful run in the lead-up to the decisive third try helped create space for Billy Slater to slice through.

However, Smith, who has previously pointed to Inglis' off-the-ball work, yesterday said more was now required from the left-centre.

''He had a bit of a slow start to the year, everyone knows that,'' Smith said. ''I know the coach and the players have asked a lot more of him this week. It's a big game for him because he hasn't been happy with the way he's been playing so he needs to step up this week.''

Titans centre Mat Rogers, who will line up on the opposite side of the field against Nielsen, said a big performance was around the corner for Inglis and he hoped the Titans, who are fourth after a bad loss to North Queensland last weekend, would not be the unlucky team.

''You know he's going to at some stage, let's hope it's not this week,'' Rogers said. ''Class players rise and I've got no doubt he's going to rise to massive, massive feats. Let's just hope it's for Queensland playing against NSW and not for Melbourne against the Titans.''

The Storm yesterday named an unchanged squad, with the Titans recalling Anthony Laffranchi after a back injury.

Rogers said the Titans would be unlikely to repeat the tactic that led to a massive upset win over the Storm in round four last year. The Titans frustrated the Storm when, in an effort to take Slater out of the play, they kicked the ball dead rather than risk his kick returns.

''I don't think that will be a ploy. I think we're pretty confident in our defensive chase now to be able to combat a guy like Billy,'' said Rogers, although he added that was before the ''woeful'' performance against the Cowboys.

''It takes him out of the game a little bit and maybe frustrates him a little. You look at a guy like Billy, I think he's probably the best player in the world at the moment. You just look at every angle you can to combat a guy like that.

''Billy just keeps getting better every year. You wonder when players are going to stop getting better when they are as good as him. He's definitely just grown another leg again this year, so it's frightening how good he can be.''

Source: http://www.theage.com.au/rugby-league

[titansrawesome]

Inglis told to lift his game, says skipper

MELBOURNE Storm superstar Greg Inglis has been told to lift his game for Friday's clash against Gold Coast, captain Cameron Smith said yesterday.

Inglis has had a relatively quiet start to the season after being troubled by chronic hip soreness and having to shed several kilograms after returning from his post-season break. However, he had been more involved in his past two games, especially during the 17-4 win over the Dragons last Friday.

Inglis' work ghosting behind Dane Nielsen contributed to the Storm's first try, while he threw the last pass for Anthony Quinn to score the second and his powerful run in the lead-up to the decisive third try helped create space for Billy Slater to slice through.

However, Smith, who has previously pointed to Inglis' off-the-ball work, yesterday said more was now required from the left-centre.

''He had a bit of a slow start to the year, everyone knows that,'' Smith said. ''I know the coach and the players have asked a lot more of him this week. It's a big game for him because he hasn't been happy with the way he's been playing so he needs to step up this week.''

Titans centre Mat Rogers, who will line up on the opposite side of the field against Nielsen, said a big performance was around the corner for Inglis and he hoped the Titans, who are fourth after a bad loss to North Queensland last weekend, would not be the unlucky team.

''You know he's going to at some stage, let's hope it's not this week,'' Rogers said. ''Class players rise and I've got no doubt he's going to rise to massive, massive feats. Let's just hope it's for Queensland playing against NSW and not for Melbourne against the Titans.''

The Storm yesterday named an unchanged squad, with the Titans recalling Anthony Laffranchi after a back injury.

Rogers said the Titans would be unlikely to repeat the tactic that led to a massive upset win over the Storm in round four last year. The Titans frustrated the Storm when, in an effort to take Slater out of the play, they kicked the ball dead rather than risk his kick returns.

''I don't think that will be a ploy. I think we're pretty confident in our defensive chase now to be able to combat a guy like Billy,'' said Rogers, although he added that was before the ''woeful'' performance against the Cowboys.

''It takes him out of the game a little bit and maybe frustrates him a little. You look at a guy like Billy, I think he's probably the best player in the world at the moment. You just look at every angle you can to combat a guy like that.

''Billy just keeps getting better every year. You wonder when players are going to stop getting better when they are as good as him. He's definitely just grown another leg again this year, so it's frightening how good he can be.''

Source: http://www.theage.com.au/rugby-league

oh lord, i unfortunately think inglis is in for a big one.

[TITAN PETE]

oh lord, i unfortunately think inglis is in for a big one.

If so it will be up to Tomane to live up to his own hype & put Fatty on his **** , as Toopi is just waiting in the wings for his chance

[titansrawesome]

tomane is 108 and inglis is 115kg......... damn

[teke]

The best way for Tomane and Mead to comeback this week is to attack Inglis hard when on the offense. They have all the weapons needed to give Inglis and Quinn nightmares. Im backing the boys to gain the pts victory.

[Ryan]

Tomane is playing his old club for the first time, so he's got plenty of incentive to turn it up aswell.
Ingliss has a sore hip - thats where Tomane and the boys should be aiming every tackle.
And I reckon Rogers will be kicking dead when field position is at risk.

[DIEHARD]

Titans v Storm
Skilled Park - Friday 7.35pm

Wow. Sometimes it is all you can say about the Melbourne Storm, who for about half a decade now have been the epitome of rugby league excellence. But the Gold Coast Titans? home record yields its own ?wow factor?, presenting fans with a massive start to Round 5.

While the Melbourne side are reigning champions and new premiership favourites after a clinical 17-4 dismissal of St George Illawarra last weekend, the Titans have built a fortress at Skilled Park, losing just two of the past 15 games at the venue.

The Storm are the only undefeated team left in 2010, putting them clear at the head of the table, while the Titans come into the match with a 3-1 record having tasted defeat for the first time at the hands of the Cowboys in Townsville last Saturday night.

The loss dropped them to fourth on the ladder and raised a question about their ability to maintain a lofty status while Scott Prince remains out injured.

While Prince will not be back for this clash, Anthony Laffranchi will be, having been a late withdrawal against the Cowboys. His return pushes Sam Tagataese back to the bench, which now faces a one-man cull on game day.

In a major milestone, Titans lock Ashley Harrison is celebrating his 200th first grade match.

The Storm were brilliant against the Dragons, suffocating the life out of them before killing them off with some scintillating plays. If they retain this type of intensity throughout the year, a fifth straight grand final is on the cards.

It?s not often you dare tamper with perfection; Craig Bellamy hasn?t, naming an unchanged side to travel to the Gold Coast.

Watch out Titans: Melbourne have had plenty of success attacking the right side of the field so far in 2010, which is a concern for the home side considering Greg Inglis (out of form) and Ryan Hoffman (injured) are usually making all sorts of inroads on the left side of the field and probably will again at some stage this season.

The Storm have scored eight tries in 2010 on the right side of the field, compared to just three on the left, so while Joseph Tomane and the right-side defenders took a beating last week, this week it might well be the boys on the opposite side getting hammered.

Six of those eight right-side tries have come on the fringe of the ruck (if you saw Billy Slater?s scintillating screamer against the Dragons you can picture it, so the edge defenders especially must be awake.

Of course, this doesn?t give the Titans? right-side defenders a reprieve. Sooner or later Inglis will ignite the left-side Melbourne attack ? and after viewing what Willie Tonga did against the Titans last weekend, this could be the match.

Watch out Storm: If Preston Campbell has been doing his homework during the week he will have noticed the Melbourne boys have a problem cleaning up chip kicks. The will-of-the-wisp halfback will, at some stage in the match, look to ?dink? one over the top for himself or a chaser.

Currently the Storm have defused just 33 per cent of chip kicks, leaving them one of the poorest teams in the NRL in the category.

Where it will be won: Clinical efficiency is what will get it done here. While this lands the match seemingly into Melbourne?s lap, it is not as clear-cut as it sounds.

The Gold Coast are gaining more metres per match and if they can dominate in this way they will give themselves enough chances to crack the Storm?s brick wall defence. The Gold Coast averages 1356 metres per game compared to the Storm?s 1155 metres, so they have a base to set up a victory.

They will still need somebody to step up and create tries from the good field position ? something the Dragons struggled to do last week.

The match will also hinge on the success of the Titans? attempts at second-phase play. The Storm rarely off-load and have just 35 so far this season, as they play the tuck-it-up-the-jumper and wait-to-you-crack styles of footy. The Titans aren?t prolific off-loaders either, but they do have 54 so far this year. And when they get them cranking, their backs seem a little more dangerous. The home side needs to find the balance between popping a pass and reducing potential errors.

The history: Played 4: Titans 2, Storm 2. The Gold Coast surprised everyone by beating the Storm in Melbourne last year, evening up the overall tally between the clubs. The two sides have met just once at Skilled Park, with the Titans winning 18-0 in 2008 against Storm side racked by Origin call-ups. The two wins for the Titans were by an average 15 points? while the two wins by the Storm were by an average 42 points.

Conclusion: Just how much petrol did Melbourne use in the game against the Dragons? This could be decisive ? but even so, the lean is towards the Storm, particularly while Scott Prince is still missing for the Titans.

Skilled Park has plenty of bones in the graveyard. But big occasions and stadiums don?t phase the Storm, and they look likely to get the job done here.

Match officials: Referees ? Ben Cummins & Jared Maxwell; Sideline Officials ? Steve Carrall & Adam Devcich; Video Ref ? Steve Clark.

Televised: Channel Nine ? Delayed 9.30pm; Fox Sports ? Delayed 1am.

Source: http://www.nrl.com

[titansrawesome]

[QUOTE=DIEHARD;265406]

Titans v Storm
Skilled Park - Friday 7.35pm

Watch out Storm: If Preston Campbell has been doing his homework during the week he will have noticed the Melbourne boys have a problem cleaning up chip kicks. The will-of-the-wisp halfback will, at some stage in the match, look to ?dink? one over the top for himself or a chaser.

we better pay attention to this stat and take advantage of it.

[TITAN PETE]

Titans plan stingy pickings for Storm

The Gold Coast Titans, so generous against the North Queensland Cowboys on the weekend, plan to play the stingy host when the Melbourne Storm drop in on Friday night.

The error-riddled Titans saw their most successful start to an NRL season grind to a halt in Townsville, as the Cowboys dined out on 16 Gold Coast errors to run up a 32-18 scoreline.

And with no disrespect to the North Queenslanders, the Titans know a repeat performance against the premiers could get even uglier on the scoreboard.

Last week it was Jonathan Thurston calling the shots on the other side of the ball. This week Cooper Cronk will marshal assaults on the Titans line.

On Saturday Willie Tonga crossed for a hat trick. On Friday Billy Slater could do the same, given half a chance.

Throw in internationals Cameron Smith, Greg Inglis, Ryan Hoffman, Brett White, Jeff Lima and Adam Blair and the Titans face the biggest test of the season to date.

"Of all the teams in the competition, that's why they're so successful - they take their opportunities and we need to give them minimal opportunities on the weekend or we're in for a hiding,'' said workhorse Titans hooker Nathan Friend.

Despite sitting undefeated atop the ladder, the Storm has scored a modest 67 points in the 2010 campaign. Eight teams have done better.

But for the Titans, the fear lies in the obvious potential the visitors have to run in points, with the Storm having recorded the second-best points differential in the league in 2009.

And with Cronk making his presence felt after missing the first two games with a groin injury and try-scoring machine Inglis being eerily quiet with just one try so far, Melbourne seems poised to ratchet up their points output.

Friend, who spent four years with the Storm until 2006, knows who the likely suspects will be Friday night.

But that doesn't mean he has a sure-fire way to stop them.

"Wherever Coops is you see Billy sniffing around and that's proven by his try on the weekend (against the St George-Illawarra Dragons),'' he said.

"It's hard to say what we have to do to nullify them. Obviously our defensive pattern has to be pretty tight on the weekend to not allow an opening.

"It's hard to say what to do against Cooper Cronk because he's their go-to man, so hopefully we can just put a little bit of pressure with line speed on him.''

With their high-calibre offence still finding its feet, the key to the Storm's early-season success has been defence. The southerners have allowed 38 points spread thinly across the first four games of the season.

It's the most miserly unit in the NRL, with the second-placed Dragons (43) the only other team to concede less than 60 points so far.

But Friend backed the Titans' potent ball-players, even in the absence of injured skipper Scott Prince, to rack up points, as long as they are given opportunities.

"I don't think we had too many attacking sets on (the Cowboys') line and the couple we did have I think we scored,'' he said.

"If we can complete 70-80% this week I think we'll go close.''

The Titans hope to have second-rower Anthony Laffranchi back in the mix Friday night.

The Kangaroos forward was ruled out of Saturday night's game with a back injury once the side arrived in Townsville.

"He's just stirred something up when we trained up there. Hopefully he'll be right this week,'' said Titans coach John Cartwright.

"(Forward Brad) Meyers had a bit of a calf strain but I think he should be OK as well.''

Cartwright said he wasn't panicking after the loss to the Cowboys and would stick to the game plan that had ``served us pretty well this year and last year''.

"Just dropped ball really, we didn't build any pressure (on Saturday),'' he said.

"They were there to be beaten and we gave it to them on a platter really.

"We scrambled pretty well in defence but we put ourselves under a lot of pressure.

"We're confident. We know there are a couple of areas from the game against the Cowboys that we need to fix. Just some individual errors, nothing major structurally.

"We just need to make sure we don't drop so much ball.

"They're very clinical, they play a pretty simple game, with good players right across the park, so if you invite them into the game (with dropped ball) you're asking for trouble.''

Source: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/rugby-league/

I spoke to Nath today & he didn't have any interviews about this game , media bullshyte.....never :boo:

[daveyk]

FYI guys

Round 5 Storm Friday 9 April 2010

Box Offices Open: 4.45 pm
Gates Open: 5.15 pm
Under 20's Kick Off: 5.20 pm
Kick Off: 7.30pm

[Blunt_Beno]

id like to see some more size on the wings, perhaps bring in tonga outside of tomane until his deffense improves? id like to see toopi get a run also, but from what ive seen of him in the qld cup so far, he has a lot of dirty play in him he needs to get rid of first.

all in all, im pretty excited about this game, think the titans are gunna shock a few ppl haha

[patskE]

tbh we need someone like gordon or mead to be around the ruck i rkn
just need some speed there to back up the lads