SMH: LATE MAIL
TITANS second-rower Ben Ridge is set to make his debut tonight in their match at Jubilee Oval against St George Illawarra. Ridge, who lists pig shooting among his hobbies, was an Australian Schoolboys representative in 2007. Gold Coast travelled to Sydney yesterday, with coach John Cartwright yet to decide whether Luke O'Dwyer or Shannon Walker, both named in an 18-man squad, would miss out.
Dragons centre Matt Cooper has been cleared to play his first match since State of Origin II, after being sidelined with a hamstring injury, and is considered in no doubt.
''I'm going into the game 100 per cent,'' he said yesterday. Cooper will line up with Mark Gasnier for the first time since his fellow centre's return to the club. Gasnier, though, will again start from the bench. Dragons coach Wayne Bennett has taken Nick Emmett and Ricky Thorby off his interchange.
SMH