I have a bit of mail that Bird won't play as his hamstring is still a problem & Atkins & Cannings are on standby for Presto & Hendo who have not been able to train but they are hopeful of being able to train on Friday with the team
I have a bit of mail that Bird won't play as his hamstring is still a problem & Atkins & Cannings are on standby for Presto & Hendo who have not been able to train but they are hopeful of being able to train on Friday with the team
Last edited by TITAN PETE; 11-08-10 at 08:16 PM.
#itaintweaktospeak
Why Atkins??? I am not a big fan of his :-( Hopefully the boys are fit and ready to go. If Bird isn't fit, I'd rather rest him until the next game......
Interesting to see how tomorrows training session goes!
This is a must win, with no risking further injuries, game for us. If any player is not right then this is their last opportunity to rest.
Four reasons to escape to Queensland: Sun, Surf, Sand & the Titans.
I have to wonder how far off esi is from nrl level again. I rate him a better option than Atkins although I'm sure Atkins won't let us down and he is good in the air and then there is taga too with michaels shifting to wing. Not sure if esi and taga prefer the right side though.
Geese are the ultimate team players.
They honk to encourage one another!
BE THERE!
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Bird in doubt for Cowboys clash
BLUES enforcer Greg Bird is in doubt to return from a hamstring strain in the Gold Coast Titans clash against the Cowboys at Skilled Park on Saturday.
The tough five-eighth/lock was this week named on the bench to make his comeback after being sidelined since the Titans' clash with the Broncos in Round 19.
But it is understood the NSW State of Origin representative has hit a hurdle after experiencing a bit of soreness this week.
Bird will have a fitness test at the Titans final training run at Skilled Park today, which will determine whether or not he plays.
If Bird is ruled out, 18th man Ben Ridge will most likely move on to the bench.
Source: http://www.goldcoast.com.au
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Titans v CowboysNRL.com Preview
Skilled Park - Saturday, 5.30pm
Let?s be honest here ? this match should be a Titans runaway win ? but if the Gold Coast boys come into the match with this sort of complacency they could get roped and branded by the Cowboys. And the ramifications could be huge.
Yes the Cowboys have won just five games all year (one against the Titans) and have had an NRL-high 542 points scored against them (27.1 a game). Yes, they are without their captain and playmaker Johnathan Thurston for the remainder of the year. And yes, their minds are on the end-of-season trip ? but if they are to jag another win this year, you know they?d love it to be against their Queensland brothers.
The Titans simply cannot afford complacency. They might need just one more win to basically cement a finals berth but the logjam for positions in the finals is suffocating.
They are currently fourth on the ladder following a good win over Parramatta but while a win could see them as high as second, a loss could see them freefall all the way to eighth if other results go against them.
If they are entertaining thoughts of a top-four finish and home final they must win this match as they also have games against the Roosters and Wests Tigers to come and can?t afford to give either a ?free jump? before these contests.
Coach John Cartwright has retained the side from the win over the Eels, although Origin player Greg Bird returns to a five-man bench and if passed fit is a certainty to play.
The Cowboys have named Grant Rovelli to cover for Thurston, while James Tamou is also out of the side that lost to Brisbane after he was suspended for his role in a brawl. Ben Harris and Isaak Ah Mau have been added to a five-man bench at this stage.
Watch out Titans: The Cowboys don?t really pose many threats, especially without Thurston to feed the likes of Bowen, Bolton and Tonga.
But with a few weeks under his belt perhaps this is a match former ?bad boy? Arana Taumata to really showcase his skills.
It is no secret plenty of good judges believe the kid has talent; he just had issues settling down away from football. With a chance to have more of a say on the direction of the team this week, perhaps we?ll see some of this potential.
Look for Taumata to test the line often, as he loves getting a little physical.
Watch out Cowboys: Greg Bird is due to return from the bench, most likely in the forwards, after the side have found some cohesion and a way to win.
After Mat Rogers? success at five-eighth and Bird?s performance as a back-rower for the Blues in Game Three, you get the feeling his impact in the pack could be significant. It will mean Ashley Harrison playing some time at second row and Anthony Laffranchi spending some time at prop, but this shouldn?t upset the applecart; rather it should strengthen the line-up.
Scott Prince can still dominate proceedings and Rogers and Preston Campbell can play their cameo roles. If the Cowboys are looking for a down period when subs come on, they won?t get it now.
Where it will be won: Attitude towards the simple things. When coming into a game like this teams can sometimes get into a touch football-style shoot-out instead of remembering to get tough and set up good chances through disciplined football.
For the Titans to get the job done (like most expect), they need to come out with a clear focus on the ?one percenters? as they are called. They need to create a good kicking game, provide an enthusiastic chase every time and, quite simply, they need to tackle and run hard.
You often hear a losing coach say: ?They just ran and tackled harder than us.? It?s not a cop-out line, it is simple reality. When a team is not at their peak, players tend to just go through the motions sometimes and run with less intensity. This has a ripple effect, as you start to get dominated in tackles, the play-the-balls are slower and your field position is poor. If you don?t tackle as hard, you are often found defending your line.
The Titans need to prepare as if they are playing a top-eight team, and play a game plan accordingly.
The Cowboys also need a better attitude if they are to compete. It is one thing to just throw the ball around in hope, but you need some hard yards done beforehand, otherwise this could get ugly.
The history: Played 6; Titans 3, Cowboys 3. The Cowboys scored one of their rare wins this season against the Titans, making it two in a row against the Gold Coast.
North Queensland also won the last match between the clubs here at Skilled Park, making it 1-1 at the venue.
But the Cowboys? record without Johnathan Thurston is dismal against everybody.
Conclusion: Give me a ?T?, give me an ?I?, give me a ?T?, give me an ?A?, give me an ?N?, give me an ?S?.
Match officials: Referees ? Jason Robinson & Ashley Klein; Sideline Officials ? Paul Holland & Gavin Reynolds; Video Ref ? Tim Mander.
Televised: Fox Sports ? Live 5.30pm.
Source: http://www.nrl.com
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wouldnt walker be the choice? seeing he has been 18th man 2 weeks in a row?
TITANS Greg Bird and Michael Henderson have been ruled out of tomorrow night's NRL game against the Cowboys at Skilled Park.
Bird underwent a fitness test at the Gold Coast's final training session this morning where it was ruled he was still at least another week away from making his comeback from a hamstring injury.
Prop Henderson did not train at all as he battles to overcome a virus.
But in a huge boost for the Titans livewire fullback Preston Campbell trained strongly and will take his place in the number 1 jumper.
New Zealand-born big man Aaron Cannings comes on to the bench for Henderson to play just his second NRL game for the season following a shoulder reconstruction while Ben Ridge comes into the side for Bird.
http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/...st-titans.html
With Hendo and Bird out Im thinking there maybe one more change.
The bench looks to big and with Presto not 100% i think Walker may get added.
Wow Cannings back! I'm excited to see how he will go. Lift some gears.
Not long till game day.
Also rumour Laffranchi may not play. Hope this isn't true.
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
CANNINGS YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Cant wait...been looking forward to seeing these two teams face off for ages, but never been able to get to a match. Lets reverse our trend of losing to the other QLD teams this year (yes, 3 of our losses were 2 to the Broncos and 1 to Cowboys).
The plays I'd hate to see: (1) Mason carrying four over from 5 meters out and (2) Webb palming off Rogers:
The plays I can't wait to see: (1) Gordon turning Bowen inside out and (2) Friend ducking under an O'Donnell air-swing to go in beside the posts.
Four reasons to escape to Queensland: Sun, Surf, Sand & the Titans.