Round 13: Gold Coast Titans vs Penrith Panthers

[Ryan]

Zillman doesn't pass the ball...what's the use of having a centre, winger and a possible fullback outside him?

The same thing was often said about Rogers too.
Do you think Zillman would just run the ball from first receiver every play?

He doesn't have to be the dominant play maker or ball runner. He just has to create enough space for Prince to deliver to the backs, and be threatening enough to keep the defense live guessing. He has the agility and skills to do that.

[titansrawesome]

i think sezer could be a good up and comer halve, we could even buy some halves from souths if we want some really good rookies that can make the nrl with their skill.

[Chaos]

The same thing was often said about Rogers too.
Do you think Zillman would just run the ball from first receiver every play?

Rogers was the same...and even with the dominant forward pack we had last year, we were never going to win the grand final because of it.
We couldn't score when attacking in the oppositions 20 and we still can't.

[DIEHARD]

Buy halves off Souths? When was the last time they ever had a good halves combo? It's only decent now. If they have any up and comers, they won't let them go.

[Ryan]

Rogers was the same...and even with the dominant forward pack we had last year, we were never going to win the grand final because of it.
We couldn't score when attacking in the oppositions 20 and we still can't.

Our finals matches weren't lost due to the performances or playing styles of our 5/8, those matches were lost in every aspect of the game. Our teams patience, pressure building, goal-line attack and goal-line defense kept us at the top end of the ladder for two years - all the same game aspects that win GF's.

Plenty of people complain of the Titans not being able to 'put teams away' or score more than 38pts. But how many finals matches in the last decade were won by such margins? And you don't need to win by those margins to get there.

We got the most repeat sets from goal line attack last year and also scored the most tries from them. There was nothing wrong with our goal line attack last year, we topped the competition in all goal line statistics. This years performances are not comparable in any part of the game, for several reasons.

If Prince gets space, he can break the defensive line and put people over in a number of ways, we all know that. Last year he was able to do it from #7 because of the threats that Rogers, Bird, Campbell, Rogers, Friend & Zillman provided from positions #1, #6 & #9.

Prince has not been afforded that space this year due to two reasons; 1) he has not had the support of those other players in attacking plays for most of the season, 2) opposing teams have been able to direct more pressure onto Prince due to the absence of those other attacking players and suffocate his plays. No sooner than he gets the ball, he is out of room with no options or put on his back.

Prince is finding it hard to get that space from 1st receiver, but he might be able to get it from 2nd receiver if our halfback is capable of threatening the line and keeping the defense spread. I think Zillman's skills & agility make him capable for that role, and Srama's speed & work from #9 will also help.

[Chaos]

Our finals matches weren't lost due to the performances or playing styles of our 5/8

We obviously have a different opinion here...when was the last grand final winner, with a 5/8 that didn't pass?

[TITAN PETE]

My mail is that Toopi will start but not sure who will be left out

[DIEHARD]

My mail is that Toopi will start but not sure who will be left out

Yea looking likely, we will find out tomorrow morning.

[Ryan]

We obviously have a different opinion here...when was the last grand final winner, with a 5/8 that didn't pass?

When was the last grand final won purely by the 5/8's passing game?

When did our 5/8 lose a finals match for us and why?
We lost our last finals match by 26 points and our 5/8 only made 5 runs from 36 receives. What did he do with the ball the other 31 receives? Was it his fault we conceded 32 points and only scored 6?

Out of the 3 finals matches that we have lost - Preston Campbell was 5/8 in 2 of them. How do you rate his passing game?
The only finals match that we have won, was with Rogers in 5/8.

Last years GF losers had the Dally M of the year playing 5/8 for them........

I think you are putting too much weight on the importance of that position. Yes it is an important position, but not the deciding factor of every match.

If you're hellbent on having a 5/8 that predominantly passes the ball, then why object to Prince playing there? Do you think Zillman will starve him of ball and/or space? Zillman scored half of our final series tries last year. He obviously turns up for the big matches, and troubles the opposition.

[Titan_Blue]

Is Michaels fully recovered from his concussion last week?

Or is Bodene gonna shift to the pack...

[titansrawesome]

Buy halves off Souths? When was the last time they ever had a good halves combo? It's only decent now. If they have any up and comers, they won't let them go.

watch their under 20's i think its reynolds and morgan they are very good

[teke]

Prince has not been afforded that space this year due to two reasons; 1) he has not had the support of those other players in attacking plays for most of the season, 2) opposing teams have been able to direct more pressure onto Prince due to the absence of those other attacking players and suffocate his plays. No sooner than he gets the ball, he is out of room with no options or put on his back.

This bit is one of the main reasons the Titans are where they are. Titans attack this year has relied on a single player ie. Prince, and opposing teams have sort that out pretty quickly.

The introduction of Srama last week released some pressure and it was noticable. God Im gonna love seeing this team in full flight next year

[AmericanTitan]

This bit is one of the main reasons the Titans are where they are. Titans attack this year has relied on a single player ie. Prince, and opposing teams have sort that out pretty quickly.

The introduction of Srama last week released some pressure and it was noticable. God Im gonna love seeing this team in full flight next year

I think you hit it on the head. Teams know what we are going to do in attack and are stopping it fairly easily.


2012 is looking awfully good right now, but darn it, we can't give up on this year yet! Lots of season remains!

[teke]

Zilly, Michaels and Mead need to be more involved, they need to push the forwards out of the way and tell them to go sit out wide and watch.

[teke]

I think you hit it on the head. Teams know what we are going to do in attack and are stopping it fairly easily.


2012 is looking awfully good right now, but darn it, we can't give up on this year yet! Lots of season remains!

I havnt given up on them yet cause I know there is some good footy to be shown.

I just want them to show this dam good footy