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  1. #16

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    Travelling down for this and hoping for the win of course, but I'm really excited to see Marmin Barba in the juniors. He appears every bit as good as Ben.

  2. #17
    Administrator DIEHARD's Avatar
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    'Presto' and friends prepare to say farewell
    Adam Gardini

    The Jetstar Gold Coast Titans today recognised the contribution of nine players that will depart the club at season?s end, headlined by the retirement of inaugural Titan and favourite son Preston Campbell.

    After a glittering 14-year career, Campbell will play his 267th and final NRL match at Saturday night?s final home game against the Parramatta Eels at Skilled Park.

    In what is set to be an emotional day for the club, the Jetstar Titans are also preparing to farewell inaugural players Anthony Laffranchi (St Helens), Nathan Friend (NZ Warriors) and Brad Meyers (retirement) as well as departing players Clinton Toopi (retiring from NRL), Will Matthews (Dragons), Esi Tonga (Parramatta), Riley Brown (Newcastle, local) and Luke Capewell (Brisbane Broncos).

    With 80 minutes remaining before he hangs up the boots to take up an off-field role with the Titans working in the community and as a Learn. Earn. Legend! ambassador, Campbell said he would leave the playing ranks with no regrets.

    ?I feel satisfied with what I?ve done and I think that?s the main thing with anybody retiring,?? said Campbell, who started out with the Gold Coast Chargers in 1998 before going on to win a Premiership with Penrith in 2003 and a host of awards including the Dally M Medal and Ken Stephen Medal.

    ?I feel really proud to be able to finish where I started (on the Gold Coast). A lot of guys play at the same club for 10 years or even more, and even though I?ve gone full circle I?ve been able to finish where I started so I?m really happy about that.

    ?It kind of hasn?t hit me yet that I?ll be finishing up this year. I think once the game is finished the emotion will start to hit.

    ?I?ve been privileged to represent all four clubs and I remember them fondly.??

    To celebrate Campbell?s career, special limited edition t-shirts featuring a characterture of Campbell and listing his career achievements are on sale at the Titans Merchandise Store at Robina and will also be available at the game for just $20 each.

    The club has also set-up a special tributes page at www.titans.com.au where fans can leave personalised messages and tributes for any of the departing players.

    Campbell said he and his teammates were eager to not only go out on a winning note for themselves but for everyone involved with the club.

    ?I think we?re a better team than what we?ve been showing and we need to do it for everyone involved at the club ? the coaching staff, the staff that work hard in the office each week and obviously for the supporters and fans that buy our merchandise and come and watch us play to cheer for us.??

    TITANS DEPARTING PLAYERS

    Preston Campbell
    Years with Titans: 2007 ? 2011
    NRL games: 267* (* including Saturday night?s match against Eels)
    Titans games: 103*

    Anthony Laffranchi
    Years with Titans: 2007 ? 2011
    NRL games: 204*
    Titans games: 102*

    Nathan Friend
    Years with Titans: 2007 ? 2011
    NRL games: 135
    Titans games: 100

    Brad Meyers
    Years with Titans: 2007 ? 2011
    NRL games: 177
    Titans games: 75

    Will Matthews
    Years with Titans: 2008 ? 2011
    NRL games: 33*
    Titans games: 33*

    Esi Tonga
    Years with Titans: 2008 ? 2011
    NRL games: 37*
    Titans games: 37*

    Clinton Toopi
    Years with Titans: 2010 ? 2011
    NRL games: 156*
    Titans games: 27*

    Riley Brown
    Years with Titans: 2010 ? 2011
    NRL games: 77
    Titans games: 10

    Luke Capewell
    Years with Titans: 2011
    NRL games: 35
    Titans games: 7

    http://www.titans.com.au
    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

  3. #18
    Administrator DIEHARD's Avatar
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    Titans v Eels Match Preview

    Titans v Eels, Skilled Park, Saturday 7:30pm, LIVE Fox Sports 2 (Viewer’s Choice)

    Teams

    Tickets

    Match Overview

    The battle for the wooden spoon comes down to the final round, with two teams desperately hungry to avoid it. The Titans have been impressive in the last few weeks despite missing Scott Prince, but fell to the hot Tigers at Campbelltown last week 39-10. They are unchanged from the side that met the Tigers last week, and are farewelling Esi Tonga, Clinton Toopi and foundation players Preston Campbell and Anthony Laffranchi.

    The Eels suffered another heartbreaking golden point loss to the Roosters last week, dropping a 12-0 lead late in the game to lose 13-12. The Eels are also unchanged from last week’s game, coach Stephen Kearney sticking by the same side who have been so close this year.

    Strengths

    Playing in his final game in the NRL, veteran Preston Campbell is in vintage form. He mesmerised the Tigers defence at times on Monday night, seemingly with spiders on him, finishing with 10 tackle breaks. He will be keen to finish on a good note and end a wonderful career with a win, and not a wooden spoon.

    Weaknesses

    The Tigers destroyed the Titans right edge defence on Monday night, scoring four of their seven tries on that side. The Titans will have to plug this hole up if they are to stop the Eels left hand edge with Justin Horo and Ryan Morgan to be attacking them all night.

    Opportunities

    Even though they've competed at all times this year, an 80 minute performance still eludes them in the second half of 2011. If they don’t stay focused for the full game, the Titans little men will cause them some headaches.

    Threats

    The Eels fighting spirit has been a trademark of their play in 2011. They have lost countless games by close margins, but have competed in every game and pushed every side in the top eight to the edge, or even beaten them. If they display the same qualities in a big game like this, their big-match players will be hard to stop.

    The Big Issue

    Who will avoid the wooden spoon in 2011? Both clubs entered this season with plenty of reasons to be excited, but unfortunately neither side has been able to find consistency this year and find themselves in this position. The Titans have showed plenty of spirit all year and particularly in the last month in the absence of Scott Prince. They will be extra motivated to send out their departing players as winners, in particular the retiring Preston Campbell.

    The Eels have suffered disappointment on a different level, losing various games by agonisingly close margins, including three golden point losses and a draw. Coach Stephen Kearney has stayed true to his squad, with most experts saying that they have played a lot better than their position on the ladder suggests. Alas, they are still in this position, and will have to fight hard against a spirited Titans side to get the win.

    Final Five

    The Titans hold a 3-2 lead in the head-to-head over the past five games, but the Eels were victorious at Parramatta Stadium 22-18 in round seven this season.

    Key Stats

    Mark Minichiello worked extra hard against the Tigers last week, playing at his junior home. From 13 hit-ups, he made 120m, with a tackle break and 28 tackles. He will need to fire up again against a strong Eels back-row this week.

    Fui Fui Moi Moi had a reasonably quiet night last week against the Roosters. He made only 69m from eight hit-ups, along with four errors and a penalty conceded. He will need to be better this week against the experienced Luke Bailey.

    http://www.titans.com.au
    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

  4. #19
    Junior Titan SunnyCoastTitanFan's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by teke View Post
    Esi had scans on a Broken Hand and Mead came off late in the Tigers game with a Hammy scare. Both might not play this weekend.
    I really hope they can play this game, would esi be able to have injections like Bird did? And we need Mead, he always guarantees at least one extra try every week. I was counting 11 players in our squad ruled out for the season, but we really should get the win here still, although the bookies have us at $2.00 outsiders, which I find really insulting, and all the more reason to not only win the game, but thrash them (similar to last years effort but without conceding the 12 points )

  5. #20
    Administrator DIEHARD's Avatar
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    Titans v Eels
    Skilled Park Saturday 7.30pm

    Well, here we are: last chance at the ?Last Chance Saloon?. After 25 rounds of blood, sweat and tears, it all comes down to this ? a two-team shootout for the wooden spoon.

    It has been an unequivocally disastrous season for both of these clubs, and this match presents one last opportunity for each unit to try to claw back a modicum of pride and dodge the most unwanted ?prize? in rugby league.

    Although if the Raiders were to lose to the Bulldogs by more than 60 points they would technically come into calculations, realistically the loser of this match will take out last spot on the ladder in 2011. In the almost-as-unlikely scenario that the Eels record a second golden point draw in a season they would finish equal with the Titans on competition points ? the Gold Coast would then take the spoon based on a far worse for-and-against.

    Both clubs will no doubt now have one eye cast towards not just Mad Monday, but also towards 2012 when each will be reinforced thanks to some heavy spending on some high-profile recruits.

    But despite the fact there is now just 80 minutes of football left in the year, both coaches will want to keep their charges focused ? the carved cutlery hasn?t been seen on the Gold Coast since the time of the ill-fated Gold Coast Seagulls who took it home in three consecutive years from 1991-3, while the Eels have managed to keep the spoon at bay for 39 years, since the Class of ?72.

    (Interestingly, the Eels finished second last in 1991 and 1992, only being saved from the spoon in those years by the presence of the Seagulls.)

    As you?d expect in a wooden spoon shootout, neither side brings significant form into the clash, although the Titans are ahead in this respect ? they may have been blown away by the Wests Tigers last week but they have actually won two of their past four games (admittedly those wins were against fellow cellar-dwellers Canberra and Cronulla).

    However, the Eels may be in danger of forgetting what their victory song sounds like ? it?s now seven losses on the trot for the blue-and-golds, a run which includes a scarcely believable three golden-point losses. The fact that the Eels were in front late in the piece in five of those seven losses will no doubt have caused coach Stephen Kearney a few grey hairs at the end of his first season as a top grade coach.

    With no fresh injury concerns and despite the respective form guides of each side, both coaches have elected to go in with an identical line-up to last week. A final chance for the players to earn redemption?

    Watch Out Titans: We may have been saying this for a while now already, but: how long can the Eels keep going so close without a win? No doubt the likes of Kearney and skipper Nathan Hindmarsh are both perplexed and frustrated ? but the fact is they?ve proved they?re good enough to match it with any team over 60 or 70 minutes ? it?s just sealing the deal that?s the issue.

    Aside from the 50-point debacle against Souths the Eels have actually been defending well for long periods, they just haven?t been scoring enough points to make it count. This week they get a chance against a side that is not only missing a raft of first grade players but has also conceded the most points in the league this season.

    The Eels need to take a lesson in commitment from inspirational skipper Hindmarsh. ?Hindy? made 70 tackles against the Roosters, ran 16 times for 116 metres with three tackle-breaks and offloaded twice. If the Eels can continue their run of getting out to an early lead and then take a leaf out of Hindy?s playing manual they?ll give themselves a chance of holding on for a win.

    Danger Sign: Hindy won?t want his first season as skipper to result in the Eels? first wooden spoon in four decades. With a chance for a rest after this game, look for the old warhorse to throw himself at absolutely everything for the full 80 as he desperately tries to drag his team across the line.

    Watch Out Eels: Despite their relative inability to score tries in 2011 the Titans are actually the second most dangerous side in the NRL, after Manly, at scoring from their opponent?s 21-50 metre zone, with 19 tries at this distance.

    And while the Eels are relatively good at defending inside their own 10 metres (they have conceded 30 tries from this distance, only the Storm with 21 are better on their own line) they happen to be the worst in the league in terms of letting in tries from 21-50 metres with 25 conceded. This is mostly as a result of line-breaks ? the Eels have conceded 42 tries from line-breaks, leaving them by far the worst in the competition (the Titans and Raiders are next worst with 37 apiece).

    It shows the Eels? sliding defence is really struggling out wide when there is a hint of an overlap, and the Titans? makeshift halves need to spread the ball wide as soon as they get into the Eels? side of halfway to test out those fringes.

    With halfback and skipper Scott Prince out for the season it will be left to the retiring Preston Campbell to orchestrate the Eels? demise. Preston showed us he still has it, adding seven runs for 87 metres, 11 tackles and 10 tackle-breaks last week.

    Danger Sign: The Titans have a specialist out wide in David Mead. The young flyer has 15 line-breaks for the season (equal fifth) and his 15 tries see him equal third best in the comp. Campbell and lock Greg Bird both have great vision and passing games and will spread the ball to Mead at every opportunity.

    Plays To Watch: Greg Bird?s fend and offload to put support players through a hole; Fuifui Moimoi to finish his exemplary season with some explosive hit-ups; a touch of class from Preston Campbell in his last game in the top grade; relentless tackling from Nathan Hindmarsh who will finish the regular season as the NRL?s top tackler (1160 tackles so far, next best Shaun Fensom, 1110).

    Where It Will Be Won: It will come down to whether or not the spluttering Eels? attack can put a few points past the struggling Gold Coast defence.

    Although the Titans have won two of their past four and the Eels are on a seven-match losing streak, if you take it back to their past 10 games the Eels have won one game and the Titans two ? and the Titans have conceded 31 points per game over that period, compared to just 22.6 for the Eels (even including that touch-up from the Rabbitohs). Each side has averaged just under 15 points scored per game in that period.

    These have been the two worst attacking teams in the league this year ? the only side to have scored fewer than the Titans? 63 tries is Parramatta with 59.

    What it all means is this: if the Titans can put their turnstile-like defence in order it?s likely the Eels will struggle to score enough points to win. But if the Eels? attack finally clicks into gear, the chances are their defence will be good enough to hold the Titans out.

    The History: Played 6; Titans 4, Eels 2. In the short history of the Titans they have had the better of the Eels and won both previous match-ups at Skilled Park. The Eels prevailed at Parramatta in Round 7 after snatching a win in the dying moments (in a noticeable reversal of the way they have been finishing matches in the back end of the season!).

    Conclusion: Skilled Park has been something of a fortress in the last couple of years but the Titans have only won three from 11 played there this year. Both teams will be desperate knowing that a loss guarantees them the wooden spoon. It?s not how Preston Campbell will want to finish his career and it?s not a prize Nathan Hindmarsh will want in his first season as skipper. It really is too close to call and probably comes down to which team is more likely to hold it together for 80 minutes without clocking off.

    Match Officials: Referees ? Brett Suttor & Chris James; Sideline Officials ? Gavin Morris & Peter Gough; Video Ref ? Bernard Sutton.

    Televised: Fox Sports ? Live 7.30pm (Viewer?s Choice), delayed 9.20pm.

    * Statistics: NRL Stats.

    http://www.nrl.com/
    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

  6. #21
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    Quote Originally Posted by DIEHARD View Post

    Although if the Raiders were to lose to the Bulldogs by more than 60 points they would technically come into calculations, realistically the loser of this match will take out last spot on the ladder in 2011. In the almost-as-unlikely scenario that the Eels record a second golden point draw in a season they would finish equal with the Titans on competition points ? the Gold Coast would then take the spoon based on a far worse for-and-against.



    http://www.nrl.com/
    Don't we get a point each in a draw?

  7. #22
    Administrator DIEHARD's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Geeman View Post
    Don't we get a point each in a draw?
    That is really poor ey. Most fans know the NRL ladder off by heart.
    PUT EM TO THE SWORD! SHOW SOME STEEL!

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    TITANS, DIEHARDS, WARRINGTON WOLVES, MAROONS, KANGAROOS, HONG KONG THUNDER

  8. #23
    Administrator DIEHARD's Avatar
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    Laffranchi wants to tame Tigers

    NEXT week is his Skilled Park goodbye, but departing Gold Coast Titan Anthony Laffranchi will say farewell to the club that began his NRL career -- Wests Tigers -- on Monday night.

    St Helens-bound Laffranchi is desperate to derail the Tigers' charge towards the competition's top four.

    Some players want one chance to say goodbye but while Laffranchi will leave after next weekend's final-round encounter as a Titan, it was the Tigers who originally brought him from Murwillumbah to the NRL.

    And it was with the Tigers Laffranchi enjoyed the grandest day of his career, when together with skipper Scott Prince, they lifted the NRL premiership in 2005.

    ``While I'm not retiring, it feels a little bit that way because I'm leaving the NRL, leaving the Titans and this weekend it's kind of ironic that we play the Tigers, my old club,'' Laffranchi said. ``While it will be sad, it's also exciting because there's a new chapter next year heading over to St Helens.

    ``(And) it's always good up against the old team. I've been looking forward to this game after missing the game earlier in the year (through injury).''

    http://www.goldcoast.com.au
    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!!"
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  9. #24
    First Grader amaline's Avatar
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    Spoke to Zillman today, said that Esi is out with a broken hand. Likely O'dwyer to centre, go into the game with a three man bench.

  10. #25
    First Grader Cowboy Titan's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by amaline View Post
    go into the game with a three man bench.
    Really? Didn't the NRL grant a last minute dispensation a couple of weeks ago to bring in an under 20's player? I know Toopi ended up in the team anyway but the commentators said the Titans gained approval to play someone else.

  11. #26
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    Imo, Thompson would be better than O'Dwyer at centre if Esi is out

  12. #27
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    Nearly 20,000 tickets allocated for this game and rising! It's going to be a BIG one! Amazing atmosphere!
    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

  13. #28
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    Quote Originally Posted by amaline View Post
    Spoke to Zillman today, said that Esi is out with a broken hand. Likely O'dwyer to centre, go into the game with a three man bench.
    That is bad... Bad Bad Bad news.

  14. #29
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    I think O'dwyer is a major upgrade on how Esi played last week, worst I have ever seen him play but maybe the hand was giving him troubles.

  15. #30
    Super Moderator TITAN PETE's Avatar
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    Chalky started in the centers when he was with Parra so he should find the change easy enough & he won't Bludge out like others

    #LoseTheSpoon
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