Former AFL ruckman Peter 'Spida' Everitt joins NRL wooden-spooners the Titans

[DIEHARD]

Former AFL ruckman Peter 'Spida' Everitt joins NRL wooden-spooners the Gold Coast Titans

NRL wooden-spooners the Gold Coast Titans are about to sign colourful AFL personality Peter 'Spida' Everitt as a kicking and catching coach for next season.

The former St Kilda, Hawthorn and Swans superstar, who now lives on the Gold Coast and works on a local radio station, will be a huge bonus for the Titans in their war against the AFL and the Suns.

The involvement of AFL stars in rugby league is a growing trend, with former North Melbourne legend Wayne Carey attending a Storm training session last week to work on different skills.

Titans coach John Cartwright has no doubts that Spida Everitt can help improve both catching and kicking skills with his side.

"He's a very enthusiastic fella and I'm looking forward to getting him involved," Cartwright said.

"We've had a chat about how he can help us and we're going to sit down and talk again next week."

The Titans are trying to replicate the Melbourne Storm, who have often called in AFL experts for specialised training.

"One of our poor areas this year was all the tries we conceded from high kicks," Cartwright said.

"I think Spida could certainly help our catchers out and also talk to a few of the guys about kicking skills and different techniques.

"He obviously knows what he's talking about in those areas and he's very keen to join us."

Everitt told The Sunday Telegraph that his deal was to spend two hours a week with the Titans players at two training sessions.

"My main job is to help with marking - or catching the high balls as you guys call it," Spida said.

"It's funny. I never knew anything about rugby league until I joined the Swans and Nick Davis was a mad Sharks fan and used to take me to Cronulla games.

"Some of the skills like catching and kicking are the same in both sports anyway.

"I'm really looking forward to working alongside John Cartwright and the players."

Spida works for 92.5 FM's breakfast show on the Gold Coast and also commentates on the Suns AFL matches for the station.

The Titans conceded the equal second most tries (10) from bombs this year, with only the Bulldogs worse with 14 because first-year fullback Ben Barba struggled at times through his lack of height.

Melbourne Storm's general manager of football, Frank Ponissi, revealed how heavily the minor premiers rely on AFL identities for assistance.

Former Western Bulldog Matt Mansfield is a permanent members of the club's coaching staff to work on catching and kicking drills.

"We even had Wayne Carey in for a session last week to help out the boys," Ponissi said.

"We also share our AAMI Park facility with the Melbourne Demons, and their assistant coaches have helped us out as well.

"The NRL is so competitive these days that anything you can do to get an edge is worthwhile."

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/

[DIEHARD]

A welcome addition. Hopefully we see some dividends. Give Srama a work over too please.

[BackpackingTitan]

Good to see this has been identified as something that needs to be looked at. Titans just could not defuse attacking kicks this season. Melbourne have had success using this method so the boys should definately get something out of it.

[teke]

It will always be the hardest part of the game to be dominant at because if the attacking kick lands where it is supposed it to it will always be a lottery.

It's great to see the Titans employ Everitt for some coaching.

[Coaster]

This is a positive step IMO,
Its thinking outside the box and being flexible enough to use others strengths.

Have no idea who this spida bloke is, but very happy our management are thinking lateral

[Chaos]

It will always be the hardest part of the game to be dominant at because if the attacking kick lands where it is supposed it to it will always be a lottery..

League has come down to a lottery...both games last weekend were decided by bombs.
Inu scored an unusual try to knock the Tigers out and at first glance it looked like the Dragons scored from a bomb to beat the Broncos before the video ref gave it the red light.

Both bombs determined the fate of the four teams.

Some people like watching bombs and lottery but the pure League lovers think it's boring...I'm one of them

[karnage]

Excellent news.

[teke]

League has come down to a lottery...both games last weekend were decided by bombs.
Inu scored an unusual try to knock the Tigers out and at first glance it looked like the Dragons scored from a bomb to beat the Broncos before the video ref gave it the red light.

Both bombs determined the fate of the four teams.

Some people like watching bombs and lottery but the pure League lovers think it's boring...I'm one of them

I think it's boring myself but have to live with it cause it's not going away.

[Chaos]

I think it's boring myself but have to live with it cause it's not going away.

Yeah your right...we still need to adapt to the current environment.

[Titanic]

Yeah your right...we still need to adapt to the current environment.

The irony of the successful "protect the kicker" lobby is that we now have a bomb-fest again and the cries of "protect the catcher" hence the bat-the-ball-back option.

Here's one from left field: why not anti-AFL it, ban catching bombs all together and making it a real lottery? oh yeah, and while we're at it, bring back contested scrums.

[Chaos]

The irony of the successful "protect the kicker" lobby is that we now have a bomb-fest again and the cries of "protect the catcher" hence the bat-the-ball-back option.

Here's one from left field: why not anti-AFL it, ban catching bombs all together and making it a real lottery? oh yeah, and while we're at it, bring back contested scrums.

Your probably right about the kicker having more time and therefore producing more accurate kicks for his outside receivers.
Technically every game we see players 'off the ball' obstructing the attacking players without penalties...it wasn't until Hornby actually tackled a Bronco player before a penalty was giving.

I'd rather see more reward for the defender catching a kick within his own 20 metre...a 20 metre restart would be something...I'd even suggest more.

[shamus]

I think it's boring myself but have to live with it cause it's not going away.

Yeah your right...we still need to adapt to the current environment.

I have always thought teams 'overbomb' so then I had an idea of limiting the amount of bombs allowed per team per half? ...and then I thought how ridiculous that sounded so my next idea was to ban the bomb on the last tackle...it puts the defensive team in two minds as to when the bomb is coming and if the attacking team have to run it on the last then it becomes a case of hot potato.

I like that one, but I am sure people will shoot holes in it.

[teke]

I have always thought teams 'overbomb' so then I had an idea of limiting the amount of bombs allowed per team per half? ...and then I thought how ridiculous that sounded so my next idea was to ban the bomb on the last tackle...it puts the defensive team in two minds as to when the bomb is coming and if the attacking team have to run it on the last then it becomes a case of hot potato.

I like that one, but I am sure people will shoot holes in it.

I really like the idea of ban the bomb on the 5th tackle

[Chaos]

I have always thought teams 'overbomb' so then I had an idea of limiting the amount of bombs allowed per team per half? ...and then I thought how ridiculous that sounded so my next idea was to ban the bomb on the last tackle...it puts the defensive team in two minds as to when the bomb is coming and if the attacking team have to run it on the last then it becomes a case of hot potato.

I like that one, but I am sure people will shoot holes in it.

I'm not a fan of banning options...i rather have more incentive for more exciting play...don't take the bomb away...if you reward the defensive side with defusing the bomb, attacking sides will be less likely to use that option.