2013 Trial: BRONCOS v TITANS at Redcliffe

[TITAN PETE]

Titans giants to make formidable pair


Travis Meyn | February 13th, 2013


THE Gold Coast Titans are set to unleash one of the biggest right-side pairings in the NRL with man-mountains Dave Taylor and Jamal Idris.

Titans coach John Cartwright is toying with the idea of running two of the NRL's biggest players in a tandem pairing that will have opposition defences cowering.

At 118kg, Idris is already one of the biggest centres in the game. He spent most of 2012 on the left side but is more comfortable at right centre.

Taylor is about 122kg and is a wrecking ball in full flight on the right edge.

The former Rabbitoh and Bronco will come off the bench in his first outing for the Titans against the Broncos in a pre-season trial at Redcliffe on Saturday.

It's likely he will slot into the place of Mark Minichiello and if Idris is floating on the right side it could be a tough night for Brisbane's left edge.

Titans assistant coach Trevor Gillmeister said the one-two punch could be a devastating weapon for the Gold Coast this year.

"Carty has tossed up a couple of things," Gillmeister said.

"Dave probably prefers the right but he can play on the left as well. I think it's going to come down to the balance of the team.

"It'll depend on a few blokes, especially guys like Jamal. If we had Jamal and Dave on one side (of the field), I'm sure I'd prefer to be on the other side if I was tackling.

"It can work both ways. If we haven't got much ball, the bigger blokes can tire a bit more but if we've got plenty of footy I know where I'd prefer to be defending."

Taylor has had an injury-plagued pre-season, battling an achilles strain which ruled him out of the All Stars match before cutting his foot on a piece of glass. Gillmeister said the Titans wanted Taylor to play a low-risk game and not try to be the matchwinner every week.

"A lot of people think they can find the key with one bloke but I think a lot of it comes down to maturity," he said.

"He's getting a bit more mature and I think he has to get through to himself that he doesn't have to be the game winner every week.

"He doesn't have to beat three defenders every time he has the footy.

"He doesn't have to worry about the big plays so much."

Cartwright has named speedster Kevin Gordon in the centres as he searches for a replacement for Beau Champion.

William Zillman, David Mead, Aidan Sezer and Ryan James will make their first appearances for the Titans this year while former Gold Coast captain Scott Prince has been named on the Broncos bench.

Co-captains Nate Myles and Greg Bird will miss the match along with lock Ashley Harrison while prop Matt White was yesterday ruled out for the season with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.

"I'm shattered for Whitey. He was finally starting to believe like he belonged in the NRL," Gillmeister said.

[DIEHARD]

OzTix sold out of tickets overnight! Don't worry though - we're organising more now...You won't miss out tho, get them direct from the club today

[Surfers66]

People really want to see Princey get smashed...haha

[DIEHARD]

Mead looking forward to some football

CLICK HERE TO VIEW MEAD VIDEO

David Mead will get his first taste of the football this season after being named in Saturday?s trial against the Broncos in Redcliffe.

Mead said he is looking forward to the clash after what has been a gruelling pre-season.

"I'm excited, day one we came back and had a 2km run and then a beep test and hopefully the hard work from that day up until now will pay of this weekend."

Mead has been named on the wing alongside Kevin Gordon, which is a new experience for both given they generally line up on opposite wings.

"It will be interesting to see how Kevin goes in the centres, that's where he played as a junior and that was the reason he got picked up by the Titans, so I think he'll go well and hopefully get some tries too," said Mead.

The winger said he was expecting a tough encounter on Saturday night against what is a strong Broncos outfit.

""I'm just expecting a real hard game from them; they?re always pretty tough and strong. We just have to go out there and play as a team and hopefully come away with a win."

http://www.titans.com.au/

[DIEHARD]

Adam McKenzie tells me that tickets are back on OzTix

[TitansFan2020]

hahahha imagine taylor as right winger

2. Mead
3. Gordon

Fastest combo in the comp

4. Idris
5. Taylor

Biggest combo in the comp


Have fun trying to defend that NRL

[Julius Sezer]

4. Idris
5. Taylor

Biggest combo in the comp

Would rather want

4. Taylor
5. Idris

Would be fun to watch

[gothabull]

will be interesting seeing kevy and mead playing together very hard to handle i reckon and our new halves combination is what im waiting for the most also wouldnt mind some big hits on prince lol

[Titanic]

One big hit should do it ... Taylor can replay his elbow to the sternum trick.

[Toads]

Yes, put me down as another one that wants to see Princey get popped like a over-sized, over-ripe zit!

[DIEHARD]

Punted Prince set to inspire

LEAGUE legend Wally Lewis has backed Scott Prince to find "inspiration" from his Titans punting as the former Gold Coast captain prepares to face his former teammates for the first time tomorrow.

Prince will come off the bench for the Brisbane Broncos in tomorrow night's pre-season trial at Redcliffe, just over three months since he was controversially released from the club he helped build.

All eyes are on the veteran halfback to see if the Titans' decision to move him on will come back to haunt the Gold Coast this season or whether the club's decision to look to the future was the right call.

Lewis, who himself was pushed out of the Broncos towards the end of his career, said Prince could channel those feelings into inspiration for the season.

"It's an unusual feeling (playing against your old club) but I'm sure Princey's had a bit of experience in that before," he said.

"There's probably always that thing in the back of the mind that's an assistant to your inspiration.

"You want to chalk up a win and make it more painful for them (old club)."

Prince is still close friends with many of the Titans players but there is plenty of animosity between the club's hierarchy and their former halfback.

The 32-year-old is trying to push his way into the Broncos starting side and will need to unseat either Peter Wallace or Corey Norman for a spot in the playmaking division.

Origin great Lewis, who linked with the Gold Coast Seagulls after being cut by Brisbane, said Prince would be more focused on playing his way into a jersey than getting revenge on his old club.

"Princey's never been a bitter sort of bloke. He's always been quite light-hearted and a happy fellow," he said. "It's not in his character to be spiteful nor is it in his build to be spiteful on the field.

"If he's in a mood to try and provide the best knockout punch of all that will be on the scoreboard rather than throwing one on the chin of a former teammate.

"I'm sure Scott probably feels that the best thing he can possibly do is concentrate more on the game plan.

"All concentration will be on following the plan given to him by the coach."

Many believe Prince's departure will be the best thing to happen to him and the Titans.

It could reinvigorate the talented halfback as well as breathe life into a stale Titans attack.

"That could provide extra inspiration rather than just being at the same place and following the same plan year after year," Lewis said.

"Others might believe it's a little bit easier to stick to the plan you know so well.

"I feel that the best thing is to make sure you have that inspiration and the will to win is there every day of the week. The switch will provide that quiet comfort for Princey."

http://www.goldcoast.com.au

[DIEHARD]

James earns starting spot for Broncos trial

iSelect Titans Coach John Cartwright says the club is looking forward to seeing towering prop Ryan James back in club colours after a strong performance for the Indigenous All Stars last weekend.

James showed he had well and truly recovered from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee which ruled him out for the best part of 12 months after producing a strong showing in the Indigenous All Stars? victory against the NRL All Stars at Suncorp Stadium last weekend.

While the club?s front row stocks suffered a blow on Monday with the news that prop Matt White will miss the remainder of the season with the same injury that James suffered in 2011, Cartwright said he was keen to see James back in Titans colours.

James will start in the front row for the Titans in Saturday night?s second trial match against the Brisbane Broncos at Redcliffe.

?Ryan, having that 12 months under his belt as far as his recovery from his knee injury is concerned, we?re looking forward to getting him out on the paddock,?? said Cartwright.

?Losing Matty White is a huge blow for us. He?s been a tremendous player for us over the last couple of years and has forced his way into the 17 permanently over the last 12 months in particular so that?s a major loss.
?It leaves us a little bit thin in that front row area, you never like to lose anyone for the whole season, it?s unfortunate for Matt, but that?ll open up the door for someone.??

Source: http://www.titans.com.au

[Hail Sezer]

Ryan James is out apparently with a groin injury.

iSelect Titans prop Ryan James has been ruled out of tonight's trial match against the Brisbane Broncos with a groin injury.
James, who had initially been named in the starting front row for tonight's match, was withdrawn after suffering from groin soreness during the week.
Former Warriors and Raiders prop Mark Ioane is tipped to start in James' place, with Coach John Cartwright to make a decision this afternoon closer to kick-off.

Titans vs Broncos
7.45pm - Saturday, February 16
Dolphin Oval, Redcliffe

1 William Zillman
2 Anthony Don
3 Jamal Idris
4 Kevin Gordon
5 David Mead
6 Aidan Sezer
7 Albert Kelly
8 Luke Douglas
9 Matt Srama
19 Mark Ioane
11 Ben Ridge
12 Mark Minichello
13 Luke O' Dwyer
Interchange
14 David Taylor
15 Luke Page
16 Cody Nelson
17 Shane Gray
18 Beau Falloon
20 Brad Takairangi
21 Jordan Rankin
22 Jordan Atkins
23 Beau Henry
24 Steve Michaels
25 Jamie Dowling

http://www.titans.com.au/news-displa...h-injury/68447

[teke]

will be interesting seeing kevy and mead playing together very hard to handle i reckon and our new halves combination is what im waiting for the most also wouldnt mind some big hits on prince lol

unfortunately kev will be at left centre

[DIEHARD]

Late mail: James out with injury

iSelect Titans prop Ryan James has been ruled out of tomorrow night's trial match against the Brisbane Broncos with a groin injury.

James, who had initially been named in the starting front row for the match, was withdrawn after suffering from groin soreness during the week.

Former Warriors and Raiders prop Mark Ioane is tipped to start in James' place, with Coach John Cartwright to make a decision closer to kick-off.

Source: http://www.titans.com.au