Round 5 2013: TITANS vs BRONCOS

[Hail Sezer]

If that's the case, we may as well have dave taylor and minichello on the wings?

I agree that getting wingers to start sets off is a good strategy employed by the best teams, but you can hardly expect them to be breaking through the line with the same frequency as bigger men.

I know stats don't tell the whole story, but if you compare the hit ups and run meters of Gordon and Mead, Gordon has made more meters per run than Mead (and Michaels) has over the first four rounds. He has 2 less line breaks than mead (1 vs 3) despite scoring the same amount of tries (3 a piece). He is well above the league average for amount of hitups taken and meters gained. I just don't see where the complaints are coming from i guess...

If we're gonna start talking stats then it's interesting to note that Josh Mansour has the 5th most hitups in the NRL with 49, behind Gallen, Tolmen, Merrin and Myles. He's one of the most in form wingers in the game and tore us to shreds in the weekend.

[K2G]

If we're gonna start talking stats then it's interesting to note that Josh Mansour has the 5th most hitups in the NRL with 49, behind Gallen, Tolmen, Merrin and Myles. He's one of the most in form wingers in the game and tore us to shreds in the weekend.

haha! wow. that's got to be a statistical anomaly. Can't be very often that a team's leading hitup man, is their winger? It probably speaks more to the fact that penrith have been trapped in their own end, or camped on opposition try lines (to little avail) more than most. I can't see other coaches reading this stat and berating their wingers for not taking enough hitups per game, certainly not ours.

[Ryan]

Mansour is alot like Ken Sio for Parra, comes in and make alot of hitups to help out the forwards. Both of them used to make at least 20 runs every game last year. They were gold for my fantasy team.....

[teke]

I know stats don't tell the whole story, but if you compare the hit ups and run meters of Gordon and Mead, Gordon has made more meters per run than Mead (and Michaels) has over the first four rounds. He has 2 less line breaks than mead (1 vs 3) despite scoring the same amount of tries (3 a piece). He is well above the league average for amount of hitups taken and meters gained. I just don't see where the complaints are coming from i guess...

My was, he looks totally unthreatening when hitting the line.

[Coaster]

The last thing we need is more forwards haha

Both our wingers have speed to burn, it gives us a great advantage, as defenders have to hold there line and not condense, yet our big forwards keep pulling them in, the only way to beat teams like Melbourne IMO.

KG like every other player in the team i expect to keep getting better, he has key things suited to him, such as beating defenders ect. But you dont discard one of the best young local players in our team because he needs a little work.

The best teams are as loyal to the players as they expect the players to be in the team. And to me, It is more important how the team gels as a unit then it is about a few drop balls ect. And guys like KG and Meady are part of the culture of this team.

And if i had anything to do with the team, i would drop a player faster for dissing a team mate then anything else. Regardless of talent.

[teke]

And if i had anything to do with the team, i would drop a player faster for dissing a team mate then anything else. Regardless of talent.

Who's doing that?

[TITAN PETE]

Titans chase NRL respect against Broncos
By Ed Jackson
AAP
Wed 03rd April, 12:35pm


Gold Coast are determined to put cocky NRL rivals Brisbane firmly in their place on Friday night.

The Titans go into the south-east Queensland derby against the Broncos on the back of a three-game winning streak.

That run has lifted the Titans up to fourth on the ladder, well above the ninth-placed Broncos who have just one win to their name in 2013.

Centre Jamal Idris feels the Titans suffer in comparison to their northern neighbours and the team is set on showing they have no insecurities about taking on the more storied Broncos.

"It's a genuine rivalry," the former Canterbury star said.

"We had it with the Bulldogs against Parramatta as well but up here Brisbane always seem to think they're better than you.

"Seeing that they're the older club, they seem to think Gold Coast comes second.

"We go out there to prove it's not that every time we play against them."

Friday's clash has a particular edge to it given former Titans skipper Scott Prince, who left the club to join Brisbane in the off-season, will be making his return to Skilled Park.

While Titans players still regard Prince as a good friend off the field, it appears there will be little love on it for the former favourite.

Titans' enforcer Greg Bird has already suggested he'll be targeting his former teammate's defence in the game.

And co-captain Nate Myles backed up Bird's claim, saying big boppers like Bird, Idris and Dave Taylor could be set upon Prince.

"We've got a few big boys on the edge and a few big boys in the middle," Myles said.

"We'll have to hold the ball to be able to get to him and we'll work off that."

[teke]

ATM the Titans could be classed as the Cocky ones, oh well...

Have we ever been favs v the Donkeys?

[TITAN PETE]

ATM the Titans could be classed as the Cocky ones, oh well...

Have we ever been favs v the Donkeys?

Not in the Donkeys eye's

[TITAN PETE]

Titans v Broncos preview
By Nicholas Janzen,
NRL.com
Wed 03rd April, 4:15pm

Titans v Broncos
Skilled Park
Friday, 7.35pm (Qld)

What has happened to rugby league in Queensland? Is it operating in a parallel universe? Somehow the Titans ? strugglers the past two seasons ? are now the Sunshine State?s No.1 team? and this week they?re chasing four straight victories for the first time since 2009 when they meet their usual ?big brother? the Broncos.

That?s right ? the Broncos and Cowboys are trailing the Gold Coast on the NRL premiership ladder, and the Titans? gap on their local siblings could be extended if the Broncos don?t put up one heck of a fight on Friday night.

Brisbane have, however, showed signs of life at Red Hill, with last week?s courageous performance against the Melbourne Storm (a 32-26 loss) indicative of the self-belief and talent that exists at the club ? even though they?ve won just one match this season, against the Dragons in Round 2. Could last week?s gutsy performance kick-start their season and catapult them back into the winners? circle?

The Titans are the NRL?s most improved team so far this season following victories against the Panthers, Sea Eagles and Raiders, and a close loss to the emotion-charged Sharks in Round 1. All signs are good for the Gold Coast?s fans, particularly following an off-season when their star playmaker Scott Prince headed to the Broncos and they were left pondering the direction of the club.

Titans coach John Cartwright has named an extended 19-man squad in the build-up to Friday night?s blockbuster. Lock Ashley Harrison (concussion) and centre Brad Takairangi (hamstring) have both been named to return from injury after missing last weekend?s 28-10 win over the Panthers at Centrebet Stadium. Utility Luke O?Dwyer and centre Steve Michaels have again been included as cover on an extended six-man bench after helping the team to the win against Penrith.

The Broncos, meanwhile, have produced a couple of shocks. While Justin Hodges was always going to return from injury, the names ?Sam Thaiday? and ?Josh Hoffman? were not expected to be seen on team sheets this early. Thaiday will fight a contrary conduct charge at the judiciary in Sydney on Wednesday night, and he?ll play if he wins. Hoffman, meanwhile, was expected to be out for at least a few weeks, but his ankle complaint has settled down quickly. David Stagg?s return from a medial ligament injury he suffered last week is still indefinite, as is winger Jharal Yow Yeh?s comeback.

Watch Out Titans: The Broncos, it would seem, are just getting warmed up. Last week?s performance against the premiers Melbourne was their best of 2013, and while they didn?t win they showed the courage and skills that?ll challenge most teams in the competition. Against the Storm ? regarded as the NRL?s best defending unit ? Brisbane scored their highest number of points this season (26), while dominating line-breaks (6-4), completions (81 per cent compared with 77 per cent) and tallying fewer missed tackles (19 to 25). All signs are pointing to an improved performance once again this week.

Watch Out Broncos: The Titans are on the rise ? and they?re proving particularly tough at home so far in 2013. After a poor showing at Skilled Park in 2012 when the home side won just four of 12 matches, the Gold Coast are determined to convert their Robina base into a fortress ? and they?ve started this season in the best possible fashion by smashing the Raiders and pipping the Sea Eagles. Will they bruise the Broncos this week? Don?t expect the home side to concede many points ? opposition teams have scored an average of just seven points a game at Skilled Park in 2013.

Plays To Watch: The Titans looking to pop a pass ? they rank equal top for offloads with 14.5 per match; Broncos fullback Corey Norman chiming into the backline after shifts from Scott Prince and Peter Wallace; Jamal Idris and David Mead charging full speed on the right-hand side of the field off the passing of Albert Kelly ? they caused havoc last weekend against Penrith; Brisbane moving the ball right to left ? their left side scored each of their five tries last weekend against Melbourne.

Key Match-Up: It?s quite literally master v apprentice here ? former Titans hero Scott Prince up against the man he mentored last season, Aidan Sezer.

Prince wanted to stay at the Gold Coast but when the Broncos offered him a two-year deal they were prepared to let him go. Now the Titans? playmaking responsibilities rest with Sezer and livewire Albert Kelly ? a combination most experts wrote off at the start of the season ? and that 6 and 7 combo has helped the Gold Coast to equal third on the competition ladder.

Sezer?s Titans have won three from four and Prince?s Broncos have won just one from four ? expect the former Queensland and Australian halfback to raise his game a notch or two here.

Where It Will Be Won: Big games are won in the forwards, and it?ll prove no different here. So far this season, both teams? runs of form can be attributed to their forward packs and their ability to march through the centre of the field and provide attacking room for their playmakers and outside backs.

So far this season, the Titans have proven impressive metre-eaters, gaining an average of 1473 metres per match (second in the NRL), conceding just 1301.5 (seventh) in the process. The Broncos, meanwhile, have poorer records on both fronts ? and it?s a primary reason for their dismal start to the year. They?ve gained an average of just 1265.5 metres per match (12th in the NRL), conceding 1372.8. When you work out the maths, it?s a difference of almost 210 metres per game between these two sides ? and a hell of a lot more attacking opportunities for the Titans!

If the Broncos are steamrolled as the Gold Coast forwards march downfield, they?ll be driving back to Brisbane having suffered another defeat.

The History: Played 13; Broncos 9, Titans 4. The Titans won the last time these sides met but before that the Broncos strung together a run of six meetings dating back to 2009. The record is two games apiece at Skilled Park.

Match Officials: Referees ? Shayne Hayne & Alan Shortall; Sideline Officials ? Jeff Younis & Chris Butler; Video Referees ? Bernard Sutton & Justin Morgan.

Televised: Channel Nine ? Live 7.30pm (Qld), delayed 9.30pm (NSW); Fox Sports ? Delayed 1am.

The Way We See It: This could well prove the match of the round ? little brother Gold Coast up against the might of the Broncos. We tip Brisbane ? on the back of an influential performance by former Titan Scott Prince ? by seven points in a low-scoring affair.

[TITAN PETE]

Titans v Broncos preview
By Nicholas Janzen,
NRL.com
Wed 03rd April, 4:15pm


The Way We See It: This could well prove the match of the round ? little brother Gold Coast up against the might of the Broncos. We tip Brisbane ? on the back of an influential performance by former Titan Scott Prince ? by seven points in a low-scoring affair.

We still are not being taken seriously by some but this is the same NRL Writer that calls Titans under 20 hooker Zach Friend "The younger Brother" of Warriors Nathan Friend , he doesn't have any brothers

[DIEHARD]

THEY TIP BRONCOS?!??! FFS!!!

[DIEHARD]

We still are not being taken seriously by some but this is the same NRL Writer that calls Titans under 20 hooker Zach Friend "The younger Brother" of Warriors Nathan Friend , he doesn't have any brothers

Where they get these people I will never know. There have been a real clutch of clunkers over the last few years.

[Coaster]

Who's doing that?

Nobody I am aware of.
I just mean its a quality I never want to see. This team we have is special. But still need CANEI - Constant And Never Ending Improvement

[gotitans101_]

Thaiday lost his appeal tonight and will miss Friday night's game:

Broncos captain Sam Thaiday has been found guilty of handling referee Adam Devcich and will miss his team's clash against the Titans on Friday night.

Thaiday fronted the NRL judiciary in Sydney on Wednesday night charged with contrary conduct for grabbing the shirt of referee Devcich in Brisbane's loss to Melbourne last Friday.

Thaiday's legal team unsuccessfully argued that the Broncos captain was merely demonstrating how he was grabbed by Melbourne opponent Bryan Norrie when trying to exit a scrum.

Part of the defence included radio interviews from NRL referees boss Daniel Anderson saying that Thaiday did nothing outside the spirit of the game.

Thaiday receives a one-match suspension and will return for the round six game against the Cowboys at Lang Park on Friday week.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-04-0...eferee/4608240