Travis Meyn | 12:01am August 8, 2013
DEFENSIVE specialist Ashley Harrison has been entrusted with patching up the Gold Coast's leaky right side with the Titans needing to fix their weak flank to keep in touch with the NRL top eight.
Harrison was deployed at five-eighth against the Tigers at the weekend as Albert Kelly faces a month on the sidelines with a badly injured sternum.
The former Origin lock's presence was a welcome addition to an area where the Titans have struggled in the past month.
The Gold Coast's right flank has leaked the third most tries in the competition, conceding 21 four-pointers this year, and most of those have come since Jamal Idris' injury.
Opposition teams have targeted the area with great success recently. Harrison didn't look out of place in his first start at pivot in five years against the Tigers at the weekend, registering a try-assist and making 22 tackles without missing one in the 36-6 victory.
''I didn't think Harro would have much trouble,'' coach John Cartwright said.
''He's a laidback character and a very good footballer.
''He drew on all his experience on the weekend, kept a cool head and in the end that's probably what the team needed.''
The combination of Kelly, Idris and David Mead was impressive on the right side earlier this season but has been completely overhauled with Harrison, Brad Takairangi and Anthony Don now defending there.
Don found himself dragged in twice by the Tigers attack on Sunday and he was exposed by Newcastle a month ago when opposite winger James McManus scored four tries.
Monday's clash against Canterbury is crucial to the Gold Coast's finals hopes and Cartwright said they had been working on their defence.
''We certainly have been (working a lot on our defence). You've got to base all your wins around defence,'' he said.
''We lost our confidence in that month with a lot of changes to the side as well.
''They've been working very hard and put a lot of time in the training field and video room to correct things. Defence wins the big games and we'll work on it again.''
The Titans will have an opposed training session tonight against the club's under-20s team. They held a similar session last week for the first time this year in a bid to work on a number of new combinations.
#itaintweaktospeak
Looks like Zillman will be coming in for either Don or Dowling. Kind of hope it's at left centre for Dowling but betting he'll be at fullback with Mead on the wing for Don.
Geese are the ultimate team players.
They honk to encourage one another!
1. Mead
2. Gordon
3. Zillman
4. Takarangi
5. Don
Should be our back five for the rest of the year. Dowling has not put a foot wrong but we won't make the finals with him the the centres. Equally happy to see Mead in the centres.
Not much discussion in this thread at the moment, guess it kinda sums up the feeling about our chances over the final few games
We have the Mead, the Mead for speed!!!
An unlikely win this week could put us back into the 8. creating some interest for another week. But a loss.........Whatever happens, there is a big difference in quality between the top 4 and the rest.
not a chance now
Four reasons to escape to Queensland: Sun, Surf, Sand & the Titans.
Zillman back?
I knew he was close that's why Carty played Mead at FB last week. Finally seeing him at FB and playing well and maybe playing Zillman out of a position. If he would have given him 3 or 4 weeks there would have spelt big trouble for Zillman. Feel for David wanting to play there. If Zillman is fit play him at six. If he can't kick at 5/8 then he shouldn't be on the field. Frustrating.
Titans must lift against Dogs: Bird
Adam Gardini | Sunday 11 August 2013, 10:23 AM
iSelect Titans Co-Captain Greg Bird says his side must lift another gear when they take on genuine top-8 contenders the Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium tomorrow night.
The Titans got their season back on track with a 36-6 win over the struggling Wests Tigers on home turf last weekend but face a step-up in class to face the fifth placed Bulldogs tomorrow night.
Bird said while the Tigers victory was a moral boosting result for the side after four straight losses, the Titans must build on that performance if they are to compete against the Bulldogs who have won three matches in a row.
“Getting that win was good for everyone’s mental state but at the same time, they (Tigers) were struggling just as much as us so we can’t take too much from that,'' said Bird.
“We’ve got to replicate that style of performance against one of the top-8 teams.’’
Bird said the Titans were wary of the Bulldogs but were more focussed on getting their own affairs in order ahead of tomorrow night’s clash.
“They’ve got stars all over the paddock and the forward pack alone – they’re a real big squad and once they get going forward, they’ve got the two halves which are probably in career best form at the moment,’’said Bird.
“We’re going to be wary of them but we’ve just got to be focused on what we’re going to do. That was the style of football we played against the Tigers, really focussed on what we do by controlling our own game and our own destiny and we’re taking the same mindset in this week.’’
Bird said the Titans were anticipating greasy conditions at ANZ Stadium tomorrow night and in preparation for the match had trained with soapy wet balls at the team’s final training session at Skilled Park this morning.
“It’s just the greasy conditions at ANZ Stadium, it's always the same down there and I guess they (Bulldogs) are used to it but we are coming off an afternoon game on a pretty fast track,’’ said Bird.
“So it’s just getting it in the guys ahead that it’s going to be a greasy ball and a slippery night.’’
http://www.titans.com.au/news-display/titans/81591
Retaining possession after the first kick off is essential. Third time lucky guys!
I'm hopeful of causing an upset in this one. Our season is on the line. I don't bet very big but I've thrown a couple of dollars on us at $5.25 and for a half time lead. Let's hope we build on what we started last week and don't make those couple of errors we made early in each half. It's finals time already for us and we'll need to beat the Bulldogs, Warriors and Cowboys at least to get our shot in the 8. All the pundits are writing us off, I reckon we've got a few canons to fire yet.
Geese are the ultimate team players.
They honk to encourage one another!