North Queensland Cowboys vs Gold Coast Titans
Saturday 17 August 2013 - 5:30pm - 1300 SMILES Stadium
North Queensland Cowboys vs Gold Coast Titans
Saturday 17 August 2013 - 5:30pm - 1300 SMILES Stadium
Mead could be our own version of Hayne in '09 or Barba in '12.
vs Bulldogs
13 Runs (152m)
1 Try
1 Try Assist
9 Tackle Breaks
3 Line Breaks
2 Offloads
vs Tigers
14 Runs (161m)
1 Try
3 Tackle Breaks
3 Line Breaks
if he's not named at fullback I'm gonna blow up.
I can't see why he wouldn't be, even Cartwright can't possibly be so stupid as to replace a form player with one coming back from injury ... if he had any nouse he'd play Zillman in QCup to see if he's right or at worst on the right wing where Don has been caretaker ... Zillman is not a left centre at this stage and Dowling has done nothing wrong in fact he's shored up that side pretty well. And hats off to Harrison who has made a good fist of 5/8 and defending the right edge.
Four reasons to escape to Queensland: Sun, Surf, Sand & the Titans.
NEVER MENTION THIS EVER AGAIN!!!
There is a parallel universe where Cartwright was sacked for that decision and the years since have not been as barren.
We have been given absolutely no favours by the draw but the Cowboys are rubbish and have nothing to play for. So if we stay in the grind as we did against the Dogs they will turn it up and we will get them.
Who will be playing the 9 given young srama is due back
He will most likely stick with Falloon this week given Srama is coming back from injury
Falloon has been carving up really aggressive and leading the pack
He has been a force to be reckoned with around the ruck
He is playing better than Srama in terms of the go forward
Does the coach go with form in the number 9 role in future or does he stay with Falloon of the bench
Interesting when you have two very talented hookers
same lineup
http://www.titans.com.au/news-displa...ys-clash/81777
The iSelect Gold Coast Titans have today named an unchanged side ahead of Saturday’s clash against the North Queensland Cowboys in Townsville.
iSelect Titans Coach John Cartwright has elected to stick with the same 17-man squad that made it two wins on the trot with a spirited 26-16 upset win over the Bulldogs last night.
iSelect Titans vs Cowboys
Saturday, August 17
5.30pm, 1300SMILES Stadium
1 David Mead
2 Kevin Gordon
3 Brad Takairangi
4 Jamie Dowling
5 Anthony Don
6 Ashley Harrison
7 Aidan Sezer
8 Luke Douglas
9 Beau Falloon
10 Nate Myles
11 Ben Ridge
12 Mark Minichiello
13 Greg Bird
Interchange
14 David Taylor
15 Ryan James
16 Luke O'Dwyer
17 Sam Irwin
http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8705478
Gold Coast's daunting NRL run home is proving to be just the motivation the club needed as they chase a finals berth.
The Titans moved back into the top eight on Monday night with an upset 26-16 win over fifth-placed Canterbury in Sydney.
But with four tough matches to complete their home-and-away campaign, it's far from certain if the Titans can stay in the finals race.
After a short turnaround North Queensland lie in wait in Townsville on Saturday before the final home match against the Warriors the following weekend.
Away matches against in-form reigning premiers Melbourne and minor premiership hunting Sydney Roosters cap off the year.
"I think our boys are relishing the challenge of playing these better teams," Titans assistant coach Steve Murphy told reporters on Tuesday.
"It seems to bring out the best in our boys and I'm sure this week will be no different."
The Titans named an unchanged squad on Tuesday for Saturday's clash with the Cowboys, though Jamie Dowling is in doubt after hurting his knee against the Bulldogs.
Injured fullback William Zillman will also be given a chance to prove his fitness as he tries to return from a groin complaint.
One makeshift option that won't be changing for the Titans is the switch of former Queensland Origin backrower Ashley Harrison to five-eighth, which Murphy said had lot to do with Gold Coast rediscovering winning ways.
"I think Ash's strength can't be underestimated in terms of what he does for the group, what he does for the younger players," Murphy said.
"I don't think it's any co-incidence that Aidan Sezer's played two of his better games ... Ash has a wealth of experience and Aidan can only benefit from being around someone like that."
Titans: David Mead, Kevin Gordon, Brad Takairangi, Jamie Dowling, Anthony Don, Ashley Harrison, Aidan Sezer, Luke Douglas, Beau Falloon, Nate Myles, Ben Ridge, Mark Minichiello, Greg Bird. Interchange: David Taylor, Ryan James, Luke O'Dwyer, Sam Irwin.
I expect dowling not to play and Zillman to return. As to how that re-shuffle looks ... i hope it's a direct swap, but fear it wont be.
The North Queensland Toyota Cowboys will take an unchanged squad of 17 into the round 23 NRL clash with the Gold Coast at 1300SMILES Stadium on Saturday.
With back-to-back victories against South Sydney and Penrith, North Queensland are now just four points out of the top eight with four rounds remaining, including three games at home.
The Titans are coming off an upset 26-16 win against Canterbury at ANZ Stadium on Monday night to reclaim their position in the top eight.
The Cowboys will wear their Indigenous jerseys in the Close the Gap round encounter which kicks off at 5.30pm.
North Queensland Toyota Cowboys v Gold Coast Titans
Round 23, 2013 Telstra Premiership
5.30pm, Saturday 17 August, 1300SMILES Stadium
1 Matthew Bowen
2 Kyle Feldt
3 Brent Tate
4 Kane Linnett
5 Antonio Winterstein
6 Johnathan Thurston (c)
7 Robert Lui
8 Matthew Scott (c)
9 Ray Thompson
10 James Tamou
11 Gavin Cooper
12 Glenn Hall
13 Joel Riethmuller
Interchange:
14 Rory Kostjasyn
15 Tariq Sims
16 Ricky Thorby
17 Ashton Sims
Heck I can not believe that the same NYC side has been named yet again. They suffered a 10 try belting and yet the same side is picked. Our season in NYC is done, please give some others a chance.
THE Gold Coast Titans have just one training session to cement a spot in the top eight ahead of Saturday's do-or-die clash against the Cowboys.
The Titans arrived back on the Gold Coast at 11.30am yesterday after Monday's heroic 26-16 win over the Bulldogs in Sydney and rushed to a recovery session.
They have today off and will train tomorrow before departing for Townsville at 10am on Friday.
The ridiculous scheduling leaves them with less than 72 hours on the Gold Coast to prepare for a game they virtually must win, with away games against Melbourne and the Roosters still to come, to keep their finals hopes alive.
Coach John Cartwright said it wasn't an ideal situation but refused to use it as an excuse ahead of a showdown against the resurgent Cowboys.
"You prepare for it. It's not ideal but every side gets a bad turnaround at some stage," he said.
"Some get more than others but we can't complain. We've had it pretty decent this year as far as turnarounds are concerned.
"It's probably the travel more than anything -- the trip down to Sydney and then short turnaround into a trip up to Townsville.
"You've just got to tick all the boxes with recovery and it'll be a really light week."
The Titans yesterday named an unchanged line-up from the team that beat the Bulldogs but fullback William Zillman will have a fitness test later this week, hoping he can triumph in an ongoing battle with the groin condition osteitis pubis that has sidelined him for the past six weeks.
Zillman travelled to Sydney but didn't play against the Bulldogs in the hope of having him 100 per cent for the Cowboys clash.
"Another week of treatment (will help). I'm pretty sure he'll play this year but the position he plays is hard to cover if you lose him early in the game," Cartwright said.
The Titans need to win two of their last four games to be in contention for the eight.
But with the Cowboys needing to win four from four to have any chance of making the finals, assistant coach Steve Murphy said they were preparing for a desperate opposition.
Manufactured Titans' five-eighth Ashley Harrison will be given the job of containing Cowboys captain Johnathan Thurston.
But Murphy said Thurston could not be the Titans' sole concern.
"Matty Bowen is playing great football, the two Australian front-rowers (Matt Scott and James Tamou) will be keen to make a bit of a statement," Murphy said
Centre Jamie Dowling is battling a ligament strain in his knee but is expected to play.
He has been outstanding for the Titans since coming into the team for the injured Jamal Idris, who remains hopeful of playing a role in the finals if the Gold Coast make the eight.
Does this mean he will play him in another position or am i just being hopefull