C'mon Pete, we know the best part was being able to come and make us eat your dust
C'mon Pete, we know the best part was being able to come and make us eat your dust
Four reasons to escape to Queensland: Sun, Surf, Sand & the Titans.
Fifita could get even better in 2014: Sharp
Cronulla Sharks interim coach Peter Sharp has warned that one of the most unstoppable players of 2013, representative prop Andrew Fifita, can get even better this year.
However Sharp also expressed concern that the club could go into its Round 1 match missing both of its first-choice halves, with Todd Carney battling to overcome a hamstring strain and Jeff Robson guaranteed to be missing for around six weeks after receiving facial fractures in the side's final trial.
Asked if Fifita could match his stunning performances of 2013, where he was the club's leading try scorer with nine four-pointers in 25 games, also making 32 tackles and 158 metres per game (for an NRL-topping 3,949 metres), Sharp said "going on last week's trial I think he can, yeah".
Sharp's comments come as Sharks captain Paul Gallen has warned his towering teammate: "Rugby's no fun."
Fifita starred in Cronulla's narrow 28-22 trial loss to Wests Tigers, scoring one try, having another disallowed following an offside ruling, and also laying on a try for teammate Sam Tagatase.
"He'll reproduce [his 2013 form] I'm pretty sure," Sharp said.
"He's keen to do well, he's got his [twin] brother [David] here, his brother's pushing for selection as well. We're hoping all that sort of stuff will add up for an improved year for Andrew, he could slightly improve on last year which would be great because he was outstanding last year."
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Sharp was less positive over the halves situation, however.
"It's certainly an issue coming into the first game possibly without your two main halves, the two halves that played last year. [Carney has] a hamstring strain, we're hopeful he'll play Round 1 but we'll see how he goes, we won't risk him. [Daniel] Holdsworth will be there."
If Carney is out there remains a question mark over who will be Holdworth's partner in the halves for the Round 1 match against the Titans, Sharp added.
Aside from the injury to Robson, Sharp said he was satisfied with the side's buildup and trial form – which included making the semi-finals of the Dick Smith NRL Auckland Nines, and a 24-12 win over Manly in their first trial.
"I think the object was to get as much football in for as many guys as possible and I think we did that over the two trials and the Nines. It's about having a look at some of the younger guys too, and getting the senior guys some footy under their belt and some contact and all that stuff," Sharp said.
Running his eye over the rest of the squad, Sharp pointed to some exciting youngsters coming through into first grade.
"Valentine Holmes and Michael Lichaa will certainly be in the mix. Valentine Holmes is an exciting prospect but I'm not entirely sure if he's ready this year. Nu Brown's another exciting prospect too. I don't know if they're ready for first grade but Lichaa certainly is at some stage this year."
Sharp also said new recruits Blake Ayshford and Matt Prior had been very impressive at training, as had Bryce Gibbs coming off a long-term injury.
"Ayshford and Matty Prior, they've trained the house down and they've been really impressive – sometimes you just need to change the club don't you, to give you a spring in your step? Hopefully we've provided that avenue for them.
"Jono Wright's been good, Bryce Gibbs has been good after sort of a year in the wilderness with an Achilles injury which has been fairly severe. He's pain-free and has absolutely trained the house down Gibbsy, he's fit and raring to go."
Sharp said former Eels and Origin winger Eric Grothe has shown "encouraging" signs.
"He's done a great job and scored a couple of nice tries. He's worked hard on his game, he's a project after being out that long."
Source: http://www.nrl.com
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Gold Coast Titans fear being Cronulla Shark bait again come round one
GOLD Coast Titans fear becoming Shark bait as they brace for another Cronulla ambush with the potential for more ASADA scandal fallout ahead of the series opener next Monday night.
A sense of déjà vu is beginning to sweep through the corridors of Gold Coast headquarters with NRL boss Dave Smith expected to deliver his findings into banned coach Shane Flanagan and rule upon Cronulla’s potential $1m fine this week.
Flanagan and the Sharks were hit with sanctions late last year for the 2011 supplements scandal, but opted to appeal the rulings to Smith who single-handedly has the power to overrule the Integrity Unit findings.
Outgoing ASADA chief Aurora Andruska has told a Senate committee that investigations into the AFL and NRL are complete.
Smith has been reviewing those appeals for a few weeks and is expected to make his final decision prior to the season kick off on Thursday.
It was exactly 12 months ago that the Titans started their 2013 season by walking into a powder keg atmosphere at Shark Park to face Cronulla just a few days after Flanagan and four support staff were banned by the club’s own board in the wake of an interim report into their actions in 2011.
The atmosphere last year was unlike any previously experienced at an NRL game, with genuine feelings of hatred, hostility and anger immediately felt by the Titans the moment they stepped off their team bus.
If Smith refuses to overrule the one-year ban of Flanagan and uphold the $1m fine of the Sharks for the issues still under investigation by ASADA then the Titans will almost certainly walk into a repeat of what they tasted last year.
Todd Carney of the Sharks celebrates winning the round one NRL match between the Cronulla Sharks and the Gold Coast Titans at Sharks Stadium. Source: Getty Images
“It is almost like there is a bit of déjà vu. We’re not too sure what is going to happen this week but it all came upon us pretty quick last year but this year it looks like it might happen again,” Titans football manager Scott Clark said.
“You could just tell there was something in the air last year when we arrived. There were guys marching around and protesting about Shane Flanagan and it was very hostile so we knew it was going to be a tough day.
“One thing we learnt out of last year is you can’t worry about what is going on around you, you just need to worry about your own game. We need to take all that out of play and just worry about our own performances.”
Last year the Titans almost pulled off an almighty upset over the Sharks in that emotional opener, eventually beaten 12-10 before recovering to make a bright start to the season to be pushing for the top four at the halfway point.
Skipper Nate Myles has been declared a certain starter this week, despite missing every preseason trial game after groin surgery, but fellow front rower Ryan James is unlikely to overcome the shoulder injury he sustained three weeks ago.
New assistant coach Neil Henry said the key for the Titans to improve their ladder finish this year was to make another bright start and then maintain the consistency.
“I think this squad is certainly more experienced with the players that have been brought into the squad and hopefully that turns into consistency,” he said.
Source: http://www.news.com.au
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Team is up
1 - William Zillman
2 - Kevin Gordon
3 - Brad Tighe
4 – Maurice Blair
5 - David Mead
6 - Aidan Sezer
7 - Albert Kelly
8 - Luke Douglas
9 - Beau Falloon
10 - Nate Myles (capt)
11 - Greg Bird (capt)
12 – David Taylor
13 - Ashley Harrison
INTERCHANGE (from)
14 - Matthew White
15 - Luke Bailey
16 - Mark Minichiello
17 - Paul Carter
18 - Ryan James
19 - Brad Takairangi
20 - Ben Ridge
Surprise, surprise, surprise ... Hands Minichiello keeps any number of quality young blokes out ... again ... no still ... otherwise ho-hum.
Four reasons to escape to Queensland: Sun, Surf, Sand & the Titans.
Surprise surprise, another team list full of second rowers............
So Carter will be the 1-7 and 9 sub and Taka covers every thing else.....
Mini over Ridge and Taka? lolololol ok Carty
Why, Why, Why..........MINI AAAARRRGGGGHHHHHHH
Doesnt really help with Supercoach either with a 20 man team.
I assume Carter will get a shot no matter what...
Only others im thinking of is Taylor & Bird for SC.
Anyone know of any possible injuries in the starting 13. Why so much cover?
We gotta get Taka and/or Ridge in there, over Mini IMO.
Hope Carter gets a run, love to see another successful debutant.
Very pleased to see Matt White return!
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Referrees: Jared Maxwell & Grant Atkins
Touchies: Chris James & Luke Potter
Video Refs: Luke Phillips & Ben Galea
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Moejoe: "REMEMBER!!!! SLIP - SLOP - SLAP in the sun. Skin Cancer is a growing problem. It could happen to anyone!!"TITANS, DIEHARDS, WARRINGTON WOLVES, MAROONS, KANGAROOS, HONG KONG THUNDER
It's gonna be a close one. But I think we can win this game.
Still waiting for the Sharks to clear their side with ASADA.
1.Michael Gordon
2.Sosaia Feki
3.Blake Ayshford
4.Jonathan Wright
5.Beau Ryan
6.Todd Carney
7.Daniel Holdsworth
8.Andrew Fifita
9.John Morris
10.Bryce Gibbs
11.Matt Prior
12.Wade Graham
13.Paul Gallen ©
14.Isaac De Gois
15.Sam Tagataese
16.Tupou Sopoaga
17.Siosaia Vave
18.Tinirau Arona
Peter Sharp
Read more: http://www.zerotackle.com/nrl/round-...#ixzz2uyGJBpYl
#itaintweaktospeak
Strong Sharks side named but i don't rate Holdsworth , 2 ex-titans on the bench
#itaintweaktospeak