Round 2: TITANS vs WESTS TIGERS

[DIEHARD]

Sun 16 Mar 2014, 2:00pm (local), Cbus Super Stadium

Gates Open: 11:40am
NYC Kick-off: 11:45am
NRL Kick-off: 2pm

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 (c)
11 Greg Bird (c)
12 David Taylor
13 Ashley Harrison

14 Matthew White
15 Luke Bailey
16 Mark Minichiello
17 Paul Carter
18 Ryan James



1 James Tedesco
2 Marika Koroibete
3 Keith Lulia
4 Chris Lawrence
5 Pat Richards
6 Braith Anasta
7 Luke Brooks
8 Aaron Woods
9 Robbie Farah
10 Martin Taupau
11 Liam Fulton
12 Bodene Thompson
13 Adam Blair

14 Cory Paterson
15 Ava Seumanu***ai
16 Sauaso Sue
17 James Gavet
18 Keith Galloway
19 David Nofoaluma

Coach: Mick Potter

[DIEHARD]

On Sale Soon:
Tue 04 Mar 2014 5:00PM (AEST)

CLICK HERE

[DIEHARD]

I wonder who thought WHITE HOT SUNDAY was the perfect slogan. When one of the biggest issues with early season scheduling is the extreme heat and exposure to the sun which is very uncomfortable for our supporters.

[DIEHARD]

Match Highlights: Wests Tigers vs Dragons

<script height="349px" width="620px" src="http://player.ooyala.com/iframe.js#pbid=81bf83eab75d4bf3af515695a41e5b38&ec =ttbjMzbDpv-mrrBy1AZLyo3UmpvQeAam"></script>

[Mexican titan]

I wonder who thought WHITE HOT SUNDAY was the perfect slogan. When one of the biggest issues with early season scheduling is the extreme heat and exposure to the sun which is very uncomfortable for our supporters.

I have already said my bit about this stupid bit of scheduling. What gets me is that nothing was learned from this mistake of the past couple of years. The temp predicted for Sunday is 32.

[DIEHARD]

Titans v Tigers

Cbus Super Stadium, Robina, Sunday 3pm (AEDT)

Last meeting: Titans 36 bt Tigers 6 at Skilled Park, round 21, 2013

Head-to-head: Titans 6, Tigers 5

Referees: Gerard Sutton, Dave Munro

TV: Delay, Channel 9 (4pm)

Betfair: Titans $1.33, Wests Tigers $3.50

Ladbrokes: Titans $1.30, Wests Tigers $3.60

Michael Chammas writes: It's hard to see the Tigers winning many games this year. They have got plenty of young talent in their side, but there is not enough quality around them to see them challenge many sides. The Titans have one of the best forward packs in the competition and an underrated halves combination in Albert Kelly and Aidan Sezer that is developing into one of the best in the NRL.

Tip: Titans by 18

AAP writes: These two teams enter this clash with contrasting round one fortunes. Despite a promising start against the Dragons, the Tigers faded late to be hammered 44-24. The Titans on the other hand came home strong over the Sharks to hold on for a gritty 18-12 away win. Titans prop Luke Douglas' record-breaking streak of 195 consecutive game may come to to an end just one match after claiming the record. He's in doubt with a thumb injury and Ryan James on standby to come into the 17. For the Tigers prop Keith Galloway and winger David Nofoaluma have been added to an extended bench.

Key: Gold Coast blew a lot of try-scoring opportunities in their narrow last-start win over Cronulla and can't afford a repeat. Wests Tigers generally find the road trip to Gold Coast tough work and their young players need to quickly find a way to stay in the game for 80 minutes.

TITANS: William Zillman, Kevin Gordon, Brad Tighe, Maurice Blair, David Mead, Aidan Sezer, Albert Kelly, Luke Douglas, Beau Falloon, Nate Myles (capt), Greg Bird (capt), David Taylor, Ashley Harrison. Interchange: Matthew White, Luke Bailey, Mark Minichiello, Paul Carter, Ryan James (one to be omitted).

TIGERS: James Tedesco, Marika Koroibete, Marika Koroibete, Chris Lawrence, Pat Richards, Braith Anasta, Luke Brooks, Aaron Woods, Robbie Farah, Martin Taupau, Liam Fulton, Bodene Thompson, Adam Blair. Interchange: Cory Paterson, Ava Seumanu***ai, Sauaso Sue, James Gavet, Keith Galloway, David Nofoaluma (two to be omitted).

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/l...#ixzz2vpQC5hCK

[DIEHARD]

I don’t listen to the hype: Brooks

Wests Tigers young gun Luke Brooks says he has shunned the media in the lead-up to his first full season in the NRL.

The promising halfback says he isn’t listening to the hype or those who have tagged him the NRL’s ‘Next Big Thing’.

“The big thing I have learned in the lead-up to this season is probably just not to listen to the media when they are talking about me and to not get too far ahead of myself,” Brooks said on Thursday.

“I just try and stay away from it.

“I’m just concentrating on playing football.

“And out on the field I don’t feel that pressure.

“Once I am out there it comes naturally, the boys are helping me out.

“(That hype)it is not something I am worried about.”

Brooks enjoyed a stunning debut in the Tigers’ late season win over St George Illawarra last year but struggled against the same opposition on Sunday in the Dragons’ 44-24 first round win.

“I found it pretty tough but it was really enjoyable it was good to get out there to learn a few things and get the experience,” Brooks said.

“We have been working a lot on our defence and last tackle options because we really struggled there.

“Hopefully we can turn it around this week.”

Brooks’ halves partner Braith Anasta said the loss to the Dragons would form part of a steep learning curve for the youngster.

“He is going to learn every game but we have to help him every game and we probably didn’t help him enough on the weekend, especially with the kicking game,” Anasta said.

“You have to get confidence in first grade. It is only one performance away. It is only one week away.

“You don’t dwell on it. You come out this week and have a blinder, score a try, put on a good kicking game, set up a couple, all of a sudden you are back where you were on top of the world again.”

The Tigers face first-up winners the Gold Coast away on Sunday.

Prop Keith Galloway (toe) and winger David Nofoaluma (hamstring) have been added to an extended bench but remain 50/50 propositions.

The Roar

[DIEHARD]

I hope the Titans are going to look after our supporters and offer free sunscreen, water, hell even fans and visors to those in the East. It's an extremely important issue in my book.

[DIEHARD]

Titans v Wests Tigers

Titans: Ironman Luke Douglas looks set to extend his 195-game streak despite a thumb injury, while David Mead (jaw), Ashley Harrison (concussion) and Mark Minichiello (knee) should all play. Prop Ryan James will drop out, but make his comeback for Tweed Heads in the Queensland Cup.

Wests Tigers: Final fitness tests loom tomorrow for Keith Galloway (toe), David Nofoaluma (hamstring) and Liam Fulton, who is unlikely to play due to concussion. Bodene Thompson will play in the back-row with a finger splint. Flyer Tim Simona has been mentioned as a late smoky.

Update: Fulton has failed to recover from a concussion and will be replaced in the 17 by Galloway. David Nofoaluma has been called up to replace Marika Koroibete on the wing.

[DIEHARD]

Hope KG is ok with his head slamming the ground but he saved us. WT's Pat Richards nearly ran the length of the field there.

[DIEHARD]

Gold Coast Titans accused of giving up in woeful 42-12 NRL loss to Wests Tigers

GREG Bird could not feel his arm for a few minutes, but at least it diverted his attention away from the other pain.

The pain of the worst home defeat in club history, a 42-12 shellacking from a Wests Tigers outfit tagged as the wooden spoon favourites.

This was as low a moment as there has ever been for the Titans, who are desperate to win back fans but tossed up a display as ugly as they come.

It was an embarrassing defeat that featured woeful defence, disjointed attack and schoolboy handling errors in a performance that lacked any cohesion for all but 10 minutes.

Bird — who vowed on match eve to make the Robina stadium a house of pain for opposition teams this season — was assisted from the field clutching his left shoulder and needs scans today.

Hooker Beau Falloon tore the medial ligament in his knee and making matters even worse the club’s only fit back-up hooker Sam Irwin was injured playing for Tweed Heads.

“Oh, beauty,” John Cartwright deadpanned.

“It was a very average performance.

“I’m not surprised, disappointed more than anything. You certainly don’t train to do that and plan for it to happen, just things transpired today and that’s what we tossed up.

“I’m not going to sit here and make excuses, it was a bad display for the team and I can’t paint any other picture.”

With talented youngsters James Tedesco and Luke Brooks in complete control, the Tigers ran away with the win as Channel 9 commentators began to question if some Titans had hoisted the white flag.

Cartwright was adamant no player could be accused of tossing it in on a day like yesterday.

“That’s a tough call, I’m not going to subscribe to that,” he said.

“I’m in it with them and there’s no hiding from the fact it was really disappointing but I think in those conditions I won’t say anyone raised a white flag, we were poor and made a lot of errors and we suffered defensively because of it.”

The Titans had 25 missed tackles by halftime, more than double what the Tigers (12) produced in the entire game, and finished the day with 43 misses.

Errors ballooned to 18 and when Cartwright conducts his video review today it will be a horror show all will want to quickly forget.

“I do feel for the people who stayed to the end and watched it, it was ugly and we will deal with it tomorrow,’’ Cartwright said.

Bird said his teammates became individuals on the field, guilty of trying to become the hero as they drifted away from the game plan.

“It was frustrating, usually when we get behind on the board we get together and work our way out of it as a team,” Bird said.

“Everyone probably got a bit individual out there and everyone probably tried to do it on their own.

“We have to address everything we did wrong, we can’t just brush it off like it didn’t happen.

The fact Bird was talking like he would play in Canberra on Sunday was a positive.

It was about the only one.

WESTS TIGERS 42 (P Richards 2 L Brooks D Nofoaluma M Taupau J Tedesco B Thompson tries P Richards 7 goals) bt GOLD COAST 12 (A Kelly A Sezer tries A Sezer 2 goals) at Cbus Super Stadium. Referee: Gerard Sutton, David Munro. Crowd: 12,038.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/

[DIEHARD]

So I was just looking for news, like I usually do and this is exactly what happened.....

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/SffX8iUlFJQ?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I was amused.

[DIEHARD]

Luke Brooks looked to Andrew Johns to nail down tackles then Titans

James Tedesco of the Tigers attempts to break free from the defence.William Zillman of the Titans in action during the round two NRL match.Titans fans show their support.William Zillman of the Titans breaks away from the defence.Martin Taupau of the Tigers attempts to break away from the defence.A young Tigers fan and his Dad show their colours.Keith Galloway of the Tigers takes on the defence during the round two NRL match.Greg Bird of the Titans screams in pain after injuring his shoulder.Sauaso Sue of the Tigers pushes through the defence.Robbie Farah of the Tigers prepares himself at kick off.David Taylor of the Titans attempts to break away from the defence.Martin Taupau of the Tigers is swamped by team mates as they celebrate his try.

His sizzling attack has been compared to that of Andrew Johns but Wests Tigers tyro Luke Brooks took inspiration from the Immortal’s defence as he prepared for Sunday’s breakout performance against Gold Coast.

Predictions the 19-year-old will be NSW’s next Origin halfback will only grow louder after he bossed the joint venture’s 42-12 win in searing heat at Cbus Super Stadium. Brooks was pummelled in a heavy loss to St George Illawarra last week, attracting criticism of his defence, and was shown replays of his missed tackles by coach Michael Potter.

"It’s awesome; I’m pinching myself every day": Luke Brooks.

‘‘I was shown bits and pieces and I knew I had to improve,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s really down to technique. You’ve just got to get your body in front of them.

‘‘I think I was better today. I look at Andrew Johns – he was a really good defender – and Cooper Cronk as well. I just had to work on it. My attack will follow if I get my defence right.’’

Brooks’s halves partner, veteran Braith Anasta, said of the teenager: ‘‘He’s just got it. You can see by watching him.’’

The schoolboy star set up fellow tyro James Tedesco’s seventh-minute try, was involved in several others then scored himself near full-time. Despite the plaudits being heaped on him, Brooks remains wide-eyed at being a regular first grader. ‘‘It’s awesome; I’m pinching myself every day,’’ he said. ‘‘We all get on well and there’s some young blokes here.’’

Skipper Robbie Farah said the youth of the Wests Tigers side did not make it difficult to restore confidence after the 44-24 loss to St George Illawarra last week.

‘‘It was more the older fellas, to be honest,’’ he said. ‘‘We let them down. Guys like myself and Braith, we didn’t take control of the game like we should have.’’

The victory eases the pressure on Potter but he wasn’t getting ahead of himself, knowing he has to ensure his players recover from the gruelling heat in time to take on South Sydney on Friday.

‘‘It’ll be all about recovery,’’ Potter said when asked about the week ahead. ‘‘That’s most important. We’ll do a little bit of stuff on the field to try and counter what they throw at us.’’

Tigers centre Chris Lawrence suffered a hamstring injury in the first half and will have scans on Monday. The crowd was told a collarbone injury to Titans co-captain Greg Bird was not serious but coach John Cartwright was not completely sure of the prognosis. ‘‘It’s an impact injury ... he’s a quick healer,’’ Cartwright said.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/l...#ixzz2w8aNr37t

[C-Whiz]

As we all know it was woeful display from the Titans yesterday, but there are a couple of issues I want to raise about it, but I also want to make it clear I am not making any excuses for the teams disgraceful effort.

Firstly, I noticed Nate Myles was very ordinary, in attack and defence, and when the Tigers scored their first tries he was taking a knee in the shade by himself while the rest of the team was in a huddle. He shuffled off at about the 20 minute mark, not injured, just looked totally wrecked physically. So, I am wondering if he was suffering from a flu or some other sickness, and possibly this had gone through the team. Just putting it out there.

Secondly, and something we touched on after Alby's charges out of the line in the Sharks game, is that Birdy is now talking about people trying to be individuals and being "heroes" rather than playing the team structure.

So, again i ask the question about when/whether Alby should be just doing his own thing? Again, I am of the opinion that if talent sees an opportunity, talent should take it, but the first rule of team sport is to play to the teams game plan. Not that for 1 single minute am I suggesting Alby looking for solo brilliance and playing what he sees is a bad thing, nor am I suggesting that he is in any way responsible for the crap that was served up yesterday, but do you think Cartwright/Henry should be trying to structure more game plan around our exciting backs, and less around forwards making soft hit-ups and wasting tackles? The Titan hit-ups yesterday were SOFT!!!

Finally, does anyone else feel we have too many Chiefs and not enough Indians out there????

We have 2 co-captians, 1 vice captain, Bull Bailey who still seems to think he is still 25 years old and the original Captain, and he wants to try and take a quick tap every time we get a penalty. Let it go Bull, you are now a rotating prop off the bench. Then we have Alby making his own decisions on the fly, and as per yesterdays effort, no one had a clue what was actually going on.

Add to this 2 coaches, and you've got to start to ask yourself who is actually in charge, and who is actually responibile for the results???

The only structure we really played to was the Sezer kick to Flash in the corner on the 5th, and we were all waiting for it on the 3rd, so it's not like the Tigers weren't ready for it. They had 3 blockers closing Flash out on most kicks.

[DIEHARD]

Meanwhile.... on the Wests Tigers website...