Round 9: TITANS vs SOUTHS

[DIEHARD]

John Sutton says Rabbitohs players have vowed to ignore Gold Coast’s niggling tactics

SOUTH SYDNEY have vowed not to be upset by the niggling tactics of the Gold Coast in Saturday’s NRL clash.

Forward Ryan James has said the Titans intend to follow the lead of Manly’s Jason King and Wests Tigers’ Aaron Woods who managed to get under the skin of the Rabbitohs monster forward pack, in particular the Burgess brothers Sam and George, earlier this season.

King’s and Woods’s tactics were instrumental in their teams’ upset wins and James has declared the Titans will follow suit. But captain John Sutton insists Souths have learnt from their mistakes in getting too fired up.

“I think we learnt a lot from the Wests Tigers game, we got pretty unsettled there,” Sutton said.

“But we learnt from that and we are definitely a much better team now.

“It’s going to be a tough game with (Nate) Myles and (Greg) Bird for them, I am looking forward to it.

Queensland State of Origin back-rower Chris McQueen said Souths would be well prepared for any Titans niggle in the round nine match on the Gold Coast.

“They are a niggly team but for us it is about not letting them get under our skin,” McQueen said.

“It’s about getting out there and doing what we do best and just not buying into anything they are trying to do to us.

“That (not responding to it) might be mentioned but if we go out there and do what we do, and concentrate on us we will be alright.”

Sutton said in-form Kangaroos back-rower Greg Bird shapes as a key agitator for the Titans.

“He is a great player, he has done it all, he is a very aggressive player so we are going to have to be on top of him, across the field they have some very good players,” Sutton said.

“Bird is just a very aggressive player, that is the way he plays, you have to react to it in a positive manner, that’s the thing.

“You can’t let it get under your skin, hopefully we can do that this week.”

http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/

[nimud]

Titans players likewise. Dave Taylor has been playing well, and will be in for a big one vs his old team & chance of a maroons jersey. Any word on Alby?

[DIEHARD]

Titans v Rabbitohs

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[DIEHARD]

Titans players likewise. Dave Taylor has been playing well, and will be in for a big one vs his old team & chance of a maroons jersey. Any word on Alby?

I'd say we will fox until kick off. See what happens.

[DIEHARD]

titsbuns.jpg

Gold Coast Titans v South Sydney Rabbitohs
Cbus Super Stadium, Robina
Saturday, 10th May
5:30pm Kickoff

This Saturday, the Gold Coast Titans face the electric South Sydney Rabbitohs at Cbus Super Stadium, in an all-important test for captain Ashley Harrison and his team. Sitting third on the NRL Telstra Premiership ladder, behind the Bulldogs and Sea Eagles on for and against, the Titans must prove they can beat teams that will be in Premiership contention come September.

Facing a Rabbitohs side featuring names like Inglis, Reynolds and Burgess, the Titans own stars will need to fire - especially their speedy outside attack in David Mead, Kevin Gordon and William Zillman - if they are to cement their own status as Premiership contender.

By pre-purchasing the special 'Kids-Go-Free' pass, you can take one Junior free of charge in the Eastern Grandstand!

Secure your seats now to this blockbuster match, head to Ticketek.com.au

[DIEHARD]

One-fingered salute could cost Titans gig for hopeful Beau Henry

A ONE-fingered salute to the Pizzey Park crowd could cost Titans hopeful Beau Henry his first NRL jersey in over a year.

Henry was hit with a grade one detrimental conduct charge by the Intrust Super Cup match review committee yesterday after allegedly flipping the bird to some raucous fans during Tweed’s big win over Burleigh on Sunday.

Henry is on the cusp of earning an NRL call-up as Titans playmakers Aidan Sezer (ankle) and Albert Kelly (leg) both battle injuries ahead of Saturday’s blockbuster showdown against the Rabbitohs at Cbus Super Stadium.

Sezer and Kelly were yesterday named in a side that includes vice-captain William Zillman, who will return from a six-week lay-off at centre as the in-form David Mead retained the No. 1 jersey.

Sezer is expected to play but Kelly’s hairline fracture to his fibula is of more concern, the halfback needing to pass a fitness test on Friday.

If Kelly is ruled out, coach John Cartwright is set to look to either veteran lock Ashley Harrison, Zillman or Henry.

But Henry’s untimely alleged offence could see him miss out.

Tweed and Titans officials will discuss Henry’s charge today but it’s likely they will accept the early guilty plea, which will see him miss a week.

Cartwright said he wanted Sezer and Kelly to train today before he looked at a contingency plan.

“We’ve got guys who have been training there through the summer,” he said.

“There won’t be too many changes to the way we play.

“They’re better than a 50-50 chance. Albert’s probably the main concern.”

As revealed in the Bulletin last month, Mead has retained the fullback jersey despite the return of Zillman.

Mead has been in sensational form since Zillman suffered a hamstring injury in Round 3.

Cartwright said it was a tough decision to make but Mead had earned the role.

“It’s delicate. He’s (Zillman) been there since Preston (Campbell) retired and done a fantastic job there,” he said.

“It’s just a fact that a guy’s come in and been given an opportunity and done everything he possibly could to keep that job.”

http://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/

[DIEHARD]

Gold Coast Titans fired up to battle Burgess brother

GOLD Coast prop Ryan James has revealed the Titans’ plan to bait South Sydney’s Burgess brothers after watching other teams successfully get under their skin.

The Titans have studied Round 3 footage of the Wests Tigers’ upset win over Souths, noting how Sam Burgess lost his cool after a heavy tackle on younger brother George.

Deliberately baiting the Burgess boys might be considered a death wish, but it is the confrontational style of football the hard-headed Titans love.

James said the Titans would go into the clash prepared to get in the faces of South Sydney players and flex their own premiership muscle in a game that could boost their top four credentials.

“We’ve watched that (Round 3) footage a couple of times leading up to the Tigers game, so we know it worked both ways for us because both those games were coming up,” James said yesterday.

“The Burgess brothers are still excellent players, but if you can get under their skin they can turn a little bit.

“Souths just bully their way through the middle and let Greg Inglis do the pretty stuff out the back, and it has worked for them.

“If they stick to it they’re a great side.

“We’re just going to hopefully mash their game plan up a little bit and do what we do best.”

Gold Coast’s aggressive style rattled the cage of Sonny Bill Williams and the Sydney Roosters last year, skipper Greg Bird and James clearly unnerving the Kiwi star to the point where it was believed he offered to settle the score after the game.

James backed his forward pack to be aggressive in front of up to 20,000 fans this week.

“We have such great players in the forward pack I’m sure we’ve got the experience there that can hold their forward pack,” James said.

“You play for the crowd a little bit when they’re here and play a little bit better with the atmosphere. Hopefully, we get 20,000-plus on the weekend and it’s a good game.”

http://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/

[C-Whiz]

If anyone can niggle the Burgess boys into frustration, BIRD IS THE WORD!!!

Birdy niggles
Burgess reacts
Ref blows the whistle:boo:
We kick for 2 points!
Repeat:

[Chaserz]

Oh yeah, that'll do

[Titanic]

titsbuns.jpg

Gold Coast Titans v South Sydney Rabbitohs
Cbus Super Stadium, Robina
Saturday, 10th May
5:30pm Kickoff

This Saturday, the Gold Coast Titans face the electric South Sydney Rabbitohs at Cbus Super Stadium, in an all-important test for captain Ashley Harrison and his team. Sitting third on the NRL Telstra Premiership ladder, behind the Bulldogs and Sea Eagles on for and against, the Titans must prove they can beat teams that will be in Premiership contention come September.

Facing a Rabbitohs side featuring names like Inglis, Reynolds and Burgess, the Titans own stars will need to fire - especially their speedy outside attack in David Mead, Kevin Gordon and William Zillman - if they are to cement their own status as Premiership contender.

By pre-purchasing the special 'Kids-Go-Free' pass, you can take one Junior free of charge in the Eastern Grandstand!

Secure your seats now to this blockbuster match, head to Ticketek.com.au

Is that from our club? WTF?

[gothabull]

Is that from our club? WTF?

Ha ha that's scary eh

[Hail Sezer]

Todd Balym reporting on twitter this morning that Sezer and Kelly both training fine this morning.

[TITAN PETE]

Todd Balym reporting on twitter this morning that Sezer and Kelly both training fine this morning.

I spoke with the Club this morning & both players came through training without any problems & will be starting tomorrow

[Tamwelg]

I spoke with the Club this morning & both players came through training without any problems & will be starting tomorrow

That's amazing and awesome news.

[DIEHARD]

I really wasn't expecting to be so lucky. Which is great, cause it sets the scene for a blockbuster.