Round 14: TITANS vs STORM

[Mexican titan]

We could lose to the big 3-less Melbourne Storm. That'd be a new low even for Carty's standards. I'm just hoping this poor run of form will eventually make the club's board see sense and bring in a new coach and hopefully new coaching staff. I can't see what harm it would do giving Neil Henry the job on an interim basis for the rest of the year and see how it goes.

I also suggest you have a look at the other thread about "Appeal for real change in the Titans". You might see some suggestions on there where some people on this Forum have decided to try and do something constructively. Of course having a say on here is one thing but if we do nothing we get what we deserve.

[DIEHARD]

In this special Storm TV feature, Ben Hampton reflects on his debut NRL match against the Titans in Round 15, 2013.

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[DIEHARD]

Will Chambers to return for Melbourne Storm clash with Gold Coast Titans

Melbourne Storm centre Will Chambers will be a late inclusion for their away clash with Gold Coast Titans on Monday night and forward Jordan McLean could make his comeback after a long suspension.

Chambers spent the week with Queensland’s State of Origin camp as an injury standby but was released to the Storm on Sunday, while McLean starred in the reserves last round and is a “big chance” to come onto the bench after completing a seven-week ban.

The two clubs have had close results at their past two meetings; the Titans won on the siren earlier this season and by a try in their clash last June.

But with the second Origin match scheduled for Wednesday night in Sydney, both clubs are missing stars. The Storm are without Cameron Smith and Billy Slater, while Titans Nate Myles and Dave Taylor have joined them in the Maroons squad, and Greg Bird, who kicked the winning goal last time, returns to the Blues. Melbourne playmaker Cooper Cronk is also out with a broken arm.

Titans forward Paul Carter was stood down for drink-driving last week.

Storm coach Craig Bellamy said playing consistently was a key focus for his undermanned side, which has won just two of their past five games.

“When you have inexperience out there you always seem to pay a little more for your mistakes than when you have an experienced side,” Bellamy said. “We just have to have that effort across the 80 minutes – that has been a real challenge for us.”

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/l...615-zs8kz.html

[DIEHARD]

Will Chambers has dropped out of Queensland’s Origin squad to return to the Melbourne Storm, meaning Billy Slater and Greg Inglis are almost certain starters for Wednesday night.

Zero Tackle

[ozynorts]

On a side note, Anthony Don scored another hat trick on the weekend...................

[TITAN PETE]

On a side note, Anthony Don scored another hat trick on the weekend...................

Also another Fullback is killing it for Burleigh in Henare Wells who scored 6 tries in the same match..

[john cartwrong]

Caleb binge over mark ioane? Any takers?

[DIEHARD]

On a side note, Anthony Don scored another hat trick on the weekend...................

Jesus.... And we let him languish in QCUP. He has been one of of our very best in 2014 and the Titans reward him by being dropped. It boils my blood.

[Leeroy]

Caleb binge over mark ioane? Any takers?

Not a great decision I believe. Don't quote me but Caleb has been playing off the bench for Tweed.
Can someone please tell me what Cody Nelson did wrong in the 2 games he played.
Both games we had some injuries during the game and had to play extra minutes and I thought he was strong.

[DIEHARD]

Gold Coast Titans rookie Caleb Binge earns NRL debut after shedding 12kg in off-season

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CALEB Binge is the Gold Coast rookie who has won his NRL debut after a stunning body transformation to shed excess kilos.

Binge, 20, was told by Titans coach John Cartwright in the off-season that if he ever wanted to realise his play NRL dreams, he would need to make some sacrifices and get in shape.

In one devastating preseason, Binge dropped from 112kg to 100kg and will get his due rewards by making his NRL debut off the bench for the Titans in a must-win clash against Melbourne at Cbus Super Stadium.

“He has done it the hard way too,” Cartwright said.

“We spoke to him and said to go to another level he had to lose some weight and he has pretty much totally transformed himself.

“He tips the scales about 100kg now and he was up about the 112kg so he has worked really hard and certainly deserves his chance.”

Binge gets his chance as replacement for suspended Paul Carter, the fiery backrower who was stood down for two games last week after a drink-driving incident.

Cartwright said Binge, a Ballina Seagulls junior who was once in the Broncos system, possessed a similar attitude to Carter and with an ability to play frontrow or on the edges, he would be a handy addition to a team ravaged by injuries and representative duties.

“He is a bloke I’ve always thought had a future in first grade strictly on his attitude,” Cartwright said.

“He is a very similar player to Paul Carter. He is very aggressive. He doesn’t take a backward step and he doesn’t care for reputations.

“That is what you look for in guys who haven’t played NRL — if they’ve got that quality it certainly helps when they get to that stage.”

Titans lock Ashley Harrison will make his return from a neck fracture against the Storm to boost a Gold Coast side missing Greg Bird, Nate Myles, Dave Taylor, Albert Kelly and Aidan Sezer.

While much of the focus is the difficulty Melbourne have playing without their big three of Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater due to injury or Origin, if anything the Titans are worse hit.

Cartwright is confident his men can rise to the challenge and snap a four-game losing streak.

“They’re under siege as well, they’ve got their rep players out and we’re in a similar boat I suppose and it’s certainly not going to be easy,” Cartwright said.

“You look at their pack and Will Chambers looks like he will play. They’ve still got four Kiwi internationals in their pack.

“We’re certainly not underestimating them. We have the best possible side out there we can because we realise how difficult it’s going to be.

“It’s a crunch game for both clubs too … both clubs are in the same position, equal on the competition table and both desperate to win.”

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

[DIEHARD]

Roberts can be X-Factor for Titans

Gold Coast's sputtering NRL attack may finally have its spark in young recruit James Roberts.

The highly-rated outside back, already cut loose by South Sydney and Penrith for off-field issues, will make his debut for the Titans in Monday night's clash with Melbourne at Cbus Super Stadium as both teams look to turn around recent poor form.

Titans coach John Cartwright believes Roberts' ability to break the line could be the key to his team finally finding some cohesion and punch with the ball in hand.

Only one team, 15th-placed Cronulla (155), have scored less points than the Titans (197) so far this season.

Cartwright's men have only scored 20 or more points on three occasions this season, and he's hoping 21-year-old Roberts can change their fortunes as they try to end a four-game losing streak.

"Some of his touches, not many players can do," Cartwright said.

"His tackle breaks are very high and that's something we've been lacking, someone with genuine tackle breakers and genuine speed."

Roberts is one of several inclusions to the Titans who are missing State of Origin trio Greg Bird, Nate Myles and Dave Taylor, while Paul Carter has been suspended by the club following his midweek drink-driving charge and Albert Kelly (calf) is injured.

Ashley Harrison has been rushed back into the team following his recovery from a neck fracture, while Beau Henry comes in for Kelly at halfback.

There will also be an NRL debut for Caleb Binge following Carter's suspension which left the Titans short on backrowers.

The Storm are also patching together a team with Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Ryan Hoffman all on Origin duty while halfback Cooper Cronk is sidelined with a broken arm.

Centre Will Chambers could play if he is released from Queensland duties early and Cartwright says he's still wary of his opponent regardless of their absentees.

"You look at their pack and it looks like Will Chambers will play, they've still got four Kiwi internationals in their pack," he said.

"We're certainly not underestimating them. We've got the best possible side out there because we realise how difficult it's going to be.

"It's a crunch game for both clubs."

https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest

[DIEHARD]

Kurt Mann says Storm must improve execution if they are to snap two-game losing streak

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RISING Melbourne Storm star Kurt Mann says his stuttering side must find a way to execute better if it is to snap a two-game losing streak.

The clash on the Gold Coast looms as a crucial game. If 11th-placed Storm is defeated, it *would begin to lose touch with the top eight.
Skipper Cameron Smith, Billy Slater, Will Chambers and Ryan Hoffman are on State of Origin duty, but the Titans have their own problems.

They have lost four games in a row and forwards Greg Bird, Nate Myles and David Taylor are unavailable because of Wednesday’s Origin II.

On top of that, back-rower Paul Carter was last week stood down by the club after a high-range drink driving *offence in Surfers Paradise.

But Storm players know what the Titans are capable of after they defeated them at AAMI Park in Round 5.

“They are a pretty strong side and we know that,” Mann said.

“Their defence over the past couple of weeks has been really strong and probably the best part of their game lately. And they have a lot of good attacking players and outside backs.

“Our effort has been good. We just need to work on our execution.”

Wallabies star and former Queensland representative Israel Folau believes NSW are in a great position to snap their eight-year State of Origin losing streak.

Storm coach Craig Bellamy will hope Ben Roberts and Ben Hampton can click in the halves as he continues to search for a winning combination in the absence of injured Test halfback Cooper Cronk.

Mann, named in the centres, is likely to move to fullback in place of Cameron Munster after starring at the back in last Sunday week’s heavy loss to Sydney Roosters.

“I played most of my footy coming up at fullback,” Mann said. “They threw me in the centres (in first grade) and I found my feet there.
“But I’m not sure where I’m playing this weekend. I probably feel most confident at fullback at the moment, but I’m happy to play anywhere.”

The 21-year-old Queenslander has been a revelation for Melbourne this season and signalled his arrival with a match-winning try on debut against Manly last month.

Bellamy labelled him his side’s best player in the loss to the Roosters and the youngster said he was starting to feel as if he *belonged in the NRL.

“I’m definitely getting a bit more confident,” Mann said.

“Especially with the speed of the game — I haven’t been out on my feet as much as I was at the start. The physical side out of it is what I still need to get used to.”

Tonight’s game will be the last time Melbourne will be without its Origin stars this season.

Mann urged his teammates to step up in their absence.

“It’s a tough period missing a few of our key players,” he said. “But it’s a good chance for our young blokes to stand up and hopefully put in a good performance.”

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

[DIEHARD]

Gold Coast Titan Ash Harrison to return early from injury to take on the Melbourne Storm

GOLD Coast coach John Cartwright has revealed *inspirational lock Ashley Harrison will play through pain to help put the Titans’ season back on track.

Harrison will return against the Storm tonight at Cbus Super Stadium after a five-week lay-off with a broken neck.

The 33-year-old wasn’t expected back to return for another three weeks after battling through neck pain and weakness in his left arm.

Harrison, who has played 275 NRL games and will *retire at season’s end, isn’t at risk of causing further damage but he the workhorse is far from being in perfect shape.

The Titans are missing Nate Myles, Greg Bird and Dave Taylor to Origin while first-choice halves Albert Kelly (leg) and Aidan Sezer (chest) are also out.

Harrison realised he was needed when the club suspended Paul Carter for two games for drink-driving.

“The neck started to feel a lot better and I thought I might be a chance of returning earlier than what we were looking at (Round 17 after the bye),” Harrison said.

“When Dave Taylor was called up to the Queensland side on Wednesday I asked the doctor, Paul Ohmsen, if I could try to prove my fitness for the Storm game.

“Carty was supportive if I could get the medical clearance and as it turned out the doc checked over the scans with a specialist and he seemed to think I’d be fine.

“I’ve done some contact at training with no problems so I’m confident going into the game everything is OK. The team is under the pump with Paul Carter now out too so I just wanted to put up my hand and help out. It’s a crucial game for us.’’

“The spirit in the side is tremendous, and we’ve got some young blokes keen to take their opportunities, so I’m looking forward to getting out there and doing what I can.”

Harrison’s courage is what the Titans need after losing their past four games. A loss to an understrength Melbourne — who are without Cooper Cronk, Billy Slater, Cameron Smith and Ryan Hoffman — would be disastrous for finals chances.

And Cartwright said Harrison’s commitment typified how desperate the Gold Coast were to bounce back.

“It’s something the players at the club have done pretty well since day one,” he said.

“When there’s been a need, they’ve always put their hand up to play.’’

“He’s in no physical danger, otherwise he wouldn’t be playing, but to be fair, he’s going to be in some discomfort and probably should have had another couple of weeks off.’’

“There was no way of talking him out of playing.

“Once the surgeon gave him the all clear he was always going to play.”

Beau Henry and Maurice Blair are the makeshift halves pairing while speedster James Roberts will make his Titans debut at right centre.

Young forward Caleb Binge will make his NRL debut off the bench. while Harrison will start in the back-row alongside Mark Mini-chiello and Brad Takairangi.

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

[Hail Sezer]

Lineup simplified

[lonegull]

I just read that Beau Henry played for seagulls yesterday (QRL Website had him listed in the final team), I wouldn't thought that he would of played, seems strange that he plays Qcup Saturday and NRL Monday. Thought he would have been saved for tonights game