2015 Trials and Nines thread

[Titan4Life]

Titans coming back to Toowoomba for trial
Ben Drewe | 17th Sep 2014 10:14 AM

THE Gold Coast Titans will be back in Toowoomba next year and could take on the Broncos or Warriors in an NRL trial match in the Garden City.

The Titans will play a second trial match at Clive Berghofer Stadium in consecutive years after taking on the Cowboys back in February this year.

February 7 next year has been locked in as the date of their 2015 trial match in Toowoomba.

"It will either be Titans v Broncos or Titans and the Warriors," TRL chairman Paul Dean said.

A Titans versus Broncos trial match would be a great spectacle for rugby league fans in the area, given it would feature both south-east Queensland clubs.

The Titans versus Cowboys trial match earlier this year attracted a crowd of 8532 spectators, and the Broncos could draw in more fans.

The trial match was a boon for rugby league in Toowoomba, with the TRL and Clydesdales benefiting financially from putting on the match. That would again be the case with next year's trial.

Confirmation of an opponent for the Titans is expected to come after Wayne Bennett takes up his post back with the Broncos.

The second trial match also reinforces the link forged between the Titans, TRL and Clydesdales.

Clydesdales chairman Paul Reedy thinks the relationship is going well, especially after a mentoring program for young apprentices started with the help of the Titans.

"We've just started an apprenticeship mentor program for our young Clydesdales. It is all about balancing work with other stresses," Reedy said.

[DIEHARD]

Glad to see Toowoomba get some top footy. And close enough for many of us to visit.

I hope one day they will return to the Queensland Cup.

[DIEHARD]

Trials in Toowoomba, Cairns

The iSelect Titans will play pre-season trials in Toowoomba and Cairns in February 2015 after beginning playing commitments with the Auckland Nines from January 30 to February 1.

Last season the Titans’ full NRL squad stayed in Auckland and played the Warriors in a trial match the weekend after Nines but in 2015 the Warriors will cross the Tasman.

The match will be played on Saturday February 7 in Toowoomba at Clive Berghoffer Stadium where the Titans drew over 8500 last year for the match against North Queensland and brought $75,000 revenue to rugby league in city.

The Titans will again do coaching and promotional work in the city in the lead-up to the match, as part of the strong association that has developed with the Toowoomba Rugby League and the Clydesdales club.

The link also involves player welfare and education and Titans assisted in the Clydesdales setting up an apprenticeship mentoring system.

The weekend following the Titans-Warriors trial sees the reintroduction of the All Stars match (venue to be confirmed, likely to be Suncorp Stadium).

On February 21 the Titans will travel to Cairns for their final hit out against the Cowboys at Barlow Park, with the opening NRL round being played from March 5-9.

“It’s great to take a match to country areas and promote the game where rugby league is so popular and the few days at Toowoomba last year were a big success,” said Titans coach Neil Henry.

“We’ll field a strong side there and give some young players an opportunity and then go to Cairns for our final hit out again most of our key players.

“With a lot of our players having surgery early in the piece, we’re hoping to have a full complement of players available in February.”

The Titans’ pre-season matches:

January 30-Feb 1: Auckland Nines

February 7: v Warriors at Clive Berghoffer Stadium, Toowoomba.

February 21: v Cowboys at Barlow Park, Cairns.

The club is holding open trials for their under-20s squad in October at Station Reserve, Robina. They will be held on Saturday October 11 (open trial) and Sunday October 12 (for players selected from day one to trial further).

For further details click here

Become a member in 2015 and enjoy special privileges – AND SAVE MONEY. Applications open on Tuesday October 7.

http://www.titans.com.au/news/2014/0...nd_cairns.html

[Titan4Life]

Myles backs Titans squad to be ready for Toowoomba trial
Ben Drewe | 18th Dec 2014 6:14 PM

GOLD Coast captain Nate Myles thinks his squad will be prepared for the rigours of a beefed up NRL pre-season schedule which will include a trial match in Toowoomba against the Warriors in February.

Myles was in Toowoomba on Thursday to promote the February 7 trial at Clive Berghofer Stadium and said the Titans were building nicely at pre-season training.

That trial match will be sandwiched between the second Auckland Nines carnival on January 31-February 1 and the returning Indigenous All Stars game on the Gold Coast on February 13 making for a busy few weeks of the pre-season.

Myles thought all Titans players would be available for pre-season matches, but a decision on who will play in Toowoomba will be made by the coaching staff after the Auckland Nines.

"Everyone seems to be on track to be playing trials this year. It is probably a little bit of a longer trial session or series than normal but everyone is doing their best to get out there," said the Titans skipper, who could be included in the NRL All Stars.

The Titans are keen to get their 2015 season off to a good start after the club finished 14th in 2014.

And with the likes of recruit Josh Hoffman, William Zillman and David Mead battling for the fullback spot along with other intra-squad battles for starting spots, Myles said there was plenty of competition to drive players.

"Every position is available at the moment. Fullback is one of them," he said.

"That is going to bring out a better side of a lot of our boys.

"Competition within the side is not a bad thing."

Tickets for the NRL trial game are available online and Toowoomba Rugby League chairman Paul Dean thought the day offered rugby league fans a great experience.

"There are five games on the day. While we've got the main one, there are four other games as well and all will be top-line football," Dean said.

The Toowoomba Clydesdales open representative squad will also take on the Titans under 20 team, while the Clydesdales 20s will face a Titans development squad. The Clydesdales under 16s and under 18s will open the day's matches with games against Central Crows counterparts.


NRL trial match:

Titans v Warriors

Saturday, February 7 at Clive Berghofer Stadium

Tickets available from http://www.ticketbooth.com.au

[DIEHARD]

Titans launch Toowoomba Trial



Nate Myles yesterday attended the launch of the Gold Coast Titans trial match set to be played in Toowoomba on Saturday February 7 against New Zealand Warriors.

The trial match will be held at Clive Berghoffer Stadium where the Titans drew over 8500 last year for the match against North Queensland and brought $75,000 revenue to rugby league in city.

The Titans will again do coaching and promotional work in the city in the lead-up to the match, as part of the strong association that has developed with the Toowoomba Rugby League and the Clydesdales club.

http://www.titans.com.au/

[Hail Sezer]

Spots up for grab in trials

Neil Cadigan

Fri 9th January, 05:15PM

The Titans are likely to have close to a full squad available for the two trial matches in February after starting the season in just three weekends’ time at the Auckland Nines.

Nate Myles, who had minor surgery before Christmas after some scar tissue subsequent to his shoulder and bicep operation caused some discomfort, and Greg Bird who suffered a medial ligament injury in mid-December, may not be available until the final trial match against the Cowboys in Cairns on February 21.

However, head coach Neil Henry is keen to have two good hit outs – against the Warriors in Toowoomba and then against the Cowboys a fortnight later in Cairns, as so many positions in the side are so open. Kevin Gordon and Matt Srama are others who may miss the opening trial as they recover from major off-season surgery.

Of course, before the two trials comes the Auckland Nines on January 31 and February 1, with a potent side to be decided on next week but likely to include newcomers Josh Hoffman, Lachlan Burr, Matt Robinson and Davin Crampton and speed men Will Zillman, David Mead, Anthony Don and James Roberts.

While Hoffman may be the only ‘big name’ signing for 2015 there have been significant changes to the squad which has brought intense competition, and depth, for positions across the park.

For example Zillman, Hoffman and Mead are in contention for the fullback role but can play other backline positions. In the three-quarters there is Mead, Hoffman, Roberts, Gordon, Kalifa Faifai Loa, Brad Tighe, Anthony Don who will be given time in the centres in the trials, plus Crampton and Jamie Dowling who can play centre, wing and back row, and Dave Taylor who was such a success in the centres last year. And a young flyer called Leva Li, who has played for Parramatta and Wests Tigers, is trialling for a contract.

The halves rely on youngsters Kane Elgey, the NRL’s Holden Cup player of the year, Jamal Fogarty and Christian Hazard as back-up to Aidan Sezer and Daniel Mortimer.

The back row is rich in young talent behind internationals Greg Bird and Taylor, even with Paul Carter having been cut. Lachlan Burr is a prospect to look out for, Matt Robinson was impressive in the Panthers’ run to the finals last year, Ben Ridge is back from injury, Ryan Simpkins is training well, triallist Jai Ingram has potential plus speed and power, and Binge impressed in the back end of last season. And Nate Myles can drop back if needed.

The front row is where there is enormous depth despite the loss of Luke Bailey. David Hala has come from the Broncos, joining Myles, Ryan James, Luke Douglas, Matt White and Mark Ioane who found his feet in the NRL in the last few rounds of 2015. Then we have triallists in Agnasius Paasi, who debuted for the Warriors last year (and can play second row) and Damien Sironen.

Meanwhile, the hooking depth is as good as any club’s with 2015 player of the year Beau Falloon, Matt Srama and newcomer Keirran Moseley with Hazard likely to spend some time there in the trials.

The first trial will be played on Saturday February 7 in Toowoomba at Clive Berghoffer Stadium where the Titans drew over 8500 last year for the match against North Queensland and brought $75,000 revenue to rugby league in city.

The Titans will again do coaching and promotional work in the city in the lead-up to the match, as part of the strong association that has developed with the Toowoomba Rugby League and the Clydesdales club.

The weekend following the Titans-Warriors trial sees the reintroduction of the All Stars match at Cbus Super Stadium on Friday February 13 with several Titans players likely to be involved.

On February 21 the Titans will travel to Cairns for their final hit out against the Cowboys at Barlow Park, Cairns, with the opening NRL round being at Cbus Super Stadium, against Wests Tigers (6pm).

http://www.titans.com.au/news/2015/0...r_grab_in.html

- - - Updated - - -

Cadigan really needs a better proof-reader. There is always grammatical errors and misspelling of player's names which makes it look unprofessional. I actually have a lot of criticisms of the Titans website and its level of polish but I'll leave that for another day.

Nothing there that we didn't already know but it is interesting to see Hazard will be given some time at Hooker.

I wonder if any players with train and trial contracts will be given a go at 9s? Unsure if they would be allowed and wouldn't be surprised if they were restricted to the 13 aside trials as that is the game format in which they're actually trialling for. Can't help but think that Ingram would be a decent 9s player though.

I'm curious as to whether Li is trialling as a winger or a centre, perhaps teke will know?

[K2G]

Hazard spending some time at 9 is really interesting... he looks like a little unit from those preseason videos. I'd love to know what the pecking order at 9 (and 1 and 7 and everywhere) is currently.

I'm also starting to hope Li pushes his way into the team - either onto a wing (if don moves inside) or into the vacant centre position. He's got some height, and could really fill out to be a powerful young lad and give us some presence in the air... Between Li and Crampton, I'm leaning towards Li. I'd prefer either of them to Gordon or Faifai Loa long term.

You'd hope if Pettybourne does sign, he'd be ready for the trial games also.

[Hail Sezer]

9's squad to be announced on monday

[Titan4Life]

9's squad to be announced on monday

Will be interesting to see who gets picked. I'm hoping that a few younger guys such a Elgey, Hazard and Fogarty will be included as well as Hoffman, Mead, Roberts, Gordon (might be unavailable?), Zillman and Sezer.

I think we are a big chance to challenge in the nines. Plenty of speed to burn

[DIEHARD]

9's squad to be announced on monday

Great! We got an event for HKRL watching the Nines. So I am dead keen. Hope we give the tournament a shake.

[DIEHARD]

9's squad to be announced on monday

Great! We got an event for HKRL watching the Nines. So I am dead keen. Hope we give the tournament a shake.

[Hail Sezer]

Article by TM in the bulletin today saying that Moseley will be chief hooker at 9s with Hazard to be his backup.

Unfortunately the Bulletin is backing Mortimer and Sezer to gain selection over the likes of Elgey and Fogarty though.

Team announced tomorrow..sorry guys thought it was today

[Mr Stupid]

The Gold Coast Titans have named their 18-man squad that will travel to New Zealand for the second NRL Nines tournament.









Titans NRL Nines squad
1.William Zillman
2.James Roberts
3.Anthony Don
4.David Mead
5.Josh Hoffman
6.Brad Tighe
7.Kalifa Faifai Loa
8.Aiden Sezer
9.Daniel Mortimer
10.Christian Hazard
11.Kierran Moseley
12.Ryan James
13.Mark Ione
14.Luke Douglas
15.Lachlan Burr
16.Davin Crampton
17.Dave Taylor
18.Matt Robinson


Read more: http://www.zerotackle.com/nrl/titans...#ixzz3PKKHq2sZ

[Titan4Life]

No Kane Elgey? Paddy Kilmurray says the squad is subject to change so hopefully he will be included then. I think he would be good in the 9's

[Mr Stupid]

Crampton going as a forward judging by the order. Elgey doesn't appear to be quite ready yet in the Coach's opinion.