Round 3: TITANS vs KNIGHTS

[DavidBouveng]

one of the bigger changes is luke douglas' passing at the line. he passed as often as he hit it up last week. 8 passes and 8 hit ups out of 16 carries.

most were behind the next player to a sweeping player. he wasn't as convincing as James Graham at it, but he will get better and he actually has good skills. But Ricky Stuart and Carty swept them under the carpet for a long time.

[DIEHARD]

NRL PREVIEW: Titans v Knights

The Titans have a stronger team, and plenty of incentive in front of home crowd on Sunday, to show some of the character that was evident last they clashed with the Newcastle Knights last season and came away with 22-8 victory at Hunter Stadium in the ‘Rise for Alex’ round.

This clash is much earlier in the season but the circumstances are somewhat similar.

It was round 19 and the Titans had several key players out and had lost six of the previous seven games but players like Dave Taylor, Daniel Mortimer, Anthony Don and James Roberts stood up during the absence of Greg Bird, Ashley Harrison, Aidan Sezer, Albert Kelly, Will Zillman, Ryan James and others and came away with a victory that coach John Cartwright regarded as one of the best of his long stint at the club.

It’s only round three but after two losses during a dramatic period for the club, the Titans desperately need a big performance on Sunday for the two competition points available, confidence and credibility.

Certainly the return of Bird, Taylor, Beau Falloon and Matt White gives the pack far more experience, size and aggression but that will be needed against a Newcastle side that has begun the season with impressive wins against the Warriors and Cowboys. After winning the last two games of 2014 that means the Knights are on a four-match winning streak and are a team on the improve.

A fit skipper Kurt Gidley’s combination with halves Jarrod Mullen and Tyrone Roberts is a danger, as is the impact of centres Dane Gagai and Joey Leilua, wingers James McManus and Akuila Uate and a tough, physical pack.

Taylor’s return gives the Titans good impact runners on each edge (Taylor right, James left), while Falloon is a noted low-error defender and White and Bird add good aggressive metre makers and defenders.

However, failing to keep possession and trying to over-play with the ball in the attacking zone has been the Titans’ downfall and that is where coach Neil Henry needs improvement. The Titans have completed at just 68 per cent against the Tigers and an appalling 50 per cent against the Panthers, although the Knights have been at a modest 73 per cent in each of their first two matches.

“We’ve got more size and experience in the pack with the four players returning but our focus is obvious this game – to play a lot smarter and with a lot more patience in possession,” said coach Henry.

“We held the ball only twice in our last six sets against the Tigers when the game was there to be won at 18-all, coming up with errors at their end of the field which gave them the opportunity to work into good field position and Pat Richards to kick a field goal in the last seconds.

“We could have easily been 12-0 up after 10 minutes against the Panthers in Bathurst but some calls went against us and we found ourselves 8-0 behind at half-time.

“The second half started with James Roberts making an explosive break down the right edge and he found David Mead inside with four players in support but unfortunately the ball went to Penrith and an opportunity was lost.

“It could have been 8-6 five minutes into the second half. But it wasn’t and from then we continued to turn the ball over and at one stage failed to complete five straight sets, which makes it impossible to build any pressure on the opposition’s defensive line. Under a mountain of possession Penrith went on to score six unanswered tries in the last 35 minutes.

“Our completions were poor at 50 per cent. We completed only 16 of 32 sets and three from our 11 in the second half. That meant we had only had 37 per cent to their 63 per cent possession; you can’t win with those stats at any level.

“However, our attack has shown some real enterprise at times, and we’ve been unlucky that when we’ve gone through the defensive line we haven’t converted it into good field position and points - because our passing or handling has gone astray.

“The Knights have started with two wins and are very physical in the middle and have plenty to throw at you out wide, so we must improve to be in the match. But I feel we have a better balanced side and we have plenty of incentive to get our first win of the season in front of a home crowd.”

The Knights have certainly had the upper hand with clashes between the two sides in the previous eight seasons and traditionally these clashes are hard fought.

HEAD TO HEAD: 12 games – Knights 7, Titans 5.

AT CBUS SUPER STADIUM: 7 games – Knights 4, Titans 3.

Last time we met: Rd 19, 2014 – Titans 22, Knights 8

The teams:

TITANS: Hoffman, Don, Roberts, Zillman, Mead, Sezer, Mortimer, Douglas, Falloon, Myles (capt), James, Taylor, Bird. Interchange: Pettybourne, White, Simpkins, Moseley.

KNIGHTS: Gidley (capt), McManus, Gagai, Leilua, Uate, Mullen, Roberts, Snowden, Clydesdale, K. Sims, Scott, Rochow, Smith. Interchange: Randell, Houston, Fa’alogo, Stockwell.

MATCH OFFICIALS: Referees – Adam Devcich, Gavin Reynolds. Video refs: Gavin Badger, Ben Galea.

Kick-off: 5.30pm (Qld)

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

[DIEHARD]

Tickets: CLICK HERE FOR TITANS v KNIGHTS

[DIEHARD]

Returning stars a boost for Titans

Gold Coast coach Neil Henry believes the mood at his embattled club has lifted with a trio of stars returning from club-imposed suspensions to play Newcastle.

Winless this season and coming off the back of 40-0 hiding, Gold Coast coach Neil Henry knows the return of stars Greg Bird and Dave Taylor couldn't have come at a better time for the Titans.

State of Origin representatives Bird and Taylor, along with reigning player of the year Beau Falloon, will all make their first start of the 2015 campaign on Sunday against Newcastle after having club-imposed suspensions lifted earlier in the week.

The trio, along with outside backs Kalifa Faifai Loa and Jamie Dowling, had been sidelined for the past month after being caught up in the NRL club's cocaine scandal.

Henry says the lift given by having the players back among the ranks had helped ensure the mood following last weekend's flogging by Penrith didn't carry over into this weekend's game.

"There's a lot of experience coming back into the team with the three players that are starting, a lot of NRL experience, a lot of games. That's lifted the team as well," Henry said.

The coach expects all three to be underdone when it comes to their match fitness but says having the physical impact of Bird and Taylor will be crucial against a tough Knights pack.

NSW Origin star Beau Scott, along with Kiwi veteran Jeremy Smith, have come in for criticism during the week after a borderline targeting of North Queensland five-eighth Johnathan Thurston last weekend.

Scott was slapped with a grade one dangerous contact to the head or neck charge following that game but will be available after taking the early plea.

Henry said there's no doubt the Titans must prepare for another physical battle on Sunday.

"They've got some old heads in their side with Scott and Jeremy Smith," Henry said.

"They like to play a physical game through the middle. (Kade) Snowden has been very good for them as well and young (Korbin) Sims."

Henry said he had no issue with the Knights' tactics, so long as they kept it on the right side of the law.

"As Daniel Mortimer said in the press before, that comes with the territory," he said.

"No-one can condone foul play. If it's late or it's high you expect it to be dealt with but you're going to get tackled occasionally."

The only other change for the Titans is the return of Matt White on the bench from a hamstring injury while William Zillman and Josh Hoffman have swapped their positions in the backline.

Hoffman has moved to fullback while Zillman slots in at centre.

The unbeaten Knights have stuck with a winning formula, only adding Tyler Randall to a five-man bench for a second straight trip to Queensland.

MATCH STATS

* Gold Coast haven't lost their opening three matches of an NRL campaign since 2011, the year they finished with the wooden spoon.

* Titans recruit Josh Hoffman will be taking on his cousin and Knights star Dane Gagai, while Knights' backrower Robbie Rochow is Titan Greg Bird's brother-in-law.

* Knights winger James McManus loves scoring against the Titans, he's got 11 tries in 10 games against the Gold Coast.

* Newcastle have three wins from four trips to CBUS Super Stadium.

http://www.sbs.com.au/

[Squinter98]

Finally! No Steve Clarke as Video Ref!

[Mexican titan]

What's the lowest crowd the Titans have ever had at Robina?

[DavidBouveng]

about 6500 last year on a monday night

[Mexican titan]

titans to lose by 50, the decision to play drug cheats is a disgrace

Mate I see it's your second post here and I gather you are trolling..........but just in case you have been under a rock, the players haven't been found guilty of anything as yet.

- - - Updated - - -

about 6500 last year on a monday night

Hopefully we can beat that tomorrow but it will be close I reckon.

[K2G]

I can't wait to see what our coach is made of over the next few weeks. Shuffling players around positions just to keep them in the 13, and putting reputation ahead of performance are short term strategies at best. Can King do what Carty couldn't and pull the trigger??

[Titanic]

Posted in the Cows LU thread that our two coaches are interchangeable … I'm not counting Greeny in that

[DIEHARD]

Gold Coast Titans' spirits lifted by return of Greg Bird and Dave Taylor

Winless this season and following a 40-0 hiding at the hands of Penrith, Gold Coast coach Neil Henry knows the return of Greg Bird and Dave Taylor couldn't have come at a better time for the Titans.

State of Origin representatives Bird and Taylor, along with reigning player of the year Beau Falloon, will make their first start of this year's campaign on Sunday against Newcastle after having club-imposed suspensions lifted earlier in the week.

The trio, along with outside backs Kalifa Faifai Loa and Jamie Dowling, had been sidelined for the past month after being caught up in the club's cocaine scandal.

Henry said the lift provided by having the players back among the ranks had helped ensure the mood following last weekend's flogging by the Panthers didn't carry over into this weekend's game.

"There's a lot of experience coming back into the team with the three players that are starting, a lot of NRL experience, a lot of games. That's lifted the team as well," he said.

The coach expects all three to be underdone with regard to match fitness but says having the physical impact of Bird and Taylor will be crucial against a tough Knights pack.

NSW Origin player Beau Scott and Kiwi veteran Jeremy Smith came in for criticism during the week after a borderline targeting of North Queensland five-eighth Johnathan Thurston last weekend.

Scott was slapped with a grade one dangerous contact to the head or neck charge following that game but will be available after taking the early plea.

Henry said there was no doubt the Titans must prepare for another physical battle on Sunday.

"They've got some old heads in their side with Scott and Jeremy Smith," he said.

"They like to play a physical game through the middle. [Kade] Snowden has been very good for them as well and young [Korbin] Sims."

The coach said he had no issue with the Knights' tactics, so long as they kept it on the right side of the law.

"As Daniel Mortimer said in the press before, that comes with the territory," he said.

"No one can condone foul play. If it's late or it's high, you expect it to be dealt with but you're going to get tackled occasionally."

The only other change for the Titans is the return of Matt White on the bench from a hamstring injury while William Zillman and Josh Hoffman have swapped their positions in the back line.

Hoffman has moved to fullback and Zillman will slot in at centre.

The unbeaten Knights have stuck with a winning formula, only adding Tyler Randall to a five-man bench for a second straight trip to Queensland.

MATCH STATS

Gold Coast haven't lost their opening three matches of an NRL campaign since 2011, the year they finished with the wooden spoon.

Titans recruit Josh Hoffman will be taking on his cousin and Knights star Dane Gagai, while Knights' back-rower Robbie Rochow is Titan Greg Bird's brother-in-law.

Knights winger James McManus loves scoring against the Titans – he has got 11 tries in 10 games against them.
Newcastle have three wins from four trips to Cbus Super Stadium.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/]

[TITAN PETE]

Bring your raincoats it's looking like rain all day & night

[Show and Go]

I feel like this is a game we might be able to win but gee the Knights backline could easily tear us to shreds.

[TITAN PETE]

Ground is getting ripped up already in the 20's

[Hail Sezer]

Carty scores for 20's

4-0

Conditions sound awful