Round 24: TITANS vs RAIDERS

[DavidBouveng]

our season went to pot when Sezer and LG went down. we were never a real threat at top 8 as far as doing damage in the finals, but we would have been right in the mix to grab that spot as we were still improving i think as LG grew and grew.

Im sort of glad we didnt push into 8th/9th, as it would have been the ultimate false dawn and given us a horrible misrepresentation of where we are. even when we were winning it wasn't with a sustainable style of football that wins long term. it was shoot out stuff that is great to watch of course, but needs a season or two of defensive work and game management built in.

[TITAN PETE]

LG will be playing

[TitanSam]

U-20s
3-mins-G.Leleisiuao TRY (good speed and and hands from Kelly)
12-mins-T.Roberts-Davis TRY (good speed and strength)
13-mins-S.Hudson GOAL
22-mins-S.Hudson TRY
23-mins-S.Hudson GOAL
27-mins-T.Roberts-Davis TRY (great team try, great speed from TRD)
28-mins-S.Hudson GOAL
34-mins-S.Fatafehi TRY (On DEBUT, great run)
35-mins-S.Hudson GOAL
39-mins-K.Lawton SIN-BIN (and a guy from Raiders)

----HALF TIME----
GCT 28-0 CAN

46-mins-R.Humphreys TRY
59-mins-T.Roberts-Davis TRY
68-mins-G.Leleisiuao TRY (outstanding work by D.Schwass, no panic at all at and great play from Brian Kelly and the speed from GL)

----FULL-TIME----
GCT 40-12 CAN

[NSW Titan]

Dave Taylor and Kane Elgey starting in the halves today

[toddythetitan]

^^^for real?

[Brock O'Brien]

Still better than Hoffman

[DIEHARD]

'Flat' Canberra Raiders desperate to get off canvas against Gold Coast Titans

Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart says his players have been "knocked around" by their finals hopes ending in controversial style, and lifting them off the canvas is his biggest challenge before Sunday's clash on the Gold Coast.

While the Raiders will miss the finals for a third straight year, there has been noticeable improvement and Stuart has implored his squad to avoid dropping their bundle.

Canberra's finals hopes ended after consecutive two-point home losses to the Wests Tigers and Manly.

The Sea Eagles sealed victory with a last-gasp Brett Stewart try that was later deemed illegal.

Despite having to adjust to the Queensland heat, Canberra will start strong favourites against the last-placed Titans, who will be without starting halves Kane Elgey and Raiders recruit Aidan Sezer.

"My hardest job is going to be having the players up," Stuart said.

"We've been knocked around and pretty flat by what happened last week.

"We have to show a professional side of us and they're a resilient bunch, they'll be right."

"A couple of results haven't gone our way, but I believe from a performance point of view we've played a really good brand of footy.

"We need to build on that but I'd like to see the players finish the season on a credible note because they deserve to, our season's been quite progressive.

"The important this is we've improved and we've got to improve again next year."

Stuart said prop Paul Vaughan had overcome a leg injury suffered late in the 26-24 Sea Eagles loss and was expected to take his place.

The Raiders have had a massive transformation of their forward pack since Stuart arrived two years ago, with experienced campaigners Brett White (retired), Dane Tilse (Hull KR) and Tom Learoyd-Lahrs (Melbourne) moving on.

They have been replaced with the young brigade in Vaughan, Shannon Boyd and Mitch Barnett, who has been replaced by Luke Bateman for the Titans game after making his NRL debut the past two games.

"It's been quite a big transformation [in the forward pack] and it's had to be," Stuart said.

"We just thought we should give Luke a bit more footy before the end of the season.

"Giving Mitch a couple of games and a taste of first grade means he will come into the off-season with a real fire in his belly and desire for next year."

Stuart confirmed the hot weather meant bench hooker Kurt Baptiste will be involved after he failed to play a single minute off the bench in the past two matches.

Starting hooker Josh Hodgson has played 80 minutes the past fortnight, giving Stuart the option of playing one hooker when the interchanges are reduced from 10 to eight next year.

"Kurt will get some footy this weekend," Stuart said.

"[Next year] it'll be horses for courses, there'll be games where I need him [Hodgson] to play the full 80, other games we'll have an interchange player ready to replace him if needed.

"I'll worry about next year when next year comes, it's just a matter of finishing this season on a credible note.

"It is difficult [we're out of finals contention] but it's all part of the journey. We're certainly in a lot better position today than we were this time last year, and that's what you have to look at."

SUNDAY

NRL round 24: Gold Coast Titans v Canberra Raiders at Gold Coast, 2pm

TV Time: Live on Fox Sports 1


Read more: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/rugby-league/

[TitanSam]

WE NEED TO RE-SIGN GL

[DIEHARD]

Gold Coast Titans coach Neil Henry wants NRL season to end on positive note

GOLD Coast coach Neil Henry has challenged the Titans to show their professionalism and character over the closing stages of a diabolical season that has the club facing a dreaded second wooden spoon in five years.

The season end could not come soon enough for a club that has been dragged through an unprecedented year of drama but Henry knows what happens over the next three weeks will say plenty about his men.

As easy as it would be for players to mentally clock off, Henry is demanding commitment to the bitter end because every player should have a personal reason not to be complacent despite being no chance at finals football.

“I think that is the danger for sides who can’t make the eight, you can see the end and there’s not a lot to aim for because you can’t play finals footy and I suppose Canberra are in that boat now too,” Henry said.

“They’ve lost their last two games and would be a bit deflated.

“All we can appeal to is that the guys want to perform well for each other, they want to perform well at home.
“It’s membership recognition round … our record hasn’t been great at home but we’ve had a couple of wins and that is what were playing for.

“We’re playing for our fans, we’re playing for the satisfaction of getting a win in this competition.
“Some guys are playing for a glimpse into what they can offer for next year and beyond, some guys are moving on and some guys haven’t got contracts so it’s a difficult period for any club.

“We’re not the only one who goes through that when you haven’t got the finals campaign to hold onto as the gel and binding bit for your team, this is a test of character and professionalism really and getting out there and working hard for each other.”

Halfback Kane Elgey (hip) remains a chance to play today with Henry keeping his options open with up to 20 players used at Saturday’s final training run as he toys with various combinations.

Skipper Nate Myles will make his return from injury to bolster the forward pack while Ryan James is set to return to the front row rotation to confront a massive Raiders forward pack.

“Nate Myles and Ryan James back in the team does help, (Greg) Birdy has been a bit of a lone ranger a little bit with the experience in the middle,” he said.

“We need to get in front of their pack because certainly they can roll down the field.

“Last time Blake Austin he carved us up. You can talk all you like about his sidestep but he went through us twice for two easy tries.

“They have a lot to like about their team and Ricky (Stuart) will be pushing them to finish their season with three wins if they can.”

[DIEHARD]

Shillington aiming to avoid nudie run

David Shillington only has three games left in his Canberra Raiders career and he'll be hoping to sign off with his first try in two years to avoid the game's most dreaded tradition. Shillington is the highest-profile Raider still in line to compete in the end of season 'nudie run', where players who fail to score a try all season have to streak. Shillington hasn't scored a try since his double in the final round of 2013 against Cronulla. Other players looking to get themselves off the list include rookie Mitchell Barnett, who may struggle after he was replaced by Luke Bateman for Sunday's clash with the Gold Coast. Glen Buttriss, Newcastle recruit Joey Leilua, Josh McCrone and Mark Nicholls also have a donut beside their name this season. Fortunately for fellow duck eggs Bill Tupou and Dane Tilse, they will avoid the nudie run given they've moved to the English Super League.

Read more: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/sport/act-sport/

[DIEHARD]

Flashback

2014 Round 3 Canberra Raiders V Gold Coast Titans


2014 Round 18 Canberra Raiders V Gold Coast Titans

[DIEHARD]

Late changes in Titans side

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

Kane Elgey has overcome a hip injury and returns to the Aquis Titans side after missing the clash with Canterbury last Sunday.

Leva Li and Kierran Moseley drop out of the 17 also, to accommodate several positional changes.

Josh Hoffman will start at fullback and Daniel Mortimer at hooker, meaning David Mead heads back to the wing, and Beau Falloon drops to the bench.

David Taylor will start, named in the five-eighth position. although Greg Bird will also play a creative role on the edge of the rucks.

Nathaniel Peteru also comes into the 17, giving the Titans a front row rotation of Nate Myles, Luke Douglas, Matthew White and Peteru with Eddy Pettybourne able to cover front and back row.

The Raiders are unchanged.

The Titans side: Hoffman, Mead, Roberts, Macdonald, Faifai Loa, Taylor, Elgey, Douglas, Mortimer, Myles (capt), James, Paasi, Bird. Interchange: Pettybourne, White, Falloon, Peteru.

[Bayside Titan]

Bird gone for game with torn Hammy maybe.

[IpswichTitans]

So Effin Soft

[teke]

Sam Williams scores easiest try I have seen this yr.