Round 2: TITANS vs BRONCOS (2021)

[Titanic]

teke ole fruit welcome back! always great to have a ‘Ponies troll on the Forum ... just kidding.

[Hail Sezer]

I have Returned

...and failed to upload a image

- - - Updated - - -

I have big hopes for the Tits this yr but seeing the 2021 Ashley Harro clone Proctor stinking up the right hand side is kind of killing the feels.

Still no oomph from the wingers on returns is going to wear down what looks like a beastly forward pack

The legend returns

[JunctionBlock]

What is the deal with all the super anti-Sami stuff on here and in the other fan groups? he's been one of our most solid guys for a while now.

What we have seen him do vs what he does.

Have a look at the Moejoe award voting for the start of last year compared to him losing his spot by the end of the year. Something went wrong.

[DIEHARD]

I have Returned

TEKE!!!!

Welcome back brother!

[DIEHARD]

Wallace tipping Dymock to stiffen Titans defence ahead of Broncos clash
https://www.titans.com.au/news/2021/...broncos-clash/

Jarrod Wallace has been around long enough to know that a first round loss doesn't mean a bad season ahead.

"In 2015 (when I was at the Broncos) and made the grand final, we lost to Souths (36-6) and look what we did.

"The hype that was around us, we didn't buy into it too much and I just think we went into our shell when we shouldn't have and Justin (Holbrook) will change that and fix that this week."

The former Queensland Origin prop also knows that his side will have to quickly return to form to get a win in Friday's local derby against the Broncos at Cbus Super Stadium.

"We just have to be better," Wallace said.

"There's no talking about it.

"We've just got to get it done."

Coach Justin Holbrook said his side let in a couple of "soft barge-over tries" against the Warriors, something which Wallace says the Titans will quickly rectify.

"I know Jimmy Dymock (Assistant Coach) will really pull them apart.

"I think it will come down to fatigue and guys switching off and not switching on in periods of the game.

"Barge-over tries are a non-negotiable.

"They are a lazy effort for that to happen and to get two against us on the weekend I know Jimmy won't be happy about it and neither will Justin.

"I'm sure there'll be a a bit of tackling this week to make sure we're not doing that again."

Wallace notched 114 running metres and 28 tackles in his first game of 2021 and will be looking to continue his strong personal form into the Macca's Local Derby against his old club when the Titans meet the Broncos at Cbus Super Stadium on Friday night.

[DIEHARD]

No half measures, Fogarty says 6 & 7 will be better in round two
https://www.titans.com.au/news/2021/...-in-round-two/

Gold Coast Captain Jamal Fogarty says there'll be plenty of hard work this week to make sure the side is ready for Friday's local derby clash against the Brisbane Broncos.

After a 19 points to 6 loss to the Warriors in round one, Fogarty has put his own hand up, saying the halves need to be better in round two.

"We're all disappointed in what we dished out against the Warriors," Fogarty said.

"It starts with us in the halves to make sure we are calm and composed to make sure everyone is on the same page.

"I think we (the halves) were a bit frantic.

"We had a fair bit of football on their try-line and just being frantic and not sticking to our structure as much (didn't help).

"I just think we've got to make sure we are finding our spots on the field a lot more.

"We weren't really finding our spots and then we were sort of just making stuff up on the run which we haven't been doing all pre-season.

"Our communication and making sure we are on the same page has been good (in pre-season) and on the weekend we didn't do that.

"We knew after the game that we bombed opportunities.

"We had enough possession with the ball but we didn't take those opportunities and we want to be doing that this year.

"We want to get back to that this week."

After a slow start against the Warriors, Fogarty says there will be a focus on making sure the team start strongly in front of the Titans Legion at Cbus Super Stadium for the first time in 2021.

"We want to pride ourselves on starting the game well," Fogarty said.

"Obviously being the local derby, everyone is going to be up for it.

"It's our first home game for the year as well, so we've just got to prepare well and make sure we're doing all the little things right.

[DIEHARD]

I also lean towards Spry over Sami.

At least we have the depth to even be debating this

I'll say!

Queensland Cup starts this weekend. So we will be able to see some form of those that don't make the 17.

[DIEHARD]

Cbus Super stadium fully open and ready to rock on Friday night
https://www.titans.com.au

The Gold Coast Titans are looking forward to playing in front of a packed Cbus Super Stadium on Friday night for the local derby against the Brisbane Broncos.

Cbus Super Stadium is back to 100% capacity and there are seats still available with fans able to return to the footy in 2021 with a blockbuster game to kick off our season at home.

There will still be COVID-safe measures in place for the safety of all attending and whilst you will be able to buy a ticket at the gate (pending availability), we encourage all fans to get in early and pre-purchase tickets.

Pre-purchasing will save you money (it’s cheaper to pre-buy compared to purchasing at the gate), you’ll get free public transport to and from the game and will help you beat the queues to get into the stadium faster to enjoy the footy.

Cbus Super Stadium also wants to remind patrons of the following:

Cbus Super Stadium is a cashless venue. Card payments only accepted.
Stay home if you’re unwell
It’s recommended that you bring your own masks and wear them to and from the game
Keep your distance where possible, including on public transport by leaving a gap at the station and on-board services. Consider travelling earlier to avoid congestion
Wash or sanitise your hands regularly

[DIEHARD]

Can we talk about how crap the name "Macca's Local Derby" is?

And how woeful the trophy is? Compare it to the AFL's QClash Cup!





For the record I think the AFL over did it. I mean that looks like a Premiership Cup!

The name "Macca's" just cheapens it IMO. Should be McDonald's. And while it currently is a local derby, when they add another Brisbane it won't really be THE local derby. It'll still be very important and historical. But that phrase along side "Battle of Brisbane" will likely be attached to Dolphins/Jets v Broncos.

Another opportunity to raise my idea of a big trophy for the best club in Queensland called the Kings of Queensland. Even more meaningful with the addition of a 2nd Brisbane and probably a 5th club in the future.

[DIEHARD]

Clubs ready for a ‘cage fight’ in bid to break 2021 duck
https://www.couriermail.com.au/

Rising Broncos star Xavier Coates will be fit to take on the Titans in Round 2, but a teammate has taken a cheeky dig at one the winger’s dangerous habits.

The Broncos have been warned to be ready for an M1 “cage fight” when they face a Gold Coast side free of their first round jitters on Friday.

Both clubs are coming off a Round 1 loss and will be desperate to avoid a 0-2 start to the 2021 season.

Former State of Origin forward Scott Sattler, who played for two incarnations of the Gold Coast team and is the son of foundation owner and Test great John, senses an old style derby could be just what the Gold Coast need.
.
“This game has come at a good time for the Gold Coast,” Sattler said.

“You could see they were nervous and tentative against the Warriors. They just had to get that first game out of the way.

“Had they been playing the Sharks or Dragons in this match (Round 2), the temptation might be to manage their way into the season, but in game‘s like this the skill factor goes down and you get more raw aggression.

“This will be more like a cage fight and that will suit the Titans.”

It comes as Brisbane star winger Xavier Coates is set to line up on Friday night after suffering a neck injury during his side’s 24-16 loss to the Eels on Friday night.

The talented 20-year-old was back into full contact training on Monday in a positive sign he will be fit for this week’s M1 derby with the Titans.

Broncos centre Herbie Farnworth joked on Monday that Coates should avoid the theatrics in scoring tries to make sure he doesn’t suffer another injury.

“He’s fine (to play),” Farnworth said.

“I’m not too sure what happened but when he goes for the try, he needs to stop doing the fancy dive for the cameras and stay lower.

“A few of the boys have been talking to him about that today.”

The casualty ward from the Round 1 clash also included utility John Asiata (neck and shoulder) who trained with the squad on Monday and will be reassessed on Tuesday morning before coach Kevin Walters names his side.

Titans forward, and former Bronco, Jarrod Wallace called for calm following his side’s weekend loss but conceded they had to be better to beat the Broncos this week.

“It’s not all doom and gloom,” Wallace said.

“It’s only Round 1.

“We’re a bit shell-shocked there, but we’ve just got to be better this week.

“It’s always a big, local derby game no matter how good or bad a team is going.

“They played some really good footy on the weekend … and I thought they were unlucky to get the (win).”

[DIEHARD]

Holbrook confident Titans will bounce back for Broncos blockbuster
VIDEO: https://www.nrl.com/news/2021/03/16/...s-blockbuster/
Gold Coast Titans coach Justin Holbrook joins Inside The NRL to dissect his side's opening-round loss, discuss David Fifita's debut and look ahead to the Friday night blockbuster against the Brisbane Broncos

[DIEHARD]

'Little brother' no more: How Titans are taking Broncos on for talent
https://www.nrl.com/news/2021/03/16/...on-for-talent/

The Titans are spoiling for a recruitment battle with arch-rivals Brisbane at both NRL and development level as a prospective fourth Queensland team shakes up one of rugby league's biggest talent pools.

An organic rivalry round has emerged in round two with Trent Barrett and Ivan Cleary squaring off, Nathan Brown coaching against the Knights for the first time and Gold Coast's million-dollar signing David Fifita taking on his old Broncos teammates.

Canterbury and Penrith's public squabble over Matt Burton after Barrett targeted several Panthers has dominated headlines of late.

But the south-east Queensland rivalry takes the cake given the recent fortunes and trajectories of Friday's opponents, even with the Titans underwhelming round one loss to the Warriors.

A near-sold out crowd of 25,000-plus is projected for the Titans home game which will see Fifita take on Brisbane after his drawn out contract saga dominated much of 2020.

The 21-year-old Maroons star is set to train at full capacity this week again after spending two days in hospital with a skin infection leading into his club debut.

While the Gold Coast outgunned their Red Hill rivals for Fifita, it's understood the Titans remain among the suitors for rising stars Kotoni Staggs and uncapped back-rower Brendan Piakura.

The two Queensland clubs are also leading the pursuit for Storm hooker Brandon Smith, who is hunting a starting No.9 role next season, though his release for 2022 is contingent on Melbourne being offered a quality player in return.

The Broncos have ramped up their retention bid for Staggs in recent weeks with a bumped up multi-year offer but the Titans' successful signing of Fifita and improvements under coach Justin Holbrook have the club eyeing a change in the region's rugby league narrative.

Titans CEO Steve Mitchell declined to comment on the club's current NRL recruitment plans.

But with the potential for a second Brisbane side to be green-lit for 2023 by July, Mitchell said the Titans revamped junior pathways and recruitment plans become even more critical after decades of playing 'little brother' to the Broncos.

"If there was another club to come into fruition in Queensland then we've got to get our backyard in order very quickly," Mitchell told NRL.com.

"They will put pressure on us for commercial partners, consumers and members, and then right through to coaches, staff and players.

"If they're close to us then it puts pressure on all of us and means we have to have those foundations right early.

"I think the Broncos with their brand and their legacy of what they've done, they will always be extraordinarily appealing for a young man or woman who wants to play rugby league at the top level.

"I think they will always have an enormous allure because of their resources and history for young guys.

"We've got to get much better, and we are improving, on what our junior elite programs look like.

"The sophistication of them, the experience of the kid coming through and then the most success we have at the NRL level, the more that endorses the club and the development programs.

"The owners have been doing that for about three years now and we're starting to keep some very talented kids on the Coast where ordinarily a few years ago they might have gone up the road to the Broncos or down to Sydney."

With officials taking a keen interest in the success of Penrith's homegrown juniors and their retention battle to keep their best and brightest, the Titans have struck formal partnerships with the region's biggest rugby league schools.

Rising players at famed NRL nurseries Keebra Park and Palm Beach Currumbin have linked with the club and have access to the Titans facilities and coaching, as does Logan's Marsden State High in what is traditionally Broncos territory.

Mitchell says the likes of schoolboy rugby talent Jojo Fifita and fellow top 30 squad member Toby Sexton are the first few fruits of the Titans new pathways programs, which will "pay genuine dividends in four to eight years' time."

Off the paddock the Gold Coast have made strides in commercial, online and sponsorship spaces as well.

But at the club's core is what Holbrook and his team put out on the paddock, with last year's late strides away from mediocrity heightening interest in Friday's clash with Brisbane.

"What Justin's doing with that team is the absolute spine of all the off-field work," Mitchell said.

"The culture he's created and work he's done with the playing group it's been special to watch.

"We don't want to be little brother anymore. But we take nothing for granted either. They were strong against Parramatta so we know they'll come down to play.

"We don't want to get in front of ourselves and we know there's still a lot of work to do. But that little brother tag is something we're looking to shed, absolutely."

[Mr Bods]

The consequences for the loser this week are pretty bad.
We need to get this win.

(And no it’s not a mini GF-it’s in many ways bigger because it’s the Drongoes)

[Titslover]

Sami in at centre is the only change

[Croc]

Abit disappointed not to see spry in for Kelly. Hopefully they play better this week