Round 18: TITANS vs PARRAMATTA

[Titanic]

Laffranchi did a great job … Fifita gets a rest and we get him back.

[coreythompson]

Why didn't Corey Thompson get picked for origin
This Paul Green sucks

[DIEHARD]

Maybe it was match fitness. But CT looked ready to rock last weekend.

[RavShamrock]

Laffranchi did a great job … Fifita gets a rest and we get him back.

Great tactic from the club if I’ve got this right?
If we didn’t challenge then Fifita (suspended) would have been unselectable and an automatic omission from SOO3 and then the suspension would have applied to next NRL game (Parra).
Not sure on this but sound feasible.

[Mexican titan]

Great tactic from the club if I’ve got this right?
If we didn’t challenge then Fifita (suspended) would have been unselectable and an automatic omission from SOO3 and then the suspension would have applied to next NRL game (Parra).
Not sure on this but sound feasible.

No I don't think that is right RavSham. He was going to get a week whether he challenged or not but it came down to whether he was selected for the Origin Team. Once he was selected, that game counts for any suspension. The team was picked Monday morning and I think players have until Monday or Tuesday to challenge any charge. In other words whether we challenged or not, the Origin game counted as a game in his suspension once he was picked.

[RavShamrock]

So MT have I got the timing wrong? What would have happened if he didn't challenge and he got the mandatory week (or is it one game) could he still be selected for Qld if he was suspended?

[JunctionBlock]

So MT have I got the timing wrong? What would have happened if he didn't challenge and he got the mandatory week (or is it one game) could he still be selected for Qld if he was suspended?

If he didn't challenge the NRL confirms with the QLD squad that he would have been selected and he would have missed SOO but been available for the next club game.

[Titanic Believer]

Not sure where to put this, but holier than thou Danny Weilder(sp) is an absolute goose claiming Qld Rugby League needs to look at themselves due the Arrow ****up. But no mention of the St. George debacle....

[JunctionBlock]

- - - Updated - - -

We can't let Bryce score

[DIEHARD]

Maybe we can have a NRL2021 Mark 2 run.

[DIEHARD]

NRL.com preview: Titans v Eels: Mo, Tino, AJ monitored; Mahoney returns
https://www.nrl.com/news/2021/07/12/...honey-returns/

After snapping a four-game losing streak in round 16 Gold Coast will be looking to build on that big win over Canberra when they emerge from the bye to take on top-four team Parramatta.

The Titans, who shrugged off the sin-binning of star forward David Fifita to crush the Raiders 44-6, have joined the logjam of sides on the fringe of the eight after banking their two points for the bye.

It doesn't take a genius to work out what they have to do to lift themselves above the mid-table scrum. While the 442 points they have conceded ranks the Titans exactly where they sit on the ladder, in 12th, their points-for tally of 386 pegs them in seventh.

So if Justin Holbrook's men lift their defence to the standard of their attack they'll go a long way to putting themselves back in the finals picture.

That will be easier said than done against a rested Eels side which will be keen to get its season back on track after a one-point loss to competition front-runners Penrith snapped a three-game win streak.

All four of Parramatta's 2021 losses have come against top-eight teams.

Team news
Titans: Coach Justin Holbrook has the luxury of naming the same 17 which performed so strongly in Canberra in round 16 and will be hoping Moeaki Fotuaika, Tino Fa'asumaleaui and AJ Brimson get through Origin III and are able to back up.

David Fifita missed Origin due to his one-game suspension for dangerous contact but he'll be on deck and ready to rip into the Eels pack.

Eels: The Eels are coming off the bye and welcome back hooker Reed Mahoney from the shoulder injury he suffered in round 13 while damaging back-rower Isaiah Papali'i should be right to go after copping a head knock against the Panthers in round 16.

Junior Paulo and Mitch Moses have both been named to back up from Origin III.

Key match-up
David Fifita v Ryan Matterson: Two of the competition's elite second-rowers, Fifita and Matterson both go into this clash looking to make statements. The Titans force of nature returns from a suspension that cost him his place in Origin III while the Eels workhorse has yet to really hit top form since returning from a long-term concussion layoff in round eight. Matterson has been thoroughly overshadowed by the form of 2021 recruit Isaiah Papali'i and will be eager to prove he is not a spent force.

Stat attack
The Titans will have to keep a very close eye on Eels skipper Clint Gutherson who can hurt teams from anywhere on the field. Not only does "King Gutho" rank No.1 for kick return metres (1136) but he also tops the NRL in support play, where his 169 involvements is well ahead of second-placed Nicho Hynes (141). In addition, Parramatta's fullback is third for runs (299) and run metres (2835), seventh in tries (12) and line-break assists (15), 10th for line breaks and try assists (both 13), and 14th in tackle breaks (56).

[Mexican titan]

Yahoo. Double header. Manly v Dragons follows the Titans game.
CBus also to have Raiders Sharks on Saturday and Souths game Sunday.

[DIEHARD]

Yahoo. Double header. Manly v Dragons follows the Titans game.
CBus also to have Raiders Sharks on Saturday and Souths game Sunday.

Wow!

Titans headline Friday night double-header
https://www.titans.com.au/news/2021/...double-header/
Friday night is truly a great night for football.

Capping off a sensational week of rugby league on the Gold Coast that featured the city's first ever State of Origin game, Cbus Super Stadium will host a double header of NRL action on Friday night.

CBUS SUPER STADIUM DOUBLE HEADER - BUY TICKETS

First up is a 6pm blockbuster between the Gold Coast Titans and the Parramatta Eels.

With Origin stars backing up, the Titans will be looking to make it back to back wins after recording a club record equalling victory last start against Canberra.

Following the Titans and Eels, fans will be able to see the Manly Sea Eagles take on the St George Illawarra Dragons.

The two Sydney clubs will call Queensland home for the interim as the game heads north, giving fans of both teams a chance to see their teams play on the Gold Coast.

If you love your footy, then Cbus Super Stadium is the place to be on Friday night as you'll get to pack in a full night of rugby league on the Gold Coast.

**Please note: All current tickets remain valid. If you already have purchased a ticket, good news, you now get a bonus game.**

[DIEHARD]

Beau knows the Titans need to back up Raiders performance
https://www.titans.com.au/news/2021/...s-performance/

One game back, one win.

Beau Fermor was one of five Titans who returned to the side in their last outing against the Canberra Raiders with immediate impact.

The Titans comprehensively won that game 44-6 and equalled a couple of club records along the way - most points in a game, biggest winning margin - but Fermor says he and his teammates know they need to deliver consistent performances every week, starting with the Eels this Friday.

"We are a pretty young side, so we have all got to get used to the fact that NRL is a hard game every week, there are no easy weeks," Fermor said.

"We need to make sure we are putting up a strong performance every week.

"We went through a bit of a rough patch through the middle of the year, but had a good win before the bye and we ae hoping to keep it going (against the Eels).

"We have been focusing on the last week (over the bye) and this week on backing up that performance, because we know how important a win is and we need to be beating top eight sides if we want to play finals.

One of the other players that returned against the Raiders was Maroons representative AJ Brimson and Fermor said he gives the whole side confidence.

"AJ is a freak, he is a ball of energy, he is fast and he brings that air of confidence when you are playing with him," he said.

"You just think well we have him so we can do anything."

Watch Beau and the Titans take on the Eels at Cbus Super Stadium this Friday night - TICKETS.

[JunctionBlock]

Free footy, my wife's going to be soooooo happy