Round 23: TITANS vs STORM

[Upthetits]

When the rabbits were rushing up constantly they were dictating the play the ball speed as they were making dominant tackles so they got an extra second or 2 with their holding down whilst rolling us onto our backs.

Our 3 steps forwards then hold gives teams the front foot and also they appear to be winning the contest and getting a quick ptb as they are running at us with more speed and picking their spots to hit and get to the ground as quickly as possible instead of ours where we were catching the ball taking 1 or 2 steps and getting smashed.

They gave our outside backs no time to play either, they kept rushing up and shutting down before we even had a chance. We done our 3 steps up and held off hitting cody walker until he had already caught it then he could just off load to the winger.

[RavShamrock]

Yep your spot on Upthetits and further more;

One thing that sticks out to me is how the better teams seem to be either, a lot better at camouflaging the wrestle or get more leniency from the refs or both in the ruck because there is no doubt they produce that extra effort and slow down tactics at the play the balls for that fraction of time that provides a huge advantage to their defence structures.
I don’t think we have kept up with the top teams in this regard but pretty sure we wouldn’t be granted equal leniency anyway. The Rabbits were brilliant at this in the first half yesterday

[RavShamrock]

Feels like the start of the finals this Shark v Knights game.
Who do we want?

[psmitty]

Sharks as they are one game behind on points and knights have an easier draw.

[indoallstars]

We want Knights to win, they have an easy run home an will likely get by on points alone not on for and against.

If Knights beat Sharks we are really only up against Raiders who vs Manly, Warriors, Roosters.

Titans vs Storm, Knights, Warriors......think Raiders should get 1/2 wins and Titans should get 1/2 wins (Raiders have slightly harder run home) which will leave it all up to For and Against

[Hail Sezer]

Agreed HS and to meet the attack on the advantage line takes a lot of effort however the top teams have recruited accordingly (and have their conditioners specifically train for this)

If you look at the Titans particularly when the play is outside the attacking teams 20, the Titans take 3 steps forward and then hold. This was a defensive system that was used widely when i coached some 20 years ago so it has been around along time. It has it benefits by not increasing fatigue as much but the clear downside is that you give up so much ground in a set of 6.

The top teams don't have this system and have the aerobic capacity to be able to handle the load of a defensive system of defending at the advantage line which gains them much better field position for most of the game resulting in such one sided contests. This is not the only reason and there are several factors that go into such dominance but field position based on minimizing metres gained by the attacking side is one of the important factors.

Yep well said WD.

I think your point about recruitment (and the balance of a roster) is more true than ever with the way the game is currently played. If you look at the top rosters, their key middles and pack leaders are big engine, high-effort, high tackle %, defensively efficient players. Athletic bodies that can repeat high-effort areas, make 1 on 1 tackles effectively, wrap the ball up, etc. Do all the things that makes an efficient defensive player.

Then there are sides that might not as obviously have this but have energy to work hard defensively as a unit because they're so good at utilising their own possession for territory or points - Souths & Manly probs the best example.

At the moment we're neither of these.

Great point of discussion though and I'm glad you brought it up.

[willhelm]

Tom Trbojevic fractured his cheekbone last night. Manly vs Raiders is now a danger game for us.

[Mexican titan]

We want Knights to win, they have an easy run home an will likely get by on points alone not on for and against.

If Knights beat Sharks we are really only up against Raiders who vs Manly, Warriors, Roosters.

Titans vs Storm, Knights, Warriors......think Raiders should get 1/2 wins and Titans should get 1/2 wins (Raiders have slightly harder run home) which will leave it all up to For and Against

Not sure I can work out your logic there mate. Surely we would want teams lower down on the ladder to win and the Sharks are behind the Knights.

I notice the Broncos have their last three games at Suncorp, even the away game. We don't get the same consideration as our away game against the Knights is at the Sunshine Coast.

[Titslover]

The logic is pretty simple MT, Knights are basically guaranteed to make it. By Sharks losing today they stay 2 points behind us. If we win 1 or 2 more games we finish on 22 or 24 points, they would have to win all 3 to finish on 24 but they verse the Storm so that’s not happening. Them losing today has most likely put them out of the race and means it should be between just us and the Raiders for 8th spot.

[DIEHARD]

Thursday is the new Friday with Titans, Storm clash at Cbus
https://www.titans.com.au

Thursday night football is coming to the Gold Coast!

TICKETS - Thursday is the new Friday - Titans v Storm

For the first time in Titans history they will host a Thursday night thriller when the Titans take on the table-topping Melbourne Storm at Cbus Super Stadium.

In what is a mouth-watering clash the Titans continue their charge towards finals while the Storm are looking to stave off the Rabbitohs and Panthers to claim the minor premiership.

With both sides desperate for victory it is set to be the fans who benefit as the likes of Cameron Munster, Brandon Smith, Harry Grant and Nelson Asofa-Solomona join AJ Brimson, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Dave Fifita to bring Cbus Super Stadium alight.

For Fa'asuamaleaui it will be the first time he has played against his old side since leaving the Storm at the end of 2020 and will no doubt have the young firebrand ready to go for another big performance.

The last time these two met the Titans were arguably the better side but it was the Storm who came away victors in one of the games of the season so far.

If not for an errant pass or two from the Titans it could have stopped the Storm's winning streak before it started.

The round 13 match saw the debuts of Jayden Campbell and Greg Marzhew - with the latter going on to quickly become a fan favourite due to his explosive running over his first seven NRL matches.

So, can the Titans cause an upset and shake up the top of the table?

You'll have to be there to find out!

TICKETS - Thursday is the new Friday - Titans v Storm

[Mr Bods]

Thursday is the new Friday with Titans, Storm clash at Cbus
https://www.titans.com.au

Thursday night football is coming to the Gold Coast!

TICKETS - Thursday is the new Friday - Titans v Storm

For the first time in Titans history they will host a Thursday night thriller when the Titans take on the table-topping Melbourne Storm at Cbus Super Stadium.

In what is a mouth-watering clash the Titans continue their charge towards finals while the Storm are looking to stave off the Rabbitohs and Panthers to claim the minor premiership.

With both sides desperate for victory it is set to be the fans who benefit as the likes of Cameron Munster, Brandon Smith, Harry Grant and Nelson Asofa-Solomona join AJ Brimson, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Dave Fifita to bring Cbus Super Stadium alight.

For Fa'asuamaleaui it will be the first time he has played against his old side since leaving the Storm at the end of 2020 and will no doubt have the young firebrand ready to go for another big performance.

The last time these two met the Titans were arguably the better side but it was the Storm who came away victors in one of the games of the season so far.

If not for an errant pass or two from the Titans it could have stopped the Storm's winning streak before it started.

The round 13 match saw the debuts of Jayden Campbell and Greg Marzhew - with the latter going on to quickly become a fan favourite due to his explosive running over his first seven NRL matches.

So, can the Titans cause an upset and shake up the top of the table?

You'll have to be there to find out!

TICKETS - Thursday is the new Friday - Titans v Storm

I can answer the question in the second last paragraph

[Mexican titan]

The logic is pretty simple MT, Knights are basically guaranteed to make it. By Sharks losing today they stay 2 points behind us. If we win 1 or 2 more games we finish on 22 or 24 points, they would have to win all 3 to finish on 24 but they verse the Storm so that’s not happening. Them losing today has most likely put them out of the race and means it should be between just us and the Raiders for 8th spot.

Yeah, fair points mate, although I would rather the Knights stay level with us rather than be ahead which they are now. We have about 100 points better differential than them so we are ahead of them if we could have stayed level. The Sharks would have just taken points off them. I agree with you that the Knights have a pretty easy draw. Looking at the draw I am starting to think we will struggle to get there as this week is a certain loss. We then have the Knights and the Warriors which are 50/50 games. Might be tough to win both but here's hoping. It is essential to keep the differential decent because as it stands we are ahead of the others.

- - - Updated - - -

I can answer the question in the second last paragraph

I can as well. Question is - by how many.

[indoallstars]

The logic is pretty simple MT, Knights are basically guaranteed to make it. By Sharks losing today they stay 2 points behind us. If we win 1 or 2 more games we finish on 22 or 24 points, they would have to win all 3 to finish on 24 but they verse the Storm so that’s not happening. Them losing today has most likely put them out of the race and means it should be between just us and the Raiders for 8th spot.

Thanks hangingon that was my exact train of thought, I honestly agree it's between us and Raiders for 8th position. Newcastle should be a shoe in for 7th but crazier things have happened!

[Titanic]

The craziest thing is if we make the 8 … fingers crossed.

[coreythompson]

Marzhew and Herbert are becoming a liability in defence

They are too new
Bring back the don