Round 24: Sydney Roosters vs Gold Coast Titans

[squirrell]

kevin gordon chasing down short **** turned the game...that was a try saver without making the tackle...hes as fast as me when i was younger!!!!!

[Coaster]

Gordon chasing down Perrit was just poetry in motion.


BUT







WHAT ABOUT FRIEND GETTING THERE
He made a gazillion tackles, hands on the ball every play, packs into the middle of every scrum. Has the biggest ratio of tackling guys 100kg and over.

And he runs alls the way back, and is the difference between that being a good chase, and a try saving set.

[Ryan]

I told you all this weeks ago, shhesssh

I'm with ya.
Two weeks out from the finals, sitting pretty in 2nd - and it's only now that we are finals contenders?????

[titansrawesome]

damn i wish i put a bet on titans $19 for premiers, still mite put something on for $7 a bet

[karnage]

I'm with ya.
Two weeks out from the finals, sitting pretty in 2nd - and it's only now that we are finals contenders?????

No point being finals contenders any further out. Just ask Roosters fans (if you can find one... ) who were almost premiership favourites after they beat up on the Eels.

Or ask St George fans what it feels like to peak too early year after year.

Or even last year when we were probably more ready for finals four or five weeks out.

There is a sense of timing about us that I love - reminiscent of our Captain's premiership year in 2005.

[Ryan]

No point being finals contenders any further out. Just ask Roosters fans (if you can find one... ) who were almost premiership favourites after they beat up on the Eels.

Or ask St George fans what it feels like to peak too early year after year.

Or even last year when we were probably more ready for finals four or five weeks out.

There is a sense of timing about us that I love - reminiscent of our Captain's premiership year in 2005.

Your outlook on this competition is as consistent as it's referees:

~
Our season is over. Even if we make the finals we will be doing nothing more than making up the numbers. A year of promise fizzles out hopelessly with yet another failure to improve as the season progresses. If we can't make any improvement between rds 1 and 19 there is no way we can improve sufficiently to threaten in rds 20 - 26.
~
Hopeless...

Rounds 20-24 won, rounds 25 & 26 looking promising

[kwigibo]

WHAT ABOUT FRIEND GETTING THERE
He made a gazillion tackles, hands on the ball every play, packs into the middle of every scrum. Has the biggest ratio of tackling guys 100kg and over.

And he runs alls the way back, and is the difference between that being a good chase, and a try saving set.

I think he kicked as much as Rogers too. Good kicks, and that's the only thing anyone can ever think to criticise him for.

[DIEHARD]

Titans seal finals berth, eye top-four spot
Adam Gardini

The Jetstar Gold Coast Titans moved one step closer towards a top-four spot after sealing their place in the finals with a 23-14 win over the Sydney Roosters at the SFS tonight.

Two tries from experienced New Zealander Clinton Toopi helped the Titans to the win as the Gold Coasters maintained a share of equal 2nd spot on the ladder with their fifth straight victory.

Th Titans led 10-6 at halftime and went right on with the job in second half through tries to Toopi and young forward Bodene Thompson and a faultless goal kicking display from captain Scott Prince

In an absorbing 80 minutes contest, the Roosters capitalized on a weight of early possession with a try to Anasta after 6 minutes to lead 6-nil.

But the Titans hit back when a fortuitous bounce from a Prince kick landed in the hands of Toopi who levelled the scores at 6-all

Both teams then traded blows for the next 20 minutes before winger Kevin Gordon did an outstanding job to ground the ball in the corner and give the Titans a 10-6 lead at halftime.

The Roosters levelled things up at 10-all shortly after the break though through a try to centre Shaun Kenny Dowell.

But the Titans got back in the armwrestle and kicked clear when Bodene Thompson pounced on a Roosters mistake to score, with Prince adding the extras for a 16-10 lead with 21 minutes remaining.

Toopi then scored his second try off a blistering 95m kick return by fullback William Zillman and Prince again saluted with the sideline conversion for a 22-10 lead with 13 minutes remaining.

Prince then put the result beyond doubt with a sneaky field goal off a restart in play for a match-sealing 23-10 advantage.

The Roosters then crossed late for a consolation try but the damage had been done with the Titans notching their three straight away win ahead of next weekend's clash against the Sharks at Toyota Stadium.

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

[DIEHARD]

Gold Coast Titans make minor premiership bid

FIVE wins in a row and a home final. Anyone for a minor premiership?

Gold Coast continued its golden run through the latter stages of the competition with a thrilling 23-14 win over the Sydney Roosters at the Sydney Football Stadium last night, moving back into second spot and keeping alive its slim hopes of overhauling St George Illawarra.

Recycled centre Clinton Toopi, yet to secure a contract for next season, finished with a double as halfback and captain Scott Prince orchestrated a win which ensured the Titans will finish in the top four and play their opening final at Skilled Park.

Not content with throwing the last pass for Toopi's second try, Prince ensured the win with five minutes remaining when he kicked a field goal.

The Titans can still reel in the Dragons but that would hinge on them winning their final two games against Cronulla and the Wests Tigers - and St George Illawarra losing twice.

Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar.
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Unlikely, but you never know.

"If we keep winning, we're going to be at least second," Titans coach John Cartwright said.

In response to suggestions his side wasn't rated by the critics, Prince added: "It doesn't worry me.

"What concerns me is between those four walls in the dressing room. I guess it will be wide open come finals time. Every team can win it."

The Roosters are now fighting for their finals life. Three consecutive losses has left them in a logjam at the bottom of the eight. They need to beat either Manly or North Queensland over the next fortnight to guarantee themselves a place in the finals.

Asked where his side was after a tough month, Roosters coach Brian Smith said: "We have some work to do on where we are.

"When you look at that ladder there is nothing between second and 11th or 12th. Deadly business. We're sixth on the ladder. The ball is in our court."

Last night's defeat took the gloss off a special occasion for fullback Anthony Minichiello, who became only the second player - Bill Mullins was the first - to score 100 tries for the club with three minutes remaining.

It wasn't the only memorable moment for the Roosters in the second half. At one point referee Steve Lyons apologised to captain Braith Anasta for an error.

"It was a bit of a spin out actually," Anasta said.

Even an admission of error from the referee couldn't save the Roosters. By the time Minichiello scored, the game was lost. After trailing at half-time, the Roosters levelled the scores six minutes into the second half when Shaun Kenny-Dowall scored off a superb pass from Mitchell Pearce. But the game swung back to the Gold Coast thanks to a howler from Sam Perrett.

The New Zealand winger lost the ball only metres from his line under pressure from Mat Rogers. Bodene Thompson picked it up, fended away Phil Graham and carried Kenny-Dowall over the line.

The Titans put the game beyond doubt with a sizzling try in the 66th minute. William Zillman cleaned up a Pearce kick on his try-line and raced away. Pearce and Nate Myles did well to mow Zillman down but it was to no avail.

From the next play, Gold Coast went wide and the movement finished with Toopi crossing for his second try of the game. Prince converted from the sideline and the lead was out to 12 points. Prince's field goal put the result beyond doubt.

Gold Coast 23 (C Toopi 2 K Gordon B Thompson tries S Prince 3 goals S Prince field goal) Sydney Roosters 14 (B Anasta S Kenny-Dowall A Minichiello tries T Carney goal) at Sydney Football Stadium. Referees: Gavin Badger, Steve Lyons. Crowd: 9113.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/

[patskE]

zillman looks slow these days

[patskE]

kevin gordon chasing down short **** turned the game...that was a try saver without making the tackle...hes as fast as me when i was younger!!!!!

ahaha i love how perrit started to stumble casue he was 2 bzy worriod about gordon coming down his back ahaha he got scared!

[matti]

Best part of the night, Carney trying to convert the last try infront of the legion! the drums really do work when your right next to them haha

[teke]

zillman looks slow these days

He has never been that fast to begin with.

He was quick for a Raiders player but its a whole diff ball game when you become a titan

[lonegull]

great game,i dotn like singleing out players, i just want to mention Toopi, he had a great game in attack but his defense was second to none, he has been great in the centre and one thing i noticed last night he really pumps up the team with his talk and entusiasm
Overall great game, and yep they talk about the fastest man in league they wouldnt have had to look to far last night with gordon,

[lonegull]

also last night it was the titans 50th win since there inception, makes it even more sweeter