Tigers look shakey vs Titans

[FUIFUI_MOIMOI]

The christening ceremony went smoothly for the NRL's two-year-old the Gold Coast Titans - but it was more like a baptism of fire for the Wests Tigers.
The Titans began life at their new home - the $160 million Skilled Park at Robina - with an impressive 32-4 win over a hapless Wests Tigers in their NRL pre-season trial.
The Gold Coast welcomed almost 15,000 fans into their brand spanking new abode after abandoning the ill-equipped Carrara Stadium.
But they proved far from gracious hosts, running in six tries to one to claim the inaugural Larry Corowa Shield, named after the former Test winger.
Coach John Cartwright now faces a welcome selection headache before their season opening clash against the Cowboys at the same venue later this month after using a near full-strength squad.
But it will be back to the drawing board for Tigers coach Tim Sheens after his team's lacklustre effort despite using a big name squad missing just Ryan O'Hara (jaw).
After the Gold Coast took a 12-0 halftime lead, the 14,386-strong crowd found their full voice after Titans stand-in fullback Brenton Bowen crashed down the left sideline in the 46th minute to blow the scoreline out to 16-0.
But the Tigers finally bared their claws in the 51st when a Benji Marshall run set up centre Chris Lawrence down the left flank.
However, that only seemed to motivate the Titans who ran in another three tries to blow out the scoreline.
Several positions were up for grabs at the Titans with just backrower Anthony Laffranchi (knee) and Preston Campbell (quad) left out the squad.
But Cartwright seems to have already solved his five-eighth dilemma.
Fresh from his success in last weekend's trial win over the Cowboys, dual international Mat Rogers again combined well with halfback Scott Prince to set up the Gold Coast's 12-0 halftime lead.
Cartwright would have been forgiven for having some early nervous moments after Tigers centre Dene Halatau opened up the Titans defence in the opening minute and the visitors trapping Bowen in-goal in the second.
But Tigers prop Keith Galloway knocking on from the ensuing goal-line drop out and throwing the ball away in disgust seemed to sum up their match.
The Titans made the Tigers pay with a Rogers bust setting up backrower Mark Minichiello's try in the 12th minute.
The Gold Coast piled on the pressure but had little to show for it after three disallowed tries in seven minutes.
Winger Jordan Atkins (20th minute) and co-captain Luke Bailey (24th) were held up before winger Ben Jeffery (27th) was denied due to a forward pass.
But there was no stopping Prince in the 36th minute when the former international put on a wonderful step and offloaded for forward Aaron Cannings to crash over near the posts.

http://news.smh.com.au/titans-hammer-wests-324/20080301-1w5g.html

 

[innsaneink]

Titans hammer Wests at home


March 01, 2008

THE christening ceremony went smoothly for the NRL's two-year-old Gold Coast Titans - but it was more like a baptism of fire for Wests Tigers.

The Titans began life at their new home - the $160 million Skilled Park at Robina - with an impressive 32-4 win over a hapless Wests Tigers in their NRL pre-season trial.

The Gold Coast welcomed almost 15,000 fans into their brand spanking new abode after abandoning the ill-equipped Carrara Stadium.

They proved far from gracious hosts, running in six tries to one to claim the inaugural Larry Corowa Shield, named after the former Test winger.

Coach John Cartwright now faces a welcome selection headache before their season opening clash against the Cowboys at the same venue later this month after using a near full-strength squad.

It will be back to the drawing board for Tigers coach Tim Sheens after his team's lacklustre effort despite using a big name squad missing just Ryan O'Hara (jaw).

After the Gold Coast took a 12-0 half-time lead, the 14,386-strong crowd found their full voice after Titans stand-in full-back Brenton Bowen crashed down the left sideline in the 46th minute to blow the scoreline out to 16-0.

But the Tigers finally bared their claws in the 51st when a Benji Marshall run set up centre Chris Lawrence down the left flank.

However, that only seemed to motivate the Titans who ran in another three tries to blow out the scoreline.

Several positions were up for grabs at the Titans with just backrower Anthony Laffranchi (knee) and Preston Campbell (quad) left out of the squad.

But Cartwright seems to have already solved his five-eighth dilemma.

Fresh from his success in last weekend's trial win over the Cowboys, dual international Mat Rogers again combined well with half-back Scott Prince to set up the Gold Coast's 12-0 half-time lead.

Cartwright would have been forgiven for having some early nervous moments after Tigers centre Dene Halatau opened up the Titans defence in the opening minute and the visitors trapping Bowen in-goal in the second.

Tigers prop Keith Galloway knocking on from the ensuing goal-line drop out and throwing the ball away in disgust seemed to sum up their match.

The Titans made the Tigers pay with a Rogers bust setting up backrower Mark Minichiello's try in the 12th minute.

The Gold Coast piled on the pressure but had little to show for it after three disallowed tries in seven minutes.

Winger Jordan Atkins (20th minute) and co-captain Luke Bailey (24th) were held up before winger Ben Jeffery (27th) was denied due to a forward pass.

There was no stopping Prince in the 36th minute when the former international put on a wonderful step and offloaded for forward Aaron Cannings to crash over near the posts.

Cartwright said the Titans had already proved in their trial form that they had improved from last year's debut season when they finished one win outside the top eight.

"The last couple of weeks have probably been a little bit too good for trial form. You don't want to waste playing like that at a trial - but it's a great sign for us," he said.

"The best thing is the amount of players that we have used at various stages during the trials and no one has let themselves down - they have all given themselves the best shot to play in that opening game

"It creates a headache but it's a good headache."

Meanwhile, Sheens was more disheartened by "injury concerns" that came out of the game - but refused to name them.

"We have a couple of issues with injury. I don't know if they will be ready in two weeks - but I would rather not say (who is injured)," he said.

"I've got two weeks (before season's kick-off). I will not be name dropping or telling anyone any more than I need to tell them."

Thankfully for Tigers fans, Marshall was not one of them.

"There were some things I wasn't happy with (Marshall's game) but at the end of the day he got through," Sheens said.

In the NRL opening round, the Titans host North Queensland on March 14 while Wests Tigers take on traditional rivals St George Illawarra at the SCG two days later.

Good onya Tim

 

[Vicious]

At the end of the day it`s a trial and ONLY a trial. We didn`t win a trial in `2005, so i`m not overly concerned about trial form.
However, lack of size and more so, AGGRESSION in the forwards does concern me at this early stage.

 

[innsaneink]

At the end of the day it`s a trial and ONLY a trial. We didn`t win a trial in `2005, so i`m not overly concerned about trial form.
However, lack of size and more so, AGGRESSION in the forwards does concern me at this early stage.

Thing is Vish.....there seems to be no change whatsoever to the back end of last year, remember that?

 

[chopsy_05]

When you have an almost full strength team on the field and get pounded trials matter. I'm sure Sheens and Sizzler would've went home and kicked the cat along with some of the players.

 

[Mr_Raditch]

Apparently Collis has a hamstring injury, might not be ready by rd1