StephenP
ArnoldRound 8 preview – Titans vs Cowboys
May 7th 2007 02:19
VENUE and TIME: Carrara Stadium, Monday 7pm
HEAD TO HEAD: First Clash
COVERAGE: Fox Sports (7 pm), ABC Radio
LAST 5 CLASHES: First Clash
MEDICAL ROOM:
In another dose of bad luck for the fledgling club, Gold Coast Titans inaugural signing Preston Campbell has been ruled out for between 4-6 weeks after sustaining a knee injury in last Thursday’s City vs Country Origin match.
Add to the fact that the Titans are still without the services of utility Luke O’Dwyer (ankle), prop Michael Henderson (leg) and renegade winger Chris Walker (disciplinary), than things are going fairly well for the new club considering their high standing on the premiership table.
Debutant Cowboys centre Ben Farrar has been an unlucky omission from the Cowboys line-up tonight, with the rookie centre breaking his foot in a training mishap at training this week. Farrar joins Ashley Graham (hamstring), Luke O’Donnell (hamstring) and David Faiumu (knee) on the injured list.
FORM:
The Titans have easily been the competitions surprise packets this season, with the new club slowly gaining respect from their rivals with their impressive performances thus far. The Gold Coast head into this match on the back of their most dominant performance of the season, with their seven tries to two shut out of Parramatta last Sunday endearing them to their growing number of fans.
The Cowboys started the season on fire chalking up four consecutive victories, but then seemingly lost confidence in losing their next two. The combination of Thurston and Bowen is just starting to hit their straps, and the return of Carl Webb to bolster their massive pack would be signalling danger signs for the Titans.
KEY MATCH-UPS:
Scott Prince vs Johnathan Thurston
The battle between the two in-form premiership halfbacks will be an intriguing duel, with the winner of this individual match up likely to secure victory for their team.
Prince has been the Gold Coast’s most impressive player all season, with the bulk of his side’s points coming directly form the crafty half’s masterful boot. Prince is striking up some dangerous attacking combinations with his outside backs, with Matt Rogers, Preston Campbell and Jake Webster all combining well with the crafty number seven.
Thurston has also become adept at setting up his outside supports, with the Australian Test half currently in career best form. More of an attacking runner than Prince, Thurston will try and beat the defenders with his quicksilver footwork or blinding turn of pace, before linking up with a flying outside support to score. If Thurston and Bowen are on song, then it could be a long night ahead for the Titans.
Luke Bailey vs Carl Webb
This will be an appetising preview of the upcoming State of Origin series, with two of the competitions premier front rowers clashing head to head at Carrara in an interstate clash of gigantic proportions.
Instilled as forward leader by coach John Cartwright prior to the season, Bailey has led from the front to be the Titans leading meter eater of the season. Bailey’s early season form was rewarded with Test selection for the Kangaroos, and the former Dragons prop knows that if he continues his current damaging form, than he will be a shoe in for NSW selection in a fortnight.
Monday nights clash signals the return of the powerhouse prop Carl Webb, with the Cowboys poor recent form coinciding with the absence of the injured prop. Frustrated at missing three games due to a jaw injury, expect Webb to take out his torment on the smaller Titans forward pack this Monday night.
VERDICT:
The loss of livewire fullback Preston Campbell is s huge blow for the Titans, as they not only lose an unpredictable attacking weapon, but also their first choice goal kicker. Replacement fullback Richie Mathers comes from UK Super League with massive raps, but it remains to be seen how the former Leeds fullback copes with the toughness of the NRL.
The Cowboys showed glimpses of the form last week against the Sea-Eagles that saw them start the season in red hot form, and the return of giant prop Carl Webb will be a massive psychological boost.
With a few injuries to the home team, and given the Cowboys return to form last week, it is hard to go past the Cowboys in this Monday night encounter. While the Titans have been so far impressive in their four wins this season, the Cowboys look to have too much size and skill for at their disposal for their southern rivals.
Cowboys by 12
Gold Coast Titans:
Richard Mathers, Matt Petersen, Mat Rogers, Brett Delaney, Jake Webster, Matt Hilder, Scott Prince (c), Luke Bailey (c), Clint Amos, Brad Meyers, Anthony Laffranchi, Mark Minicheillo, Luke Swain
Interchange:
Kris Kahler, Michael Hodgson, Josh Graham, Nathan Friend, Gavin Cooper, Lelea Paea
North QLD Cowboys:
Matt Bowen, Brenton Bowen, Ben Farrar, Paul Bowman, Scott Minto, Jason Smith, Johnathan Thurston (c), Matthew Scott, Aaron Payne, Ray Cashmere, Steve Southern, Jacob Lillyman, Justin Smith
Interchange:
Rod Jensen, Sione Faumuina, Carl Webb, Shane Tronc
Referee: Ben Cummins.
HEAD TO HEAD: First Clash
COVERAGE: Fox Sports (7 pm), ABC Radio
LAST 5 CLASHES: First Clash
MEDICAL ROOM:
In another dose of bad luck for the fledgling club, Gold Coast Titans inaugural signing Preston Campbell has been ruled out for between 4-6 weeks after sustaining a knee injury in last Thursday’s City vs Country Origin match.
Add to the fact that the Titans are still without the services of utility Luke O’Dwyer (ankle), prop Michael Henderson (leg) and renegade winger Chris Walker (disciplinary), than things are going fairly well for the new club considering their high standing on the premiership table.
Debutant Cowboys centre Ben Farrar has been an unlucky omission from the Cowboys line-up tonight, with the rookie centre breaking his foot in a training mishap at training this week. Farrar joins Ashley Graham (hamstring), Luke O’Donnell (hamstring) and David Faiumu (knee) on the injured list.
FORM:
The Titans have easily been the competitions surprise packets this season, with the new club slowly gaining respect from their rivals with their impressive performances thus far. The Gold Coast head into this match on the back of their most dominant performance of the season, with their seven tries to two shut out of Parramatta last Sunday endearing them to their growing number of fans.
The Cowboys started the season on fire chalking up four consecutive victories, but then seemingly lost confidence in losing their next two. The combination of Thurston and Bowen is just starting to hit their straps, and the return of Carl Webb to bolster their massive pack would be signalling danger signs for the Titans.
KEY MATCH-UPS:
Scott Prince vs Johnathan Thurston
The battle between the two in-form premiership halfbacks will be an intriguing duel, with the winner of this individual match up likely to secure victory for their team.
Prince has been the Gold Coast’s most impressive player all season, with the bulk of his side’s points coming directly form the crafty half’s masterful boot. Prince is striking up some dangerous attacking combinations with his outside backs, with Matt Rogers, Preston Campbell and Jake Webster all combining well with the crafty number seven.
Thurston has also become adept at setting up his outside supports, with the Australian Test half currently in career best form. More of an attacking runner than Prince, Thurston will try and beat the defenders with his quicksilver footwork or blinding turn of pace, before linking up with a flying outside support to score. If Thurston and Bowen are on song, then it could be a long night ahead for the Titans.
Luke Bailey vs Carl Webb
This will be an appetising preview of the upcoming State of Origin series, with two of the competitions premier front rowers clashing head to head at Carrara in an interstate clash of gigantic proportions.
Instilled as forward leader by coach John Cartwright prior to the season, Bailey has led from the front to be the Titans leading meter eater of the season. Bailey’s early season form was rewarded with Test selection for the Kangaroos, and the former Dragons prop knows that if he continues his current damaging form, than he will be a shoe in for NSW selection in a fortnight.
Monday nights clash signals the return of the powerhouse prop Carl Webb, with the Cowboys poor recent form coinciding with the absence of the injured prop. Frustrated at missing three games due to a jaw injury, expect Webb to take out his torment on the smaller Titans forward pack this Monday night.
VERDICT:
The loss of livewire fullback Preston Campbell is s huge blow for the Titans, as they not only lose an unpredictable attacking weapon, but also their first choice goal kicker. Replacement fullback Richie Mathers comes from UK Super League with massive raps, but it remains to be seen how the former Leeds fullback copes with the toughness of the NRL.
The Cowboys showed glimpses of the form last week against the Sea-Eagles that saw them start the season in red hot form, and the return of giant prop Carl Webb will be a massive psychological boost.
With a few injuries to the home team, and given the Cowboys return to form last week, it is hard to go past the Cowboys in this Monday night encounter. While the Titans have been so far impressive in their four wins this season, the Cowboys look to have too much size and skill for at their disposal for their southern rivals.
Cowboys by 12
Gold Coast Titans:
Richard Mathers, Matt Petersen, Mat Rogers, Brett Delaney, Jake Webster, Matt Hilder, Scott Prince (c), Luke Bailey (c), Clint Amos, Brad Meyers, Anthony Laffranchi, Mark Minicheillo, Luke Swain
Interchange:
Kris Kahler, Michael Hodgson, Josh Graham, Nathan Friend, Gavin Cooper, Lelea Paea
North QLD Cowboys:
Matt Bowen, Brenton Bowen, Ben Farrar, Paul Bowman, Scott Minto, Jason Smith, Johnathan Thurston (c), Matthew Scott, Aaron Payne, Ray Cashmere, Steve Southern, Jacob Lillyman, Justin Smith
Interchange:
Rod Jensen, Sione Faumuina, Carl Webb, Shane Tronc
Referee: Ben Cummins.
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