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Dominic Brock | rugbyleaguelive.com | 04/07/08 | 0
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Gold Coast Titans v Manly Sea Eagles
Friday, 4th July, 7.45pm
Skilled Park
Referee: Jared Maxwell
HEAD TO HEAD
Sea Eagles 1 win, Titans 0 wins.
FORM GUIDE
Titans: WLWWWWWLBWLLWBLL
Sea Eagles: LLWWLWWBWWLWWBWW
Rugby league fans from the Gold Coast would have had mixed feelings about Wednesday night’s Origin decider.
Sure, the Maroons’ won the game – in Sydney – to kill off the “Homebush hoodoo” once and for all and ensure Queensland are the State of Origin champions for the third year running.
But the game also put a huge shadow over the Gold Coast’s season, with Titans talisman Scott Prince breaking his arm 15 minutes after kick-off.
Make no mistake, Prince’s injury is a massive blow for the Titans. Coming after the loss of front row pairing Luke Bailey and Aaron Cannings, it has the chance to throw the club’s season into turmoil.
And it has basically ended the Titans’ hopes of winning this game.
The Gold Coast have lost four of their past five games, and come up against a Manly side that has won four on the trot and eight of its last nine.
Brett Stewart is the Sea Eagles’ lone Origin representative – a stunning fact in itself, considering Manly’s leading the comp after 16 rounds – and he’ll be relatively fresh in any case after being given limited game time off the bench.
Back-rowers Anthony Laffranchi and Ashley Harrison back up for the Titans, and they’ll both need to put in big performances if the home side are to get up in this one.
THE BURNING QUESTION
With co-captains Scott Prince and Luke Bailey on the injured list, do the Titans have any hope against Manly?
KEY MATCH UPS
Mat Rogers v Jamie Lyon
An intriguing match-up between two prodigal sons, former star outside backs who have returned after years out of the NRL to become key players for their new teams as five-eighths.
Rogers was a Test winger who left for rugby union, where his instinctive running game made him an ideal fullback, before returning as a marquee signing for the Titans as a ball-playing No.6.
Lyon was a dazzling centre who quit the Eels before earning some big bucks in England’s Super League, only to return and link up with Manly – again as a five-eighth.
The pair both started their comebacks slowly but are now well settled in the NRL – and both have the ability to create something out of nothing this weekend.
Preston Campbell v Brett Stewart
Campbell’s an electric player with ball in hand, with terrific footwork making the little fullback one of the toughest guys to tackle in the NRL.
The former halfback will also need to take on more playmaking responsibilities in Prince’s absence.
His size does make Campbell a target for bombs and opposition ball-runners, and the Sea Eagles’ kickers are sure to test him under the high ball this week.
One man always on the lookout for attacking kicks is Manly’s Stewart, who will still be reeling from Wednesday’s tough Origin loss.
He was relegated to the bench for that game, with Kurt Gidey slotting into the fullback role, and he’ll now be out to reassert his place as the No.1 No.1 in New South Wales.
COACHES CORNER
Rogers and Campbell will need to provide plenty of attacking spark for the Titans with Prince now out of action, but even that probably won’t be enough to see the Gold Coast come away with the points here.
The Sea Eagles are the best defensive team in the competition, and with Matt Orford, Lyon and Stewart they’re not short on point-scoring ammunition either.
The home side will need to keep things simple – control possession, don’t give away unnecessary penalties – basically keep Manly in their own half for as much of the game as possible.
The visitors will attack the Titans on the fringes, sending Steve Matai and Anthony Watmough at the line as often as possible after the pair both proved dangerous against Newcastle last week.
Orford will also send as many kicks to the Gold Coast’s wingers as he can – Jordan Atkins in particular had a torrid time against the Dragons last week.
The Titans do have the ability to match Manly in some areas – they’re back row (Laffranchi, Mark Minichiello, Harrison) is one of the few in the league to match the Sea Eagles trio of Anthony Watmough, Glenn Stewart and Steve Menzies – but they’ll need to be at their absolute best or hope the Sea Eagles put in a rare sub-par performance to get the win here.
PUNTERS GUIDE
Head-to-head: Titans $2.85; Sea Eagles $1.40
No Prince, no Titans. That’s not quite fair – they did lead the comp for a good part of the season – but in this game, the absence of the Gold Coast’s star halfback is a huge boost for Manly.
Prince was the Titan’s best chance of breaching the super Sea Eagles defence, but with him gone, the visitors should win this one comfortably. Manly by 13+.
CASUALTY WARD
Titans: Scott Prince – broken arm (season), Luke Bailey – foot (indefinite), Chris Walker – ankle (season), Aaron Cannings – leg (indefinite)
Sea Eagles: Jason King – foot (Rd 18), Luke Williamson – eye (Rd 23)
BAD BOYS
Titans: (no suspensions)
Sea Eagles: (no suspensions)
TEAM LISTS
Titans: Preston Campbell, Ben Jeffery, Luke O'Dwyer, Brett Delaney, Jordan Atkins, Mat Rogers, Scott Prince (capt), Michael Henderson, Nathan Friend, Michael Hodgson, Anthony Laffranchi, Mark Minichiello, Ashley Harrison. Interchange: James Stosic, Brad Meyers, Daniel Conn, Josh Graham.
Sea Eagles: Brett Stewart, Michael Robertson, Steve Bell, Steve Matai, David Williams, Jamie Lyon, Matt Orford (capt), Brent Kite, Matt Ballin, Josh Perry, Anthony Watmough, Glenn Stewart, Steve Menzies. Interchange: Heath L'Estrange, Glenn Hall, Adam Cuthbertson, Mark Bryant, Michael Bani (one to be omitted).
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