The hype in Gold Coast about the return of dual international Mat Rogers will put a smile back on their faces, but he won’t be able to bring the Coast back into finals contention this year.
The Titans will have to pull off a Parramatta of 2009-effort if they think they can return to the top eight for the first time since 2010.
There has been simply no excuse for the Titans except that of the loss of speedster Kevin Gordon, veteran forward Brad Meyers and hooker Nathan Friend. Injury though just can’t be thought as a reason for the downward slide in this side. They still have the likes of experienced veterans in Presto, Prince, Bailey, Harrison, Bird, Minichiello and Laffranchi, who have played over seven years of NRL footy. So what’s the matter?
The signing of Mat Rogers only gives the side that slight bit of confidence; not the chance to make the finals. The Titans will have to win at least seven of their last eight games to just slide in, but the fixture doesn’t favour them. The bye gives them the chance to prepare for the toughest month of footy forthcoming.
They start with the Warriors away at Mt Smart Stadium on a Friday. The Warriors have won four from their six games at home this season and last time they played earlier on this season, the Titans lost their first match to Warriors at Skilled Park. The Titans then get a full week to prepare for a blockbuster match against the Broncos, where a presumed sell out crowd will greet them.
Their time away will stop and they will have eight days to prepare for an inform Cowboys side, who have not won at Skilled Park since 2009, but with a presumed full 17 including the injury comebacks of Brent Tate, Willie Tonga and Scott Bolton, it will be certainly tough. The tough month ends with a match down south to the Hunter when they take on a Newcastle side that are currently playing the same footy that they did when they won the comp back in 2001.
The next month and a bit will really test the Titans as they play a Sharks side that are blood-thirsty for a top eight spot. Then they follow with two home games against two totally different sides, the Storm and the Raiders. The West Tigers away will be a tough match for the poor side after big games prior, but at the end of the regular season they will play a Parramatta outfit at home, which will finish the season.
If the Titans make it, it will be exactly like the Parramatta Eels of 2009, except better. They were in the exact same position as the Titans (except not last on the ladder) and they somehow came seven points short of a premiership. The Eels managed to beat four of the top eight teams on their run to the finals, whereas the Titans will have to play six of the current top eight teams and manage to only lose one game on the way.
So, will the return of Rogers turn this struggling side around or will it be same old, same old for the Gold Coast? The final two months and a bit will be the toughest time the club will ever face in their short history. Can they do it?
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