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We continue our look at NRL season 2011 with a preview of the Gold Coast Titans. How will Scott Prince and his men perform this season?
Team: Gold Coast Titans
Homeground: Skilled Park (27,400)
Coach: John Cartwright
Season 2010: 4th (P24, W15, L9, 22 pts)
2011 squad: Luke Bailey, Greg Bird, Riley Brown, Preston Campbell, Luke Capewell, Nathan Friend, Kevin Gordon, Ashley Harrison, Michael Henderson, Ryan James, Anthony Laffranchi, Brenton Lawrence, Kayne Lawton, Will Matthews, David Mead, Brad Meyers, Steve Michaels, Mark Minichiello, Luke O’Dwyer, Dominique Peyroux, Scott Prince, Jordan Rankin, Ben Ridge, Matt Srama, Sam Tagataese, Bodene Thompson, Joseph Tomane, Esikeli Tonga, Clinton Toopi, Joe Vickery, Shannon Walker, Matthew White, Richie Williams, William Zillman.
Ins: Luke Capewell, Joe Vickery, Richie Williams
Outs: Mat Rogers, Jordan Atkins, Selasi Berdie, Ryan Tongia, Aaron Cannings, Marshall Chalk, Josh Graham
Season preview:
In last year’s final series the Titans showed that the seemingly impossible could be done: the St George Illawarra Dragons could be beaten at their own game, at their own home ground. A tenacious Gold Coast team ‘outground’ the Dragons to win by a whisker. It’s a never-say-die attitude that served them well in 2010.
Losing Mat Rogers to retirement takes some of the heart out of the Titans and replaces it with uncertainty: even halfback Scott Prince is not yet certain who out of Preston Campbell, Greg Bird and Luke Capewell will be partnering him in the halves for round one.
But with Campbell and Prince still in the side, and warhorses like Luke Bailey and Anthony Laffranchi leading from the front, there’s life left in the Titans before their elder statesman start losing their touch and the team needs to rebuild around youngsters like Ryan James, Bodene Thompson, and even Capewell.
Nathan Friend, even when pushing the opposition’s buttons, is a major asset: tough, tireless and a tackling machine. Adding in Scott Prince’s precision kicking game – when he’s on song – and Preston Campbell’s unpredictability the Titans remain an underrated danger.
The main weakness for the Gold Coast team could come in the forwards, where their depth doesn’t compare to some other teams in the NRL. Signs suggest this could be a last hurrah in the top eight for the Titans in their current incarnation.
X-Factor: Ideas man, cultural ambassador, and according to a few players in the NRL, one of the hardest hitters on the field. What Preston Campbell lacks in size he makes up for in fearlessness, speed, and the courage to continue accelerating directly into the defensive line. With the ball, Campbell may do just about anything.
Main man: There’s no room in the Titans this season for the circum stances that have limited Scott Prince’s success in the last few years. John Cartwright will be hoping he strikes good luck when it comes to injury, but also that this pre-season has wiped the tendency to inconsistency from his game. With no Mat Rogers in the side, Prince needs to offer more reliability (he certainly has the skills) and anchor whichever halves partner can make the best claim to the number six jersey.
Predicted 2011 finish: 5th
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