If Gold Coast’s NRL home is meant to be a fortress, then it’s one that’s been breached and razed to the ground this year.
The Titans have won just two of their seven home matches this season and are currently without a win from their past six games at CBUS Super Stadium.
It’s a record that goes a long way to explaining why the club sits 11th on the ladder heading into Saturday’s visit by Parramatta with their finals hopes very much on the line.
While the Titans haven’t won at home since their round-six victory over Brisbane in April, they have at least been doing the business on the road.
Last weekend’s impressive win over Newcastle was the club’s sixth on their travels, a record matched only by Canterbury and South Sydney.
In a bid to capture that away-day mood, the Titans will head into a mini-camp before their clash with the Eels, booking themselves into a hotel on match eve.
It’s a theory that’s worth trying in the opinion of co-captain Nate Myles.
“I’ve figured it out,” Myles said when asked about the difference in the club’s home and away form.
“It’s the blokes with kids. They’re sleeping better.”
Myles is more serious when discussing the Titans’ abysmal home record.
“There’s no excuses in regards to us and our performances at home,” he said.
“It’s just a fact that we haven’t been doing it. We need to pull our finger out and perform at home.”
The Titans head into Saturday’s game with the welcome return of NSW State of Origin representative Greg Bird from suspension while Dave Taylor has been retained at centre after crushing the Knights last weekend.
The Eels head north with their season also on the line.
Last weekend’s home loss to the Sydney Roosters was the fourth in a row for Brad Arthur’s men, leaving them 13th.
Co-captain Tim Mannah (shoulder) hasn’t been named but Myles says the Titans are expecting the experienced Eels forward to return.
He is also wary of an Eels pack which boasts plenty of youth and enthusiasm.
“They come off the back fence when it’s their turn to run,” Myles said.
“We know what we’re in for. It’s just a matter of us preparing the right way and getting out there and doing it.”
AdelaideWill
Guest
Roosters really? They have the magic salary cap that fits any play under it. Ahh hang on I forgot that all of the players decided to stay together for less money for the sake of playing together and the "love of the club" - oohh wait that was another teams magic salary cap.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
So far he has seemed too slow moving sideways in defence against the smaller and more agile centres but he might be a pretty good defensive option against the bigger tackle breaking types (hasn't really been tried yet). Personally I think putting him up against Idris or Hurrell might be an interesting option.
Bup
Guest
It would feel like an away game anyway ,parra fans always outnumber the titans on the coast, last year all you could hear at the ground were parra chants until the refs decided the eels were too far in front subsequently blowing the pea out of the whistle. Alas the same thing has happened to the eels this year as well. It never ceases to amaze me after 18 rounds the eels have only won two penalty counts and both of them by one and two respectively. As we all know in any game we only apply the rules to one team. Is it any wonder fans of certain clubs are disenchanted with the game (cowboys, tigers , roosters and parra) who on a regular basis get royally screwed especially with ruck infringements.
Bup
Guest
It would feel like an away game anyway ,parra fans always outnumber the titans on the coast, last year all you could hear at the ground were parra chants until the refs decided the eels were too far in front subsequently blowing the pea out of the whistle. Alas the same thing has happened to the eels this year as well. It never ceases to amaze me after 18 rounds the eels have only won two penalty counts and both of them by one and two respectively. As we all know in any game we only apply the rules to one team. Is it any wonder fans of certain clubs are disenchanted with the game (cowboys, tigers , roosters and parra) who on a regular basis get royally screwed especially with ruck infringements.
Steve
Guest
Parra lost last week to South Sydney, not the Sydney Roosters....
Mitchy
Guest
I honestly think Dave Taylor is better out wide in attack and always has been. If he can run onto a good "out ball " at pace he tends to build momentum and is very hard to handle . He cant build momentum in the middle and therefore i think hes wasted somewhat and he gets frustrated as he wants to run wide .I think this is a great move for the Gold Coast , beefs up their line in D and allows them another forward off the bench. Not to mention the site of Dave coming at you full steam . I just hope in defence hes quick enough