The Gold Coast Titans will be looking to stay in touch with the top eight when they host the Manly Sea Eagles at CBUS Super Stadium. To keep up to date with the scores and all of the action join The Roar’s live blog from 7:00pm (AEST).
2016 has been full of surprises and one of those has been the success of the Gold Coast Titans, who many thought would be in for another tough year. The Titans have consistently proven they have the mental toughness to be competitive week in, week out.
They are coming off a disappointing loss to the Eels in Darwin but getting back on their home turf this week will undoubtedly give them a boost. To keep their finals hopes well and truly alive they will be looking to halves Tyrone Roberts and Ash Taylor to guide them to another win.
As if things couldn’t get any worse for the Manly Sea Eagles this season, they coughed up a big lead to Penrith last week on their way to losing the game. Trent Barrett’s first year as coach at Brookvale will likely be remembered for the lengthy injury list that has haunted them and pushed them down to 14th on the ladder.
The Sea Eagles will be hoping to score a much-needed win this week so they will be looking to their stars in Brett Stewart and the Trbojevic brothers, Jake and Tom, to have big games.
In selection news, the Titans have lost Greg Bird to Origin selection, with Agnatius Paasi set to start at lock in his place while Ryan Simpkins returns to the bench. Nathan Davis also comes into the side and has been named in the centres and Konrad Hurrell has been named on the bench in the number 18 jersey.
For the Sea Eagles, they welcome back Martin Taupau, who replaces the injured Nate Myles in the front row. Jamie Lyon has been named at five-eighth in place of Dylan Walker, who is in camp with the Blues.
Walker, in particular, will be missed after a strong outing last week, and there will be a lot of pressure on Jamie Lyon to slot straight back into the halves. Taupau’s return to the Sea Eagles will give them a valuable up front against a Titans forward pack who know how to lay a good platform for their star young halfback Ash Taylor.
Prediction
Although Manly own an advantage in the overall head-to-head clashes and the meetings at CBUS Super Stadium, this year’s Sea Eagles team is far from the ones we have seen in the past.
This one could go either way but home ground advantage will help the Titans score a win over the Sea Eagles.
Titans by 4.
Will the Titans score another win at home or will the Sea Eagles secure a much-needed victory? Join us on The Roar from 7:00pm (AEST) Monday night to find out.
Clay
Guest
Can't believe they listen to Fulton wish he'd move on he was a great player but that's it 45 years following manly seen all the highs and the lows this is the lowest I'm afraid
Arnold Krewanty
Guest
What's happened to Brett Stewart?
S.L. Craven
Guest
Spot on champion. I grew up out at Palmie but now live in Brizvegas. These days when I wander down to the shops with my 1987 Wormald jumper on, even little kids point and stare and laugh. Bozo, Zorba and the outsider couldn't rustle up a cheese sandwich between them. The first two should have turned to gardening years ago and the last bloke has been promoted well beyond his ability.
tall guy
Guest
Again.... Get rid of Fulton Zorba and Barrett. Bring back Toovey.. SIMPLE !!!!!
Stuart
Roar Rookie
Worst Manly side I can remember. No pride, no grit, clown like errors, pop gun offense, wet paper bag defence. Playing Manly this season is like getting a bye with a bonus training run. Senior player leadership absent, this side is an embarrassment to the northern beaches.
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Roar Guru
Match Summary Gold Coast Titans 30 def. Manly Sea Eagles 10 The Gold Coast Titans have completed a convincing 20-point wire to wire victory over the Manly Sea Eagles at CBUS Super Stadium. Coming into the game with a great record at home, the Titans continued on their merry way against a depleted Sea Eagles side that struggled to stay in the game. Things looked ominous early when Ryan James put Luke Douglas through a big gap on the goal line under the posts to get the scoring started for the Gold Coast. The Titans capitalised on the momentum they had and went on to open up a big lead after tries to Josh Hoffman and Anthony Don. With their defence struggling, the Sea Eagles needed to capitalise in attack and that they did when Tom Trbojevic found Jorge Taufua who strolled over in the left corner to reduce the margin to 10 points in favour of the Titans. A penalty goal to Tyrone Roberts in the 38th minute helped the Titans head into half time with a comfortable 12 point lead. Half time didn't do much to help Manly's cause as Ryan James strolled through a big hole in the Sea Eagles defence early in the second half to score another try for the Titans. There was a rare highlight for the Sea Eagles when Brayden Wiliame scored a try in the 55th minute to narrow the margin. But just when it looked as if the Sea Eagles may have been mounting a comeback, the Titans halves Ash Taylor and Tyrone Roberts stepped up and began milking the clock with some smart kicks. The icing was put on the cake for the Titans when Nene McDonald jumped on a loose ball after a scramble in Manly's in goal to score and seal a big 20-point win. For Manly their big injury list has a new addition with Matt Parcell missing the last part of the game after hurting his hamstring and this will give Trent Barrett another headache heading into next week. The win by the Titans sees them jump into eighth spot on the ladder on points differential giving the Gold Coast players plenty of confidence as they push for a finals birth later this year. The Titans will face a tougher challenge when they welcome the Canberra Raiders to CBUS Super Stadium in round 16 while Manly will travel to Townsville next Monday night to face the Cowboys. The votes for this game were very tough but this is how we saw it. A tough game to pick the best on ground but William Zillman gets it after he helped set up the win with two try assists in the first half he also came up countless great plays in defence that shut down any attacks by Manly. Coming up against the returning Martin Tapau, Ryan James was big for the Titans in the middle of the field with 141 metres and a number of offloads that helped set up their attack while he also tallied 40 tackles in defence. After Jamie Lyon's late withdrawal from the side, Jake Trbojevic stepped up to the captaincy and he was inspirational for the Sea Eagles with 152 metres in attack and 50 tackles in defence. Votes: 3 William Zillman 2 Ryan James 1 Jake Trbojevic
geoff
Guest
put my manly beanie in a drawer for winter
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Stats Most Running Metres Zeb Taia 169 metres Most Tackles Jake Trbojevic 50 Most Try Assists Will Zillman 2 Possession Titans 52%-48% Sea Eagles Line Breaks Titans 4-3 Sea Eagles Offloads Titans 14-14 Sea Eagles
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FULL TIME The Titans grubber into the in goal is taken dead and that will be the last play of the game. Titans 30 Sea Eagles 10 It looked as if Manly were gathering some steam for a while there but they couldn't break the solid Titans defence open enough to score the required points to get back in the game. For the Titans the second half got a bit scrappy after giving away a number of penalties that gave Manly plenty of the ball. A crucial win for the Titans that keeps them well and truly in the race for the 8 come the end of the year while for Manly things don't look to be getting much better. Thanks for joining me on the coverage, I apologise if the updates were a bit brief and slow, a poor internet connection made it tough to keep up with the play. Stay tuned for my match report. Who do you think deserves the votes? Where was the game won and lost?
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
There are no positives to take from this season. No one has shown any effort or heart. For the first time in a long time, I'm embarrassed by my footy club.
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'79 Titans ball on their own 40 after a penalty after the big shot. Titans 30 Sea Eagles 10
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'79 Will Zillman cops a big hit while bringing the ball back from a kick. Titans 30 Sea Eagles 10
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'78 The teams trade fairly quiet sets there. Titans 30 Sea Eagles 10
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Manly need to fire their physio and S&C coaching...
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'76 The Sea Eagles almost score a try through Lewis Brown but it is not awarded due to an offside from the initial kick. Titans 30 Sea Eagles 10
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'75 The Titans follow up the try with a good set. Manly ball on their own 20. Parcell is off for Manly with a hamstring while Ash Taylor will be rested for the final 10 minutes. Titans 30 Sea Eagles 10
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'74 Roberts converts again from close distance. Titans 30 Sea Eagles 10
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'73 TRY TITANS The Titans capitalise and Manly are unable to clean up a grubber in their own in goal and after a scramble play Nene McDonald grounds the loose ball to score. Kick to come. Titans 28 Sea Eagles 10
Steve
Guest
What a shocking game of footy!
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Roar Guru
'71 Manly have another crack in attack but another handling error by Manly gives it to the Titans 30 out rom their own line. Titans 24 Sea Eagles 10