The Gold Coast Titans have shown resilience in overcoming a fast start from the Canberra Raiders, coming back in the second half from 18 points down.
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Final score
Gold Coast Titans 30
Canberra Raiders 28
The Hayne plane has officially departed and with that 2018 can finally begin as the Gold Coast Titans square off with the Canberra Raiders from CBUS Super Stadium to kick off the respective NRL campaigns for either team. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 6:30pm AEDT.
With a new coach and fresh faces, the Gold Coast Titans look rejuvenated and set to start their 2018 campaign under Garth Brennan on the front foot.
Recruiting some prized players in key positions over the offseason and placing off-field drama with the likes of Hayne in the rear-view mirror, Brennan hopes to achieve the most out of a young roster, one that Brennan has promised to bring a brand of entertaining football to the competition in 2018.
Bryce Cartwright (Penrith) and Jai Arrow (Brisbane) are two recruits who claim starting jerseys for Brennan’s side coming into round one, with plenty of intrigue as to how the pair will form a new foundation for the Gold Coast forward pack.
Ash Taylor has been earmarked as one of the best players of generation next and will need to repay the faith Brennan and the Titans faithful have shown in handing him the reigns to the squad.
His combinations with the likes of Anthony Don, NSW Origin hooker Nathan Peats and Bryce Cartwright will push this team to achieve beyond expectations in 2018.
Canberra come into 2018 on the back of missing out on a finals berth, much to their own doing. A side that boasts talent of international proportions, the green machine looks hungry to taste the success they missed last year.
Ricky Stuart will have to have his side firing from the opening whistle if the Raiders are to be competitive in 2018.
Selection issues will need to be ironed out in the opening weeks to form chemistry for the season ahead with Josh Hodgson on the sidelines thanks to an ACL injury picked up playing for England at the World Cup.
Ricky Stuart marks his 100th clash in charge of the Raiders with the game against the Gold Coast, all the more reason to be itching to get 2018 off to the best possible start.
The likes of Jack Wighton, Sam Williams and Aidan Sezer will need to have big years in order to bring this club forward.
The firepower up front with Josh Papalii and Joseph Tapine is there, the question remains how badly do they want to play in September.
Two sides at opposite ends of the spectrum: A fresh faced Titans side, hoping to ride the waves of change with Brennan and Ash Taylor and a Canberra side eager to live up to expectation, yet with a feeling surrounding the squad of September of bust as their premiership window begins to come unstuck.
Head to head the two sides have played 20, with Titans winning 11, Canberra winning 9.
Prediction
With a dismal record at home last year, the Titans will start 2018 on the right foot with a win over Canberra.
For me, there are just too many question marks over a Canberra side with doubts on key personnel at key positions this early in the season.
2018 will lay the building blocks for the future of the Titans franchise and Ash Taylor will show the NRL why the Gold Coast can become a free-market destination in the years to come.
Titans by 6
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Geo
Guest
Bring on 2019!
Jacob Cocciolone
Roar Pro
Not too sure about the poor refereeing - I thought the refereeing for this round has been very good. Obviously there was a lot of focus spent on refining in the offseason. Henry Perenara has always been a good referee in my opinion. We will see how the next few rounds play out.
Scar82
Guest
Raiders were done by poor refereeing. What weren't knock ons were knock on and what were off sides erent off sides.that ball that came off the titans player and went forward to Ryan James was a big call in the game. Raiders had the same call against them yet titans got Scott free and won the game. Shocking ref is all I say. Raiders will come good this year though. Come on green machine
sham
Guest
I rate Ricky as a coach and I want him to stay I just want him to be more positive. Re that last kick it supports my argument as there was almost no pressure on the kicker why? Also with that start the Raiders should have put the Titans to the sword. The Raiders should play positively and play to their strengths they should not try to avoid errors they should have a positive mindset toward doing things well. As Matthew Syed argues in his book Bounce if you think about what you do in sport too much you are lost – just execute. A negative mindset is damaging
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
Not sure I buy that argument. If the kick from the Titans in the 79th minute falls into the hands of a Raiders player its game over - Raiders win. And we are having a conversations about how resilient the Raiders were to come back on hold on. Instead it bobbles around and falls into the hands of Hurell. Titans win. And we're talking about what a great comeback by the Titans (after being absolutely humiliated in the first 20) Not sure I'm ready to stick the knife into Ricky yet. There is a long way to go this season. The Titans had a mountain of possession in the second half aided by a few penalties so I'm not sure that was a sign of the Raiders going into their shell. Plus the Titans have an absolute super star in Ash Taylor.
sham
Guest
I knew that they were gone at 24-12. What happened today happened many times last year. They start playing well, making lots of ground etc. but then the fear comes in. Ricky seems to really think that the way to win is to avoid making errors which is false. When you have an entirely negative mindset like that you have lost mentally and you may as well not turn up. You do not win games by avoiding errors — if that was the yardstick the Warriors would have performed really well last year. Today the Raiders were carving them up but they then went into their shell. They stop moving up in defence and they fail to put pressure on the opposition play makers presumably as Ricky is obsessed about conceding penalties. Then they get trapped in their own half and the pattern continues. It is easy to coach against the Raiders — you just have to tell your team to weather the initial storm while waiting for Ricky’s negative mindset to take over. The Raiders good give the premiership a shake if they were prepared to ‘die standing up’ rather than ‘living on their knees’ but Ricky really seems to want to have the team on their knees as he is obsessed about mistakes. Nothing in life is achieved with such a negative approach.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
Well the Raiders looked like millionaires for 25 minutes - should have been up 30 zip. There were a few positives. I like the look of Havilli at dummy half. Memo to Ricky - just flippin well leave him there. And Boyd and Paulo were very good up front as was Joe Tapine. After a good first 25 minutes Williams went missing and I'm not sure what Austin is doing out there and I don't think he knows either. Run Blake run!
Swannies
Guest
Full credit to the Titans...they never gave up. A great game to watch. Raiders prob felt the heat and fatigue set in after half time. They will bounce back and beat Newcastle at home next week.
Emcie
Roar Guru
join the club
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
Lets be honest the Titans were lucky to win that game. Down 28-24 with 90 seconds to go the bounce of the ball goes their way and Hurrell strolls in to score. That's rugby league. The first time they take the lead is at the 80 minute mark. Good luck to the Titans but the Raiders should have found a way to close out that match and they didn't.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
Raiders find another way to lose a close one. Are they cursed or just hopeless at closing out matches. Probably both. My blood pressure can't handle supporting this team.
Jacob Cocciolone
Roar Pro
Too much inconsistency with that team for my liking. Would love to see Mal return to Canberra one day, for another coaching stint. imagine the players that would want to play for him in the nations capital.
Cugel
Roar Rookie
Christ, season over after 80 mins.
Andy
Guest
Not as long as the raiders, no doubt the referees will have been at fault
Jacob Cocciolone
Roar Pro
Full Time 80' - Titans have shown resilience in overcoming a fast start from the Raiders, coming back in the second half from 18 points down. Whatever Garth Brennan had to say at half time surely worked a treat, Ash Taylor looked calmer and more in control of his side whereas, the Raiders looked lost and unsure of who would deliver their knock out blow. Bryce Cartwright had limited touches for the Titans, he tried to be too flashy for my liking but the likes of Ash Taylor, Konrad Hurrell, Jai Arrow and Michael Gordon, pushed this side over the line. Michael Gordon's experience and incredible accuracy goal kicking will continue to prove an asset for the Titans throughout the year. The Raiders suffered an injury blow with Joseph Tapine suffering a suspected broken finger. Canberra NEED to stop chopping and changing and set on a roster where players can develop into a role. They were great for 20 minutes throughout the game, yet it felt like they did not come out from the half time sheds. The Raiders have the Knights next week and coming off the win they had against Manly, Newcastle will be hard to beat. The Titans kick off their 2018 with a victory which they can take a lot from going into the coming weeks. It will be interesting to see the lessons they take going into the game against the Warriors next week. That will be a great game to watch. Final Score - Gold Coast Titans victors by 30 points to 28 over the Canberra Raiders. Titans: 30 Raiders: 28
sham
Guest
As normal the Raiders let the opposition play makers play in a dinner suit no pressure on the opposition kickers particularly when the Raiders are defending their own line.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Ash Taylor is a superstar!
Jon
Roar Rookie
No team that only wants to turn up for the first 15 mins deserves to win. Looked for a minute they would rob the Titans of that game. Tough to judge too much for the first game, but looked like the 2017 vintage Raiders are still around. If they stick around they will be measuring up the trophy cabinet for a nice new spoon.
Jacob Cocciolone
Roar Pro
80' - Michael Gordon kicks the goal from in front. Titans survive a short kick off and feel success to kick off their 2018 campaign. Titans: 30 Raiders: 28
Jacob Cocciolone
Roar Pro
Titans have come back from 18 down and Ash Taylor has been a magician. If I see Cartwright throw another flick pass that goes to ground, I think I might have a heart attack