Round 2
Gold Coast Titans 18 d. Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 16

2007 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Aus_NZ > National > First Grade Competition: NRL Telstra Premiership

Titans secure historic win
Mon March 26, 2007
In a scrappy affair, the Gold Coast Titans wrote a piece of history tonight at Gold Coast Stadium with a tense 18-16 victory over the Cronulla Sharks in front of a parochial full house. With less than ten minutes remaining, Preston Campbell sealed the win with an extraordinary try that nearly escaped his grasp which leveled the scores. Campbell then handed his team the advantage with a simple conversion near in front of the posts.

It was a happy ending for Campbell, as the former Shark began proceedings badly in the very first set of the game. With Adam Dykes slotting a kick at the end of the Sharks' first set, Campbell allowed the ball to run free along the sideline with chasers advancing towards the ball. Thinking the ball would roll out of the field of play, Campbell's error proved costly as a couple of kicks from Luke Covell found its way to the Titans' in-goal, which was gleefully accepted by Reece Williams. Covell's sideline conversion handed the visitors the proverbial perfect start.

During the first 20 minutes, the defensive ploys that Ricky Stuart instilled in his men were in full view, as the Sharks harrowed and negated any Titans' raids. However, this underlined a slow shift in momentum as the Titans eventually found their feet in attack, creating a surplus of opportunities. Finally, a simple tactical ploy to spread the ball out right caught the Sharks defenses short, with Matt Petersen sliding over to give the Titans their first points. Campbell's conversion mimicked that of Covell's earlier, as the scores were locked at 6-all.

The Sharks grimly hung onto a vastly expanding Titans' offence, which were constantly creating scoring possibilities without converting them to the scoreline. Just as it appeared the Titans were to go unrewarded for their dominance in the first half, the Sharks turned the tables with a final minute try to Fraser Anderson- a brutal blow for the home side. The teams went to the break with the Sharks leading 10-6.

The second half was one riddled with errors from both sides. Completion rates went down and some sloppy football was creeping in. That said, this enabled a more free-flowing game to develop. Adam Dykes was first to exploit this, as his vision enabled a pass to Fraser Anderson, who cut a swath through the vacant wing of the Titans and rushed further into the field of play before passing to Reece Williams, who celebrated a rare double. Covell's conversion in front increased the lead to ten with less than half an hour to go.

Akin to the first half though, the Titans slowly crept their way back into the match, exposing lazy marker defence from the Sharks through the incisive dummy-half runs by Nathan Friend and Clint Amos. A superb passage of short passing saw Scott Prince find Mark Minichiello to the try line to reduce the gap by six. And with less than ten minutes remaining, Campbell displayed both excellent ball handling and a slice of luck to ensure his elbow grasped the ball before he could lose control as he landed the ball down to level the scores. His conversion then saw the Titans gain the lead, which they would keep till the end.

For the Sharks, the match was lost through some banal errors that plagued much of their 2006 campaign. After their clinical defensive display last week, questions will surely again be raised of the Sharks' mentality to the close encounter. This is something that Ricky Stuart and his staff must address, especially as they face the high-flying Rabbitohs next Saturday.

But to focus on the Sharks' mistakes is to divert the attention from a historic night for the Gold Coast Titans. Although their game was at times sloppy as well, they displayed sufficient prowess in both attack and defence to ensure their first year in the premiership will be a credible campaign. The mistakes will be eradicated with time and more practice, but tonight is one to savour for the Titans.


Preview: Titans search for maiden win
Mon March 26, 2007
After a spirited maiden effort last week at the cauldron-atmosphere of Suncorp Stadium, the Gold Coast Titans make their way to the more humble surrounds of Carrara Stadium to face the Cronulla Sharks, eager for a first win.

Although the Titans were on the wrong side of the scorecard against the Dragons last Sunday, the gala event of the day would have thrilled Michael Searle and his team. The organisation was sound and indicated the professional manner in which the Titans' administration has worked the last 18 months since their announcement as the new NRL franchise. What would have been further pleasing was the entertaining game on display, as the team combined very well for a side in their first major outing, and will no doubt continue to improve with more time spent.

The clash tonight marks as a sentimental occasion for two Gold Coast players, namely Matt Hilder and Mat Rogers. With his career pointlessly meandering at the Sharks, Hilder chose to ignore his local roots and sought new pastures to progress his career. Whilst a position at five-eighth may not be what he originally envisaged, Hilder showed enough that he has enough skills and tactical nous to strike a dangerous partnership with captain Scott Prince.

As for Mat Rogers, his story is well-documented. The sight of him lining up against the Sharks will undoubtedly sting the Cronulla faithful, who were proud to call him their own before his five years in rugby union. However, the decision to move base away from Sydney is largely justified, where the memory of his father's unfortunate demise would have lingered had he stayed. Rogers now calls the Gold Coast home, and if last week serves as any indication, he appears to have not lost any of the skills that made him and Sludge famous.

Cronulla will not be fazed by such sentiment though. After an accomplished performance over Penrith, Ricky Stuart will be acutely aware of the need to maintain momentum. The Sharks have been winless away from home since Round 16 of last year, and still have work to do before the ignominy of those defeats are swept away. Their defence last week was quintessential of the game plan Stuart implemented at the Sydney Roosters, and served as testament to the hard work the Sharks have done through the summer. Attacking options were blunted somewhat by the wet and blustery conditions at Toyota Park last Saturday night, and the Sharks will be keen to prove that the much maligned halves combination of Adam Dykes and Brett Kimmorley can function.

It shapes up as a close affair. The danger for the Titans is to potentially be swayed by the emotion of the occasion and the pressure associated in notching up a maiden victory. The Sharks will realise that a second straight win will begin to remove thoughts of last year's demise. Both sides have much to play for with credibility potentially on the line.

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Wed March 21, 2007
• Injury forces Titans to make changes
  

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