Round 7
Gold Coast Titans 36 d. New Zealand Warriors 24

2008 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

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

Titans make it five in a row
Mon April 28, 2008
Source: www.titans.com.au

The Jetstar Gold Coast Titans are showing little sign of nervousness on top of the NRL ladder after scoring a strong 36-24 victory over the New Zealand Warriors at Skilled Park yesterday.

Before a bumper Sunday afternoon crowd of 25,310, the Jetstar Titans maintained not only the outright competition lead but also their unbeaten record at home with a six-tries-to-four victory.

The club's sixth win from seven matches to start the season created a record - with the Titans becoming the first rugby league side from the Gold Coast to win five straight matches.

The Titans led comfortably at 30-12 after scoring immediately half-time but allowed the Warriors back into the contest in the final 20 minutes through two tries to five-eighth Michael Witt as the final winning margin was reduced.

The Titans also had two tries to winger Matt Petersen disallowed during the second half just when the Gold Coasters appeared as though they were about to run right away with the match.

Although the Warriors had not won away from home this season, Jetstar Titans coach John Cartwright was thrilled his side were able to muscle up against the New Zealanders after losing on both occasions last year.

"I was really concerned about that game coming into it," said Cartwright.

"They were the type of side that troubled us last year. They gave us two touch ups and they're a big physical side.

"I was really keen to see how we aimed up physically and I think we did.

"I think it shows our recruiting was spot on. We needed a little bit of size and a bit of punch.''

The win keeps the Titans clear on top of the ladder heading into a test on the road against the Newcastle Knights at Enegy Australia Stadium on Saturday.

* The Jetstar Gold Coast Titans NYC side suffered a 36-28 loss to the New Zealand Warriors at Skilled Park today.

Two tries each to outside backs Jordon Rapana and Shannon Walker wasn't enough to help the Titans' under-20s to victory, with the Warriors using their size and athleticism to their advantage.

The loss means the Titans will have some work to do in order to stay in touch with the top-eight.

* The Jestar Titans SG Ball side have become the first team in the club's history to make the finals after thrashing competition front runners the Bulldogs 46-4 at the weekend.

Needing a win in the weekend's final round to seal a spot in the top-eight, the Titans made a bird of it with a 42-point hammering of the Bulldogs at Boyd St Oval Tugun.

Rising star Jordan Rankin starred for the Titans with 22 individual points.

The win means the Titans will finish seventh or eighth on the ladder and will likely face a NSW-based team in a knockout final this weekend.

Report source: www.titans.com.au


Warriors improve but fall short of toppling in-form Titans
Mon April 28, 2008
Source: www.warriors.co.nz

Gold Coast went back to the top of the NRL table with a 12-point victory over the Vodafone Warriors at Skilled Park in Robina on Sunday.

Having their fifth home game in the first seven rounds of the season, the Titans were held to only two tries in the second half on their way to their sixth win of the year and their fifth on end at Skilled Park.

The result lifted them to 12 points, regaining outright ownership of the competition lead.

While the losing margin was a vast improvement for the Vodafone Warriors after their 28-point defeat by the Cowboys last weekend, it still means they're without an away win in four attempts this season.

It was a match notable for perfect goal-kicking with Scott Prince converting all six of the Titans' tries and Michael Witt predictably added the extras to each of his side's four tries, two of them from the sideline.

Witt also scored two tries himself to collect 16 points and take him past 50 for the year. The tries were his first of the season while his total of 64 points includes 28 goals from 30 attempts.

The other two tries were notable as well, run-on captain Micheal Luck snaring his first four-pointer of the 2008 campaign while winger Manu Vantuvei took his tally to seven in seven matches, making him the competition's top equal try scorer. He now has 36 tries in 65 NRL matches.

But while he took his try-scoring chance impressively in an outstanding all-round performance, the day was a costly one for him and for his team (and the Kiwis as well).

The 22-year-old went down with a painful leg injury in the 62nd minute. Later x rays revealed he has a spiral fracture of his left fibula.

Until the injury he was having an outstanding day, carrying the ball 14 times and making 128 metres.

After the Titans shot out to a 12-0 lead inside 14 minutes, Luck's try off a Nathan Fien kick stopped the home side - but only briefly.

A double strike followed as Brad Meyers and Preston Campbell scored, Scott Prince converting both for an ominous 24-6 lead with halftime still 10 minutes away.

But a period of pressure yielded a nicely-worked try for Vatuvei, Witt throwing a sweet long ball for Vatuvei to cross just inside the corner post.

Witt was faced with difficult conversion attempts to both tries but nailed both superbly.

But Gold Coast had set the tone with tries to Ashley Harrison, Ben Jeffery, Brad Meyers and Preston Campbell to lead 24-12 at halftime.

That became 30-12 soon after the break when Anthony Laffranchi crossed near the posts but the Vodafone Warriors wouldn't go away.

Witt scored a wonderful individual try as he threaded his way past Gold Coast defenders, trimming the margin to 18-30.

But the Titans repelled further efforts to close the gap to six points before arranging their sixth try of the match to Brenton Bowen and going out to a 36-18 lead in the 71st minute. Again the Vodafone Warriors reacted, Witt with a smart chip and collect for his second try.

It was too late, though, leaving the Vodafone Warriors with a fourth successive away defeat this year.

Again they suffered from allowing the opposition to start fast - 12-0 for the Titans inside 15 minutes - and there was then too much ground to make up. That was reflected in the final 12-point losing margin.

Next Sunday the Vodafone Warriors meet Canberra at Mt Smart Stadium.

Match details:

At Skilled Park, Robina:
Gold Coast Titans 36 (Ashley Harrison, Ben Jeffery, Brad Meyers, Preston Campbell, Anthony Laffranchi, Brenton Bowen tries; Scott Prince 6 conversions).
Vodafone Warriors 24 (Michael Witt 2, Micheal Luck, Manu Vatuvei tries; Michael Witt 4 conversions).
Halftime: 24-12 Titans.
Referee: Steve Lyons.
Crowd: 25,310.

Report source: www.warriors.co.nz

Tue April 22, 2008
• Warriors recalled Koopu, Crockett and Shortland
  
Tue April 22, 2008
• Titans unchanged for home clash against Warriors
  

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