Round 1
Gold Coast Titans 34 d. Newcastle Knights 20

2009 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

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

Analysis: Titans 34 v Knights 20
Tue March 17, 2009
Source: NRL Stats: Titans 34 v Knights 20

This match was played in heat wave conditions and it was the final nine minutes before half-time that proved the difference with the Titans running riot.

Newcastle started the match in a blaze of glory leading 14-0 after 29 minutes including a strong try to former NSW halfback Jarrod Mullen.

Tries in the 31st, 34th and 38th minutes saw the Titans up 16-14 at the break and that was extended to 22-14 moments into the second half. Despite Newcastle getting it back to 22-20 the blitz before half-time was enough for the Gold Coast to show that they would finish the game stronger and tries to Brad Meyers and a length of the field effort to William Zillman proved to be the difference.

Newcastle fullback Kurt Gidley topped the metres gained with 131 and topped the hit ups with 14 in a fine captains performance. Unwanted Titans hooker Nathan Friend showed his value in the heat playing all 80 minutes with 96 touches of the ball and made 29 tackles.

Mat Rogers with seven missed tackles was quite alarming and opposition coaches will look to target the veteran Titans pivot in the coming rounds.

Statistically Newcastle played quite well and only fatigue playing in the Queensland heat before half-time cost them a valuable 16 points on the scoreboard when momentum was on their side.

GOLD COAST TITANS
Positive: Billy Johnstone may no longer be around, but they still showed they are fit and as the game got older in each half they got stronger. Scott Prince as usual stood tall and Nathan Friend was the ultimate professional on the field.

Negative: The poor start to the game will hurt them more when the grind of winter takes effect.

Verdict: Need to have Prince on the field to be a top eight show.

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Positive: The early start they had showed supporters they will be competitive and there is potential amongst Brian Smith's mob. Kurt Gidley bounced back well after injury cut short his World Cup campaign.

Negative: Conceding 16 points in the nine minutes before half-time shows that 80 minute concentration isn't even close to being there.

Verdict: They won't make the Finals, but this young side will be competitive and will have a go each week.

TALKING POINT
Can the Titans turn a good start into a final eight position?

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LEADING STATISTICS
All Runs Metres
Kurt Gidley 131
Chris Houston 108
Mat Rogers 108
William Zillman 108
Mark Minichiello 103

All Runs
Kurt Gidley 14
Mark Minichiello 13
Jarrod Mullen 13
Luke Bailey 13
Anthony Laffranchi 12

Offloads
Jarrod Mullen 4
Anthony Laffranchi 3
Mat Rogers 2
Zeb Taia 2
Esikeli Tonga 1

Tackles
Nathan Friend 29
Isaac De Gois 27
Luke Bailey 25
Ben Cross 24
Steve Simpson 23

1-on-1 Tackles
Josh Graham 5
Chris Houston 3
Cory Paterson 3
Esikeli Tonga 3
Zeb Taia 2

Tackle Breaks
Jarrod Mullen 7
Akuila Uate 6
Scott Prince 5
Kurt Gidley 5
Chris Houston 4

Line Breaks
Scott Prince 2
Preston Campbell 1
Luke O'Dwyer 1
Kurt Gidley 1
Akuila Uate 1

Penalties Conceded
Steve Simpson 2
Akuila Uate 1
Adam MacDougall 1
Ben Rogers 1
Preston Campbell 1

Missed Tackles
Mat Rogers 7
Luke Bailey 5
Brett Delaney 4
Anthony Laffranchi 4
Jarrod Mullen 3

Kicks
Jarrod Mullen 9
Scott Prince 8
Mat Rogers 5
Kurt Gidley 4
Ben Rogers 2

Errors
Ben Cross 3
Jordan Atkins 3
James McManus 3
Akuila Uate 3
Preston Campbell 2

Gets
Nathan Friend 96
Isaac De Gois 71
Scott Prince 47
Jarrod Mullen 46
Kurt Gidley 42

NRL Stats: Titans 34 v Knights 20
NYC Stats: Titans 40 v Knights 14
Titans v Knights Match Thread


Gritty Titans fight back to down Knights
Mon March 16, 2009
Source: www.titans.com.au

A spirited fightback underlined the start of the Jetstar Gold Coast Titans' 2009 campaign in a 34-20 win over Newcastle at Skilled Park today.

The Titans' class of 2009 got off to an uncharacteristically slow start to the match as the Knights, who were helped by a 7-3 penalty count early on, shot out of the blocks to a 14-nil lead.

However, a 28-point surge either side of halftime helped the Titans take control of the game and register their first competition points of the season in front of a crowd of 16,203.

Exciting new Titans recruit William Zillman put the result beyond doubt nine minutes from full-time with an 80m try on debut for the club, in what marked his official comeback from a knee reconstruction.

Hooker Nathan Friend was one of the Titans' best and veteran forward Brad Meyers wound back the clock with a bullocking display.

Jetstar Titans coach John Cartwright said his side's comeback was the feature of the first-up performance.

"That was the most pleasing aspect, I don't think we've ever come from behind to that degree ? especially in those conditions,'' said Cartwright.

"They were oppressive conditions and you would have liked to have had that 14-nil lead 30 minutes into the game.''

The Titans have been renowned for their starts to matches but co-captain Scott Prince said the result proved his side could come from behind to win when things weren't going their way.

"We touched on about grinding wins away and we certainly didn't want that scenario first-up but it panned out that way,'' said Prince.

"It was just set up for us to prove to ourselves and everyone that we can comeback and win.''

The Knights got out to an early 6-nil lead after winger Akuila Uate barged his way over the try line in the left corner in the 8th minute.

Halfback Jarrod Mullen then followed his lead in the 22nd minute when he pushed through tackles from several Titans to score and give the Knights a 12-nil advantage.

A string of penalties to the visitors gave the Knights a further two points through a Kurt Gidley penalty goal but with the scoreboard beginning to look ominous for the home side, the Titans then finally clicked into gear.

Mat Rogers supported a bust from hooker Nathan Friend to score in the 31st minute and then on the back of that utility Luke O'Dwyer crossed in the left corner to get the Titans within striking distance.

Prince added the extras from the sideline to reduce the lead to 14-12 in the Knights favour with four minutes left in the first half.

The Titans then hit the lead for the first time just before halftime through a freakish try to Friend after winger Esi Tonga was able to save a Rogers grubber kick from going dead in-goal and batted it back into the field of play for his No.9.

Prince missed the sideline conversion but the Titans still headed into the sheds with a 16-14 advantage at halftime.

The Titans' point scoring continued minutes after the break, with Prince bamboozling the Knights defence with a dummy to score to the right of the posts. He then added the extras for a 22-14 lead.

The Knights hit back though when former Titan Matt Hilder scored a questionable try in the left corner after receiving a pass from Adam MacDougall, who looked to have been wrapped up and held by several Titans defenders.

Backrower Meyers then produced a bullocking 30m run to score and give the Titans further breathing space at 28-20 before Zillman sealed the match with an 80m try nine minutes from full-time after charging onto an Esi Tonga pass.

Fri March 13, 2009
• Round 1 NRL Preview & Best Bets
  
Fri March 13, 2009
• Graham's focus gets a lot clearer
  
Fri March 13, 2009
• Harrison gives shoulder the thumbs up
  
Tue March 10, 2009
• White to debut for Titans against former club
  

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