Barring a training mishap, the Gold Coast Titans should be fully fit in two weeks when they challenge for their maiden Grand Final appearance.
Following their professional 28-16 win over the Warriors at Skilled Park last Friday, the Titans earned a week off following losses by the second-placed Panthers and third-placed Tigers on Saturday.
Gold Coast will play the winner of Saturday’s night’s Roosters vs. Panthers match in two weeks at Suncorp Stadium for a place in the 2010 Grand Final.
The Titans players and coaching staff agree the bye is ideal with so many players carrying niggling injuries.
Fullback Preston Campbell should be fully recovered from a hamstring injury by Friday week’s Preliminary Final to ensure a virtually fully fit squad.
Scott Prince is carrying a shoulder bump while prop Luke Bailey played 53 minutes against the Warriors without painkilling injections for a broken thumb.
Titans quartet Greg Bird, Anthony Laffranchi, Ashley Harrison and Steve Michaels all join Prince with minor shoulder complaints while Mat Rogers is still being hampered by a hip problem.
All were likely to play this weekend if required meaning they should be certain starters in two weeks.
The Titans did lose both games following byes this season but with a crowd of at least 40,000 people expected at Suncorp Stadium for the Preliminary Final, they will start favourites to qualify for the Grand Final no matter who they face.
Broncos, Cowboys feeders in Grand Final
While the NRL squads are already looking ahead to 2011, the Brisbane Broncos and North Queensland Cowboys feeder clubs meet in the Queensland Cup Grand Final on Sunday.
Norths Devils (Broncos) and Northern Pride (Cowboys) face off at Suncorp Stadium in the Decider following good wins on the weekend.
The Cowboys had both their feeder sides in the Preliminary Finals but their other side Mackay were sent packing with a 56-12 walloping dished out by the Devils.
Northern Pride had to work a little harder but were equalling impressive in defeating minor premiers Souths Logan 28-8 last Sunday.
The Devils side will likely contain Broncos 2006 Premiership winning halfback Shane Perry and having finished second in the regular season may start slight favourites.
The Pride will boast Cowboy 2010 squad members Michael Bani, Clint Amos and Nick Slyney while Ty Williams was a late withdrawal on the weekend due to injury.
Former NRL players Rod Jensen and Chris Sheppard are also key members of the team.
The Queensland Rugby League is planning a big day of entertainment including three Grand Finals.
The main event Queensland Cup Grand Final kicks off at 2pm and will be broadcast live into Queensland on ABC1 and ABC local radio.
Authors Note – I am on holidays next week and will return in two weeks on Tuesday 28 September with a Grand Final preview.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment