Players being sacked, drug scandals, takeovers and relocating training bases twice – it’s been a turbulent summer for Gold Coast NRL players.
On Saturday, the Titans finally get the chance to put their off-field woes to one side when they kick off their campaign at home against the Wests Tigers.
They’ll do so without State of Origin stars Greg Bird and Dave Taylor, as well as reigning player of the year Beau Falloon, with all three stood down amid the cocaine scandal which has rocked the club.
Props Matt White (hamstring) and David Hala (knee) are also unavailable, forcing coach Neil Henry to shuffle his deckchairs against Jason Taylor’s Tigers.
Captain Nate Myles will take Bird’s position at lock while six other players are poised to make their first appearance for the Titans.
Myles said it was no surprise how keen the team were to get out on the field after such a tumultuous time.
“It’s a lot more enjoyable playing rugby league when you get to play every week,” Myles said.
“I suppose, express a bit of anger. Our pre-season was pretty full-on; these added extras of confusion and frustration throughout the playing group has probably added to the boys wanting to get out there more.”
The Titans’ depth will be tested with recruits Josh Hoffman, Matt Robinson, Lachlan Burr, Kierran Moseley, Eddy Pettybourne and interchange forward Agnatius Paasi all set to debut for the club.
Myles, who said he’s fine to take on the Tigers despite copping a knock to his left calf at training on Wednesday, said that session had convinced him the group was focused on the task at hand rather than off-field dramas.
“In all honesty, I was worried until the last session. I’ve seen how the boys were training and the intensity was there,” he said.
The Titans are anticipating a crowd of at least 14,000 for the clash with a membership drive pushing their numbers towards 10,000.
Myles said that support would be a big help at a ground where the Tigers spanked the Titans 42-12 in round two last year.
“The last couple of years, we probably only get the big crowds when the big sides roll in but we definitely feel the intensity in the crowd and it inspires players when the noise level spikes up,” he said.
Tigers coach Taylor will be looking to Aaron Woods and Keith Galloway to outmuscle the undermanned Titans’ pack, while Myles concedes stopping Robbie Farah and halfback Luke Brooks will be a key for the home team.
KEY STATS:
* Home advantage helps in matches between these sides with the home team winning eight of the 1 played, although both home teams lost last year
* Last year’s 42-12 thrashing by the Tigers at Robina is the Titans’ biggest home loss and the most points they’ve conceded at Robina
* The Tigers have lost three of their past four round-one fixtures, conceding 40 points in each season opener in the past two years
* The Tigers (17.5) and Titans (15.5) had the worst points per game averages of any NRL team in the 2014 season
