Your say: Roosters or Titans?
Titans halfback Harrison prepares for NRL debut
“Welcome to the NRL”: Robinson says Roosters will take it to Titans rookies
Roosters coach Trent Robinson tells Fox Sports his team is ready to test out the Gold Coast’s new faces, particularly debutant halfback Zane Harrison and rookie hooker Oliver Pascoe.
“They’ve got a couple of changes there in 9 and 7, [so we have to] be aware of that, and obviously do what NRL players do and welcome them to the NRL,” Robinson says.
“They’ve got speed in the backline, so making sure that our defence is really clear in their movements.
“And then it’s still won in the pack, they’ve obviously got Tino and a few other forwards there who like to run and be physical, and we’ve got to be physical as well.”
Broncos, Radley surprised Roosters lock not charged for Carrigan hit
Broncos officials were disappointed after the ARL Commission resisted enacting a rarely used power that could have seen Victor Radley belatedly charged for making contact on Pat Carrigan with his head.
The Broncos, some NRL officials and even Victor Radley himself were shocked when the Sydney Roosters enforcer avoided being charged for a series of tackles during Saturday night’s win over the Broncos.
He was placed on report three times, with the tackle on Carrigan not cited nor penalised on the night.
Radley was live on Fox Sports when the match review committee released its findings on Sunday, to which Radley asked: “Really? Is this April Fools? Happy days. I thought for sure something was coming.”
Roosters v Titans team lists
Sydney Roosters
1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Hugo Savala 4. Robert Toia 5. Cody Ramsey 6. Daly Cherry-Evans 7. Sam Walker 8. Naufahu Whyte 9. Reece Robson 10. Spencer Leniu 11. Angus Crichton 12. Siua Wong 13. Victor Radley.
Bench: 14. Connor Watson 15. Egan Butcher 16. Nat Butcher 17. Salesi Foketi 20. Fetalaiga Pauga 21. Reece Foley
Gold Coast Titans
1. Keano Kini 2. Jenson Taumoepeau 3. Jojo Fifita 4. AJ Brimson 5. Phillip Sami 6. Jayden Campbell 7. Zane Harrison 8. Klese Haas 9. Oliver Pascoe 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 11. Chris Randall 12. Beau Fermor 13. Cooper Bai.
Bench: 14. Kurtis Morrin 15. Moeaki Fotuaika 16. Josh Patston 17. Arama Hau 18. Jaylan De Groot 19. Sam Verrills
Cleary fan Harrison gets his chance as Titans’ new No.7
Nathan Cleary’s huge influence over the next generation of NRL halfbacks will continue on Friday evening when Zane Harrison debuts for the Gold Coast Titans.
Harrison, 20, has grown up idolising the Penrith playmaker – so much so that some Titans officials have noticed the youngster trying to mimic the kicking style of the four-time premiership winner, and the way he appears to casually float across the field.
An under-19s NSW Origin representative who grew up in Tweed Heads, Harrison’s first game comes a week after Joey Walsh made his starting debut for Manly, and a fortnight after Kade Reed, another unabashed Cleary fan, was handed the St George Illawarra No.7 jersey.
Harrison gets his start at the expense of Lachie Ilias, one of several selection casualties following the Titans’ defeat to an undermanned Canberra side last weekend.
Your say: Roosters or Titans?
Ciraldo not happy with referees after Dolphins thump Dogs
Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo wasn’t happy with the officials after last night’s 44-12 drubbing at the hands of the Dolphins.
Making 10 errors to the Dolphins’ four was never going to lead to success, but Ciraldo was left frustrated by the second-half penalty count and the decision to sin bin Jacob Preston for a late hit on Dolphins half Isaiya Katoa.
“I don’t know what you want him to do: Katoa has got the ball, he’s going to tackle him and release it a millisecond before he hits him, I don’t understand it,” Ciraldo said of the sin bin decision.
“I don’t see us being that much more ill-disciplined than the opposition and there are times when I just can’t understand where those penalties come from. I feel like there are ones where we’re an easy target.”
Welcome to Friday night footy
Hello and welcome to our coverage of tonight’s NRL double header. Dom Brock on blog duties with you tonight.
It’s NSW versus Queensland in both this evening’s contests, with the Sydney Roosters facing the Gold Coast Titans at 6pm before North Queensland host Parramatta at 8.
The home sides are short-priced favourites in both games, with the Roosters having won five straight and the Cowboys winning six of their past seven.
The Titans and Eels meanwhile sit in 14th and 15th place on the ladder, respectively, with the Gold Coast having the third-worst attack in the league (better than only the Dragons and Bulldogs) and Parramatta having conceded the most points in the competition.
But don’t rule out the underdogs just yet. The NRL itself spruiked a week ago that we’ve had more surprise results than this time last season, and more second-half comebacks as well.
Let’s see if we have another couple tonight. Stay tuned for all the action as it happens.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
