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Trial Match 2012: COWBOYS vs TITANS (Mackay)

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COWBOYS vs TITANS
Saturday, 18 February 2012, Virgin Australia Stadium in Mackay ​

The Titans will finish the pre-season with their first ever game at the new Virgin Australia Stadium in Mackay at 7.30pm on Saturday night, 18 February.

In a preview of their round one NRL clash, the Gold Coast Titans will take on the North Queensland Cowboys, with both sides eager to gain some momentum ahead of their season opener just a fortnight later.

Ticket prices begin at $25 for adults, $20 for concessions and $15 for children between six and 12 years of age.

Also on the Mackay program is a clash between the Cowboys? and Titans? Toyota Cup squad (5pm) and the Mackay Cutters taking on Intrust Super Cup rivals Central Comets (3pm). Gates open at 2pm.

For more details and to buy online, visit http://www.mackayecc.com.au/.
 
Cowboys plan to tackle the Titans

NRL players such as Greg Bird will light up Virgin Australia Stadium in February.

Trevor VealeMACKAY footy fans have blitzed the ticket box, snapping up seats for next month's NRL trial match at Virgin Australia Stadium.

Organisers are thrilled with the response and say ticket sales have eclipsed all expectations.

The North Queensland Cowboys take on the Gold Coast Titans here on February 18.

The curtain-raiser will see the STM Cutters take on the Rockhampton Capras.

Next game on "Super Saturday" will be an under-20 Cowboys/Titans clash, followed by the main game between full-strength first grade teams.

President of Mackay Rugby League, Steven Hawkins, said he was expecting "an enormous turnout" for the event.

"I think we will get over 8000 to the ground," he said.

"This is the last hit-out, it is a full-on trial match."

Hawkins said all the big names would be playing.

"Thurston, Bowen, Idris," he said.

"The Gold Coast's Scotty Prince, Luke Bailey, Greg Bird, Ashley Harrison, Mark Minichiello, Nate Miles and Luke O'Dwyer will be here."

Hawkins said the trial match would be the final hit-out for both teams who meet in round one of the NRL, just two weeks after they play in Mackay.

He said the game was sure to be high class with each team wanting to take bragging rights into the start of the season.

The Cowboys and Titans will both hold open training sessions on Friday, February 17 at the stadium.

All will be welcome to watch their favourite players train from 4pm.

Hawkins said the pre-season clash would be one of the best league events Mackay has seen.

"The facilities we now have have helped bring this to Mackay," he said.

"They will also help bring similar events here in the future."

He said the NRL trial match would boost the game's popularity and encourage junior players.

"What we are seeing in Mackay is a clear career path for players from under-6 up," he said.

"We have progression from the juniors right up to the NRL, the sky is the limit."

Hawkins said if a kid had talent, the opportunities were endless.

Tickets for the event can be purchased at http://www.mackayecc.com.au.

http://www.dailymercury.com.au
 
Cowboys Rehab Report: Pre-season

This week's pre-season rehab report from the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys:

? Kalifa Faifai Loa (elbow): The Kiwi Test winger?s recovery from elbow surgery is almost complete and he has resumed normal training.

? Tariq Sims (broken tibia and fibula): The back-rower?s current rehab program includes weights and cardio sessions, hill walks, road cycling and swimming. The Cowboys will take a conservative approach to his return to the playing field which may or may not come in the final trial against the Gold Coast Titans in Mackay on 18 February.

? Joel Riethmuller (hamstring strain): The back-rower is still on a daily alternate running-cardio program and will hopefully be integrated into full training with the rest of the squad this week.

? Blake Leary (ACL): The back-rower is in the last couple of months of his rehab program. He has been performing some agility and speed work with promising results but hasn?t undertaken any contact training yet.

? Michael Morgan (ankle): The former NYC halfback?s recovery has slowed but he should hopefully be available for at least one pre-season trial.

? Ben Jones (pectoral): After undergoing surgery in early December, the former Indigenous All Stars representative is progressing well but is not due back until around mid-season.

http://www.cowboys.com.au/
 
Stadium plans to host huge crowd

CONTINGENCY plans are in hand to cater for a massive crowd at Virgin Australia Stadium next month to watch Johnathan Thurston and Co go head to head with the Titans.

Already more than 3000 tickets have been sold for the February 18 pre-season clash when the Cowboys will make their first appearance in Mackay since 2008.

A bumper crowd of 8000 to 9000 is expected, and could even be larger going on ticket sales.

Stadium manager Clinton Begg said yesterday all grandstand tickets had been sold out, the corporate box areas were snapped up within days, and sales were going well for the outer.

"We're looking at extra seating, and we'll have an announcement by the end of this week," Begg said.

"They are looking at other alternative seating to be put in place.

"We always knew that the grandstand seating would go very, very quickly.

"The people of Mackay and surrounding areas should get in quickly to get their tickets."

The Cowboys shape up against the Titans again two weeks later in the opening round of the NRL at Dairy Farmers Stadium at 8.30pm on March 3, and both sides have indicated the top available players will line up for the trial match.

Cowboys football manager Peter Parr said superstars such as Johnathan Thurston and Matt Bowen were certain to play, while the Titans will field stars such as Scott Prince and Greg Bird.

Titans fullback William Zillman has family in Proserpine, and predicts a comeback this season after taking the wooden spoon last year.

The club has bought some top players, notably former Bulldog Jamal Idris who will be keen to cement a spot in the side.

The Cowboys games in recent years have been cancelled due to Mackay's run of wet seasons, but Begg said the rain last week had shown that the new stadium can withstand heavy downpours.

"We've had 115mm and it's held up well," he said.

"We always need rain, it's very good for the field, and it's not going to affect any of the pre-season games we have here."

The STM Mackay Cutters play the Cowboys Under 20s on February 4 at the stadium. The February 18 NRL trial will also feature matches between the Cowboys and Titans U20 and the Cutters against CQ Capras. The Cutters will travel to Moranbah on February 25 to take on Northern Pride.

ON TRIAL

NRL trial match at Virgin Australia Stadium, February 18.
Cowboys v Titans, 7.30pm.
Cowboys Under 20 v Titans Under 20.
STM Mackay Cutters v CQ Capras.
Tickets available Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre.

http://www.dailymercury.com.au/story/2012/01/17/stadium-plans-to-host-huge-crowd-virgin-australia/
 
North Queensland Cowboys second-rower Tariq Sims sets sights on NRL return against the Gold Coast Titans in Mackay

ANY defenders hoping the broken leg North Queensland Cowboys second-rower Tariq Sims suffered last season would slow him down in 2012 had better think again.

Sims enjoyed a stellar 2011 after cracking the Cowboys? starting side, announcing himself as one of the most destructive ball runners in the NRL before fracturing the tibia and fibula in his left leg in August.

But six months on from the injury and Sims is tantalisingly close to a return.

"It?s a little bit annoying at the moment,?? 21-year-old Sims said.

"It?s at the point I?m allowed to run, but the club doesn?t want me to run. After six months of not running, you want to get out there and do something. But it?s not worth the risk.

??If I crack it, then it?ll set me back another couple of months and that?s the last thing that I want."

But when he does return to the field, Sims won?t compromise his aggressive running to protect his leg.

"That sort of stuff doesn?t bother me," Sims said.

"That?s just footy and unlucky things happen sometimes.

"But when I get back, my focus is 100 per cent on the Cowboys.

"I?ve still got to prove myself to the boys, work my way back into the team and retain my spot.

"There?s a lot of people gunning for my position.

??It?s slow and steady at the moment, but when I get back into it I?ll be going 100 per cent."

Sims said anything less would prevent him having the same impact he did last season.

"As corny as it sounds, I work pretty hard and that goes for everybody at the club," he said.

"Where we finished last season wasn?t a reflection of our season.

"We were in the top four for 13 or 14 weeks of the year, but then we got hit with player burnout, injuries and a few suspensions.

"It happens to every team, but it sort of hit us all at once and that cost us."

He hopes to be fit for the Cowboys? final trial against the Gold Coast in Mackay in 15 days.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au
 
More fans fit in

VIRGIN Australia Stadium and Harrup Park Country Club have joined forces to ensure more Mackay fans can watch the NRL trial game.

With tickets selling quickly for the match between the North Queensland Cowboys and Gold Coast Titans on February 18, the stadium will add extra seats to the venue, thanks to Harrup Park.

The country club's 1015 seats, bought before the Ryobi Cup match last year, will be packed up on the back of a truck and sent down the road to the stadium.

Harrup Park general manager Michael Jones said it was important the two facilities worked together to ensure people supported big events like the trial game.

"When we were approached by Virgin Australia Stadium about the upcoming game, we were more than happy to sit down with them and come to an arrangement where we could provide some more seats," Jones said.

The stadium's operations manager, Clinton Begg, agreed it was important to foster a partnership between Mackay's sporting facilities.

"We're very happy to be working together," he said.

"(Mackay) has been the poor cousin for many years in some aspects. This gives us a distinct opportunity to bring national sports to Mackay."

All remaining seats for the trial match are general admission and will not be numbered or reserved, so Begg stressed the importance of arriving early on the day to secure a spot.

"It's first in, best dressed. We're still heading towards 8000 to 9000 (tickets)."

http://www.dailymercury.com.au/story/
 
The Titans will finish the pre-season with their first ever game at the new Virgin Australia Stadium in Mackay at 7.30pm on Saturday night, 18 February.

In a preview of their round one NRL clash, the Gold Coast Titans will take on the North Queensland Cowboys, with both sides eager to gain some momentum ahead of their season opener just a fortnight later.

Ticket prices begin at $25 for adults, $20 for concessions and $15 for children between six and 12 years of age.

Also on the Mackay program is a clash between the Cowboys? and Titans? Toyota Cup squad (5pm) and the Mackay Cutters taking on Intrust Super Cup rivals Central Comets (3pm). Gates open at 2pm.

For more details and to buy online, visit http://www.mackayecc.com.au/.
 
Titans won't take injury risks into final trial match
Adam Gardini
14/02/2012 3:54:12 PM
Jetstar Gold Coast Titans coach John Cartwright says he won’t risk players with lingering injury concerns in Saturday night’s final pre-season trial match against the North Queensland Cowboys in Mackay.

The Jetstar Titans are eager to see five-eighth William Zillman receive some game time for the first time this pre-season after the livewire missed the club’s opening two trial matches against the Warriors and Broncos with a back injury.

However, Cartwright said he was wary of risking Zillman and any other players with niggling injuries if they weren’t 100 per cent fit and would give them until Wednesday to prove their fitness before he names a squad for the match.

“It’s hard, we’ve got to decide how we want to approach the game,’’ said Cartwright.

“Last week we wanted to approach it as seriously as we could as far as players being available.

“This week it’s a little bit different because we’ve got some niggles but we’ve also got some key areas that we need to see some blokes at.

“But it would be a silly time of year to play anyone with a niggling injury so we’ll give them another day and come up with a side tomorrow.’’

In a promising sign, Zillman has completed both training sessions this week since the club’s trial match win over the Broncos – providing some optimism about his chances of taking on the Cowboys.

“That was a tough session then and Zilly got through it all and he’s still out there doing some extras so I’d say he’ll be right to play,’’ said Cartwright.

One player unlikely to take the field against the Cowboys is International Greg Bird, who suffered a pectoral injury at training last Friday.

However, Cartwright said he was hopeful he’d be fit for the club’s Round 1 match against the Cowboys at Dairy Farmers Stadium on Saturday, March 3.

“When it happened they said he wouldn’t play in any of the trials,’’ said Cartwright.

“He’s got a small tear in a pec muscle – it can be an ugly injury but it’s on the good side of the bad.

“We expect him to be right for the first competition game.’’
 
Titans call on mighty mouse Sam Irwin

THE Titans are set to unleash their strongest man on the NRL with teenage mighty mouse Sam Irwin a shock inclusion for Gold Coast's final pre-season trial.

Irwin will make an appearance at hooker against North Queensland in Mackay on Saturday and could be a bolter for round 1 of the NRL if the Titans' hooking woes worsen.

The 19-year-old Palm Beach Currumbin product has earned the title of the strongest player at the club, with his 75kg frame capable of squatting a whopping 290kg.

Irwin's massive squat numbers, combined with other impressive gym figures, sees the 171cm rake trump the likes of noted big-lifters and 100kg-plus machines Bodene Thompson and Greg Bird.

Irwin, who is marginally taller than the courageous Preston Campbell, trained with the Titans NRL squad yesterday after injuries to Matt Srama and Beau Falloon devastated Gold Coast's already thin hooking stocks.

Falloon will miss at least three months because of a torn biceps while a shoulder injury means Srama won't play before round 1.

Third-string hooker Kayne Lawton will start at rake against the Cowboys and coach John Cartwright said Irwin, an apprentice electrician, would spend time at dummy-half to get accustomed to the NRL team.

"He's been in our system for a while and is a former Australian schoolboy," he said.

"He's one of the lightest at the club but he's actually the strongest man at the club.

"He was really good in the (Toyota Cup) trial last weekend.

"He's not the biggest fella in the world but none of our hookers are at the moment.

"He's very skilful and we're a bit light on hookers. We've got Kayne and Luke O'Dwyer has been doing a bit at dummy-half.

"We'll have him on the bench and he'll definitely play at some stage in the game.

"Based on his form and effort last week he'll be good."

The Cowboys trial will be the first time captain Scott Prince and Will Zillman combine in the halves this year.

Zillman will be named in the team today at five-eighth after overcoming a back injury while Prince will attempt to continue his solid form from last weekend's Broncos trial.

The duo will run into a red-hot Cowboys side with Test star Johnathan Thurston named at halfback and excitement machine Matt Bowen at fullback.

Titans back-row enforcer Greg Bird won't play because of a minor pectoral tear and is in doubt for round 1.

"When it happened, they (doctors) said he wouldn't play in any of the trials," Cartwright said.

"He's got a small tear in a pectoral muscle. It can be an ugly injury but it's on the good side of bad. We expect him to be right for the first competition game."

Star Titans signing Jamal Idris could be rested from the Cowboys trial after two quality performances in the past fortnight.

Idris was impressive for the Indigenous All Stars and enthusiastic against the Broncos in his first hit-out in Titans colours.
Click to expand...

http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2012/02/15/390861_gold-coast-titans.html
 
Impressive gym numbers but that doesn't always transfer to the field, Lawton held all the records at the club from the age of 18 but he hasn't made his mark at the club yet..:rolleyes: , hope he can make the step up to the big time we could never have too many players vying for a spot in the top grade :thumbsup:
 
Does Kayne Lawton have a slight injury or is this a case of Carty not being sold on Kayne for Rd 1 if Srama still isnt right?

id be gutted if i was Lawton. took 2 injuries to the frontrunners to give you a shot, then they find a kid to take your spot in the last trial to show your wares.
 
Zillman returns for Titans final trial match


Five-eighth William Zillman has been named to make his first appearance for 2012 in the Jetstar Gold Coast Titans? final pre-season trial match against the North Queensland Cowboys in Mackay on Saturday night.

Jetstar Titans Coach John Cartwright today named a strong 20-man squad to tackle the Cowboys which includes Zillman along with high profile recruits Jamal Idris, Nate Myles, Luke Douglas and Beau Champion.

Zillman missed the club?s first two trial matches against the New Zealand Warriors (26-10 loss) and Brisbane Broncos (18-16 win) due to a niggling back injury but has been given the green light to take the field in Mackay after training strongly this week.

Cartwright said Zillman would share the five-eighth/fullback duties with Jordan Rankin throughout the trial match against the Cowboys after Rankin impressed in the No.6 jersey in the club?s 18-16 win over the Broncos last weekend.

?He?ll mix up his time a bit. Rankin did a very good job at five-eighth against the Broncos so we?ll split their time up and make a decision on who will play five-eighth in the first competition game after the trial,?? said Cartwright.

?It?s just a matter of him getting out on the field and spending time with his partners in crime.

?We just want him to do his job, getting his kicking game on, get his defence right and play with some confidence.??

Although he is widely regarded as the fittest player at the club, Zillman said he was eager to gain some vital match practice before the club?s season opening match against the Cowboys in Townsville on Saturday, March 3.

?It?s good, I missed last week?s trial which was a bit unfortunate but I?m back to 100 per cent and I?m looking forward to the game,?? said Zillman.

?Training there in the whole pre-season is really good but I guess game fitness is what you need so it will be good to have a trail before we go into the season. It?s different when you?re out on the field and the intensity is a lot higher.??

Prop Luke Bailey has been rested from the Mackay trial after having two serious hit-outs over the past fortnight for the NRL All Stars and against the Broncos last weekend. Back rower Ashley Harrison has also been rested with a minor hip strain.

?He?s had a tough game in the All Stars and had a good 50 minutes last week so if we go up there with four front rowers, they?ll all get equal game time which is what?s important for fellows in the middle of the park,?? said Cartwright

Winger Steve Michaels has been promoted to the wing in the absence of Kevin Gordon (knee soreness) while hooker Kayne Lawton has been handed the starting No.9 jersey after Beau Fallon suffered a biceps tear in the win over the Broncos.

?Stevie came on last week (against the Broncos) when Kevie got hurt,?? said Cartwright.

?Kevie is not as bad as we what were worried about and he?ll hopefully be ready to go for the first game but Stevie is Stevie ? he plays with his heart on his sleeve and he?s a guy I love having in the side.??

Jetstar Titans vs North Queensland Cowboys
Pre-season Trial Match 3
Saturday, February 18
Mackay ? 7.30pm kick-off

1. Jordan Rankin
2. Steve Michaels
3. Jamal Idris
4. Beau Champion
5. David Mead
6. William Zillman
7. Scott Prince
8. Matt White
9. Kayne Lawton
10. Luke Douglas
11. Luke O?Dwyer
12. Mark Minichiello
13. Nate Myles

INTERCHANGE

14. Michael Henderson
15. Brenton Lawrence
16. Bodene Thompson
17. Javarn White
18. Ben Ridge
19. Dominique Peyroux
20. Beau Henry
 
2 things.

does this mean Irwin isnt going to play now after the article this morning?

secondly, does anyone know anything about weightlifting? a guy i spoke to reckons that a kid squatting 290kg is bulldust, and would be almost the aus record holder.
 
Irwin will play some minutes but will play with the Under-20s first, that's why he's not on the teamsheet. Teams mean little in trials. Beau Henry played for Tweed then backed up for the Titans in the trial. Wasn't named on the Titans teamsheet for that match.
 
..I highly doubt it would have been a full squat, maybe a half or something but 290kg @ 75 kg would be a world record.. Someone deadlifting that much at 75 kg would be a record.
 
chicbarn said:
Irwin will play some minutes but will play with the Under-20s first, that's why he's not on the teamsheet. Teams mean little in trials. Beau Henry played for Tweed then backed up for the Titans in the trial. Wasn't named on the Titans teamsheet for that match.
Click to expand...

Nick said:
..I highly doubt it would have been a full squat, maybe a half or something but 290kg @ 75 kg would be a world record.. Someone deadlifting that much at 75 kg would be a record.
Click to expand...

cheers guys,
 
securitron_ch said:
http://www.powerliftingwatch.com/records

world record squat for 75kg is 402.5 kg.

This makes 290 seem well within the bounds of reality for a professional League player.
Click to expand...
Read again.. That is "equitpted" in a squat suit. The world record for a "raw"(no wraps or suit) squat is 272kg for the 75kg class. I doubt they would use squat suits for professional league players as the deepest part of a squat is where the athlete will benefit most.
 
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