BigBlog

To be honest, the Titans aren’t going that crash hot at the minute. The confidence is down and things just aren’t going right. Having said that, there’s no time like the present to put things back on track. We’ve still got a few games before the finals and if we win all four of those we’re in the eight. If we win three, we’re still a chance. If we lose a couple, well that’s all she wrote. So we’ve got plenty to play for still and we’re not thinking its all dead and buried just yet. No way.

Sure, the last few weeks have been pretty frustrating. We’ve had our fair share of injuries but that’s no excuse. What’s been costing us games is not the fact that we haven’t had our star players on the field. The thing that’s cost us has been the fact that we’ve been making fundamental errors. If you make those errors, sides are going to score tries against you. It’s pretty simple. If sides score a lot of tries against you, you’re behind the eight-ball right there. I think we’ve definitely got the talent to win games of football but we just need to take those errors out of the game.

This week’s game is against the Cowboys. and I’m back from suspension for the match, so I’m happy about that – and hopefully I can help the team a bit! But in general I just think the energy around the place has to lift. One or two players coming back isn’t going to make a difference to that. It has to be something across the board. The coaches can have the greatest game plan, we can train well, everything can be all set up, but the fact is that if the energy on game day isn’t there you will struggle.

You can definitely feel it when a team isn’t up for the game. It’s just something you can sense. It’s a physical game we play and sometimes people’s bodies aren’t as prepared for a match as others are. But the important thing is you have to focus on yourself and make sure you’re up for it yourself. An example would be the game against the Roosters a few weeks ago. We were really up for that game and you could feel it, so we have to get that intensity back.

We had a great start to the season and people have talked about that a bit. But the thing is, if we hadn’t started the season so well, we’d be out of contention for the semis now. You have to look at that in a positive way. That start was fantastic, and gave us the knowledge that we can play like that. But the energy has dropped a bit recently and we have to work to get it back.

We play the Cowboys up at Townsville on Saturday night so we have to travel up there. That trip isn’t too much of a drama, but the Cowboys bounced back last week and got a win against the Bulldogs. They hammered them and they’ll be playing for pride and to avoid the wooden spoon this week. So we’re expecting a tough game and, we’re not taking it lightly in any way.

Last week young Jordan Rankin made his first grade debut. The bloke is 16 years old, so it’s a pretty amazing effort to get to the top grade like that. He’s got a heap of talent and he’s going to be nurtured along, but I feel happy for the kid. I just hope he doesn’t end up taking my spot! No, he’s got a lot of promise and as they say, if you’re good enough, you’re old enough. He’s got a bit of physical building up to do, but full credit to him for cracking first grade so young.

Off the footy field, life on the Gold Coast is going great. It’s warm and we’re loving it here. We just live down the road from the beach so Chloe and I get down there most days with the kids. The kids love it, and so do we. So can’t complain really … we just have to get a few wins on the board in the next few weeks and all will be good.

We won last week as massive underdogs. No one gave us a chance to beat the Roosters and I doubt that even some of our guys sitting in the stands thought we could beat one of the form sides in the comp with a depleted squad.

But we did and that experience, that thrill, that satisfaction is what makes it all worthwhile.

Having said that if we had of lost a tight one I would have hated it the next day when everyone came out and said what a valiant effort from the Titans. To hell with that you don’t play footy to lose games, you play them to win!

It was without a doubt the best win I have had as a Titans player. We had our backs to the wall and we pulled it off. It actually reminded me of the Union World Cup when we beat the All Blacks in the semi-finals. No one gave us a chance that night either.

It was 17 guys being told they had no hope and we pulled it off in a corker of a game.

And how well did Jordan Rapana play! I have seen enough in my time to know when a kid is going to be a special player and I see that talent in Jordan. I don’t think he should ever have to play Under 20s again.

Some guys fail to make the transition to first grade, but Jordan knows how to play the game and play it hard.

I just wish I could judge horses like I can footballers, but horses don’t talk.

Jordan does! Even at training this week he was telling me what to do and that’s not a bad thing. It means he is confident in his own ability.

Speaking of ability, I didn’t really think I was man of the match for the game. I didn’t think I played poorly but I didn’t think it was my best game. I actually thought I played better against the Dragons, but we lost that one.

When I was receiving my man of the match award the guys at Channel 9 were positioning me so they couldn’t see the empty stand in the shot and I instantly thought how bad it would feel to be a Roosters player.

That team is full of stars and is flying high, yet they get a turn out like that. I don’t know what’s going on but Roosters fans need to get out and support their team.

We had fans there who braved the cold, even went shirtless, after traveling down from the Gold Coast. They are true fans and they turn up every week. Titans fans are simply awesome!

On the subject of fans I have been lucky to have good ones all through my career starting at the Sharks and it’s great to see their supporters club in full swing. A mate of mine actually started that up a few years ago and it has grown to huge numbers, which is great for my old club.

This week we will be taking on the Panthers and if we don’t win this game the win against the Roosters will mean very little. But winning is always easier said than done in this competition.

Penrith are a huge side who can put a lot of points on quickly and with the likes of Frank Pritchard, Trent Waterhouse, Tony Puletua and Petero Civoniceva in the pack they will be hard to get over.

Especially Petero, who is playing like a 21 year old again this year and has to be up there for the buy of the season.

As for the big news story of the week I am going to say good on ya Mark Gasnier!

Gaz has every right to take the million dollars on offer in France. If I was in his situation I certainly would. Mark hasn’t got a family and his partner is French. What an opportunity!

He can go to one of the greatest countries on the planet, learn about it from a local and learn a new sport from a great coach in Ewan McKenzie.

I don’t think it will hurt league either. Mark Gasnier is one man in a game of hundreds. I also don’t think it will trigger a player drain of epidemic proportions.

The bottom line is no one blames Harry Kewell for not playing in the A-League. He can make more money elsewhere.

So can Mark Gasnier and the fact he was head-hunted means our game is still producing the best footballers in the world.

Mat

Before I get on to the subject of the Gold Coast Titans I want to commend our game for the way we honour those who have played the game before us.

Last Wednesday before State of Origin III I was at an Origin Captain’s Lunch which had been organised by John Singleton. I was there to represent my late father Steve as he had captained the NSW Blues in 1981.

The man standing on stage with me was none other than Queensland great Wally Lewis, and I was feeling very out of place as the room was full of legends.

What really hit home for me was not only how important the history of the game is and how important those who have helped to make it great are, but it also allowed me to reflect and realise just how much my father did in the sport of rugby league.

It’s easy to get caught up in the week to week grind of footy and not give those before you a second thought, but after that day I have a greater love of the tradition of the sport than I previously did.

Speaking of last Wednesday, what a game Origin III turned out to be with Queensland getting up in what was everything an Origin encounter should be. It was close, there were a few flashes of brilliance and a few flashpoints with the players throwing fists.

One of those moments of brilliance was Israel Folau’s second try and I can’t say enough about what a talent he is. Anthony Quinn would have known exactly who was coming down on him then and, as good as he is, was powerless to stop it.

To say Quinn would be happy not to play his club teammate again this year would probably be accurate.

Obviously being a Queenslander I thought it was the right result but I was disappointed for Scott Prince. I knew straight away he had broken his arm and felt for him, but he should have never run straight off.

I told him at training he should have tucked the broken arm behind him run up and made a hit with the good one and then he would have gone down in history as one of the hardest men in Origin history!

The only downside to the maroons win has been listening to Anthony Laffranchi run around telling everyone we ‘cheated’. I asked him how and he said he had no idea it was just he couldn’t come up with a better excuse.

But that’s ok because Princey keeps inviting him over to his place to see the shield.

On to more serious matters and I have to say the losses of Luke Bailey, Scott Prince, Mark Minichiello and Ashley Harrison have hurt us, but we remain upbeat and know if we can play a full 80 minutes of good footy then we can get the points in any game.

Brad Davis will once again deputise for Princey and he has been doing a good job. Brad knows how to play and has plenty of talent as well as experience and he calls the shots with me helping out a little bit.

A few people have said to me that maybe we should have kept Chris Sandow. Well we didn’t and he has gotten his chance at Souths and all I can say is good luck to him.

We’re looking on the bright side of things with all our current injuries in the sense that we get to blood some great young talent. A lot of the Toyota Cup players have been playing very well and I’m a big fan of Jordan Rapana out on the wing this week.

Jordan has all the size and physical skills to be a top notch first grader and if he ‘gets it’ mentally then he will go a long way in the NRL.

I’m a big fan of the Toyota Cup system, because it gives the kids a chance to show their worth and really help get them ready for first grade. One possible change would be to allow a couple of over 20s who aren’t in first grade to play in those sides.

Just imagine how much the Dragons under 20s could learn and benefit from having Wendell Sailor in the team this weekend!

In another piece of Titans’ news I am sad to hear Billy Johnstone is leaving the club to go back to the Cowboys. Billy is a great bloke and a top notch trainer who ahs helped all of the boys no end. We will miss his skills next season.

This week it’s all about playing 80 minutes of footy if we want to knock off the Roosters. The youngsters all have confidence and their attitude of ‘we don’t care who we’re playing we can win’ has been great for the boys.

Mat

I’m still trying to get my head around the 30-0 scoreline from last night’s Origin game at Suncorp Stadium.

If you asked me were Queensland the better team from start to finish, I would say yes. If you asked me if they were a 30 point better team, then I would say no.

Then again I didn’t think the score reflected the game the first time around either and NSW should have won that game by more than 18-10.

It was an interesting game because from the moment the game started the Maroons looked to be the better side, but they went about their task methodically. They didn’t blitz the Blues over any period they just slowly racked up the points over the course of 80 minutes. It was, at least to me, a strange sort of game.

Still it was one I enjoyed immensely.

It was great to see Scott Prince get the call up he deserved and then for Princey to play well alongside Johnathan Thurston was fantastic to watch.

It wasn’t a game where Princey was the superstar, stamping his authority on it, but more one where he and Thurston were both consummate. I think Princey did well, especially as he played more of the game at second receiver than he probably would have liked.

Like everyone else I believe Greg Inglis is a tremendous talent and it’s hard to disagree with Darren Lockyer when he says “I don’t know of too many more gifted players than him.”

I also thought Karmichael Hunt was huge for Queensland. Starting with Hunt was a massive call and the right one. The way he plays the game with his hard-running physical style, he is tailor made for Origin.

It’s not like Billy Slater isn’t up to it either. I think he is a super player and the way Queensland used both fullbacks last night was spot on.

From my perspective there was a very funny spot in the game where Ryan Hoffman was penalised for holding down Cameron Smith. Smith had his arm around Hoffman’s head wrestling in the ruck. Hoffman then complained to the ref.

I saw the irony in two Storm players wrestling in the ruck area and had a chuckle, as did Nathan Friend, who is my partner when it comes to wrestling training. We reckon they knew exactly what the other was trying to do in that tackle and found it very amusing.

Speaking of the NSW side they would have to make some changes for the final game and I believe Luke Bailey must be considered. ‘Bull’ is playing as well as ever for us and is in my opinion the best prop in the game.

He gives 110% every time he is on the field and never stops doing the little things, which is what you want in a front rower.

Up here on the Gold Coast we are enjoying a break from training until Monday thanks to having the bye this weekend. It gives the boys a chance to rest, but alas no golf for me as my ribs are still a bit sore.

We had a good win on Monday night. It was a depleted Storm team  but a win is a win and I thought we deserved it. We always play well at home and the win has given us some more confidence before we tackle South Sydney.

Despite their position on the ladder Souths can play, just ask the Warriors! We need to be wary of John Sutton who is a very talented player that can cause opposing teams headaches.

I got asked about the high rate of tattoos on players in the Titans squad and am willing to give the lowdown on who I think has the best ones, other than me.

The truth is we live in the tattoo capital of Australia with about 56 tattoo shops in around 17 kilometres and each of the boys basically has a mate who does theirs.

Amongst our team my favourites are on Daniel Conn, who has a panther and tribal ink on his leg and a really intricate tat on his arm. The lion on Princey’s chest is also impressive.

Mat

The return of the Darren Lockyer to the Queensland team has lit the spark for what could potentially be a great Origin 2 in Brisbane next Wednesday.

I think Locky will make a huge difference to the Maroons in that game, but it may not be through what he does when he has the ball, but rather what effect he has on the rest of his teammates.

Everyone will believe Queensland will win the game because Lockyer is there, but the reality is other players in the team will also lift 5-10% because Lockyer is there.

Simply put he is the type of player others want to play for and is a born leader. Lockyer is also the man who assumes the role Andrew Johns had in the game a couple of seasons ago, as the guy who everyone believes will change the course of a series just because of his presence.

And fair enough! Locky has the runs on the board throughout his career and deserves to be recognised as the best player in the game nowadays.

Lockyer also carries an aura around him when he is on the field and it’s one he even had in his younger days when he was a fullback starting out in grade. I remember, I was there; we actually both debuted in the 1995 season.

However when I came back last year and lined up against him again, something was different. His aura had grown and Lockyer the player was now controlling everything and mesmerising  defence.

I remember preparing for the Broncos to attack down our side. Darren was so in control and we were watching him while he was putting other players into space. Just like he did on Friday night when he put Denan Kemp away for the match winning try against Parramatta.

To put it into context, I play five eighth and when I get the ball I am thinking about being rushed and how do I do this? Do I have enough time?

Guys like Lockyer and also Scott Prince simply have that time and do what they like.

Speaking of Princey, I would have loved to have seen him named in the Queensland side this afternoon. I would have been  surprised though as it would be a brave man to drop Johnathan Thurston who played behind a beaten side in game one and I always doubted he would  be dropped.

I’m not just pushing Princey for the sake of it. He has been in stellar form for the last 18 months and certainly would not be out of place in the rep scene. Even last week when he was targeted by the Sharks I think Scott played well and set up a few tries for us.  Watching in the stand I was frustrated when the Sharks snuck away at the end.

I’m happy to see the rise of Anthony Laffranchi continue, with Boof once again being selected for NSW and deservedly so.

I thought Boof was their best forward in the first game. The amount of work he got through off the bench was amazing and he is as good as any back rower I have ever played alongside.

That list includes the likes of Tawera Nikau, Steve Menzies, Les Davidson and Gorden Tallis. Boof has got it all, he is a world class player and on a par with every one of the guys I just mentioned.

Boof goes out there and does his job every week without feeling the need to talk himself up at any stage. He does it with humility and does a lot of extra little things on the field that sometimes go unnoticed. It’s those little things like always backing up that make players great.

John Cartwright is always telling us it is those little things which take a player from being good to great and Boof does all of them.

On a personal note, I was filthy to miss last week’s game after coming back from suspension. I am hoping to be right to go this weekend, but it just depends on how quickly I heal. I have got a small tear across my abdominal oblique’s and it’s making everything I do a bit painful.

I was also happy to see my dad Steve named in the NSW Team of the Century. I actually was asked to represent the family and collect the cap, but I declined due to being a Queenslander. I let my brother do it and am hoping he doesn’t wear it to Northies on the weekends.

There are a few potential suspensions from the weekend’s play and I feel sorry for Justin Hodges, who misses Origin after pleading guilty to his Dangerous Throw charge.

This week will see the return to first grade of Wendell Sailor for the Dragons as they take on his former club Brisbane. The big man has got a start and I think he will perform.

‘The Dell’ loves the big stage!

Speaking of former Rugby teammates I was disappointed for the Waratahs’ boys. For 50 minutes of the Super 14 final they were the better team, but unfortunately they just couldn’t capitalise and were overhauled by the Crusaders.

I really feel sorry for the boys because now they are going to have to start from scratch with a new coaching staff and probably a slightly different roster which is always hard.

At the halfway mark of the season we are in the eight and are playing Melbourne at as good a time as there is. Hopefully we can get a win this weekend.

Mat