The Gold Training Titans under-20s side, like their NRL counterparts, will have several players making their last appearance for the club at Cbus Super Stadium tomorrow and are motivated to finish with a win against the Dragons in front of their home crowd.
After beating six of the current top eight sides – Brisbane, Manly, Sydney Roosters, Canberra and Penrith – the challenge for Ben Woolf’s side is to put in those sort of performances against the lower eight sides.
They are placed 12th and the Dragons are 13th but like the Titans, the Dragons have strung a few wins together in the past two months, including some against some of the top eight.
The Titans’ for-and-against record shows their true form this season, just minus 71 which is better than six other teams. Twice this season they have been beaten by a point and by two points once, and victory in two of them would have them a point out of the eight, and may have sparked more victories.
“We can’t change that but I certainly think one of two wins during that period when we lost nine straight and had injuries could have turned our season around,” said Woolf. “Our goal is to finish the season well, although we have a tough one in the last round against the leaders North Queensland.
“We were great last week and made no errors in first half except going into touch twice when they backed themselves. But the problem is we haven’t been able to win games we should win, and that’s our challenge this week.
“Some of the 20 years old realise they’re time in the Holden Cup is coming to an end and they have to go out there and play Queensland Cup or find their way outside of 20s and that provides some extra motivation to do all we can in these last two weeks – they’re a pretty close knit side.”
Braydon Torpy returns from injury at halfback and will be partnered with Karl Lawton with the Schwass brothers, Daniel and Hayden, heading back to Burleigh Bears in the Intrust Super Cup.
Woolf will be looking for another big performance from prop Oshae Tuiasau who has been tremendous ion the past month and will join the NRL squad net year.
“Oshea has stepped up his game and he has taken it upon himself to stand up and really lead from the front with some inexperienced props doing into the side,” Woolf said.
The Gold Training NYC team is:
1 - Shaun Hudson (capt)
2 – Greg Leleisiuao
3 – Rory Humphreys
4 – Brian Kelly
5 – Tyronne Roberts Davis
6 – Karl Lawton
7 - Brayden Torpy
8 – Oshae Tuiasua
9 – Chris Law
10 - Max Elliott
11 – Rhys Duke
12 – Josh Berkers
13 - Parahi Wilson (capt)
Interchange:
14 – Shane Wright
15 – Anthony Colman
16 – Simione Fatefahi
17 – Jerome Veve
18 – Brayden McGrady
19 – Nathan Watts
