Gold Coast Titans

Knights pip Titans by a point to secure finals berth

With Kalyn Ponga and Pearce at their inspirational best the Knights climbed to 26 competition points to ensure they will finish seventh for the second consecutive season.

In the early going it was the ninth-placed Titans who had the ascendancy with Phillip Sami crossing after just five minutes courtesy of a Beau Fermor line break.

Seven minutes later Jamal Fogarty landed a penalty goal to make it 6-0 and the Titans looked good but that’s when Ponga stamped his class on the match.

Party like it's 1975: Munster magic takes Storm into record books

The Storm now stand alongside the 1975 Eastern Suburbs side with the longest winning streak of all time but they had to fight back from 10-0 down early to achieve the milestone.

"We didn't put too much energy into thinking about the record but I'm really proud of this group for being able to win 19 in a row," Storm coach Craig Bellamy said.

"That's hard to do in any era I'd imagine but certainly the era we're in now... I'm really proud of the playing group for what they've done.

Life begins at 30 points for record breaking Rabbitohs

It wasn't the only new chapter written in the record books with the rampant Rabbitohs recording 10 straight wins for the first time since the 1989 team coached by George Piggins.

Wayne Bennett’s current crop can now also lay claim to having scored the most points in a season (689 and counting) for the proud foundation club.

And while the typically understated Bennett isn't fussed by statistical achievements, he can sense something special building.

Taylor masterclass steers 'accountable' Titans into eight

Taylor stepped up in the absence of regular halves partner Jamal Fogarty (finger injury) with rookie Toby Sexton again impressive in his second NRL game.

That will give coach Justin Holbrook a headache next week with Fogarty set to be available but no guarantee of an immediate recall.

"He'll be fit, I'm not too sure (if he'll play)," Holbrook said.

"I'm really happy with the way Toby's played, I'll have to have a think about that."

Warriors kick-start season with win

The first daytime kick-off of the new season happened in 30C temperatures, which brought the NRL's heat rule into force. Players were allowed a drinks-break midway through each half.

It took 25 minutes for the first points to emerge. And it came via new signing, former Rabbitoh Bailey Sironen, with Kodi Nikorima converting.

Titans re-sign Holbrook until end of 2024

Holbrook has recommitted to the club until the end of 2024 to ensure he is not caught up in the code's annual coaching merry-go-round.

The rookie mentor was already signed for another 12 months on his original Titans contract but as revealed by NRL.com earlier this month, the club was proactive in starting negotiations early with their coach.

His new three-year deal binds the club and coach together longer than any of his contemporaries in the most cut-throat of businesses.

NRL players stood down for refusing flu jab

The NRL, which suspended its 2020 season in March at the start of the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak, is planning to resume matches behind closed doors on 28 May and had asked players to have the flu shots as part of biosecurity protocols.

Three players at the Titans club in the south of Queensland were among those who refused and the state's chief health officer Jeannette Young said they had been stood down.

"I've had a discussion with [the NRL] this morning and they've stood down those three players at the moment until we work out what it means," she told reporters.

Gold Coast turn to 'chippies' as Ash Taylor ruled out

With a challenging three-week stretch on the road coming on the back of an ill-disciplined 21-0 loss to the Raiders on Sunday night, Brennan will put his faith in two carpenters in a restoration project of a different kind.
Scans on Monday confirmed that Roberts will miss up to three weeks with an Achilles tendon strain while Taylor's 2019 campaign won't commence until round three at the earliest as he spends another week recovering from a quadriceps injury.

‘Disappointing’, ‘dumb’, ‘schoolboy stuff’: Garth Brennan blasts Titans after loss to Cowboys

Following a 54-8 hammering at the hands of St George Illawarra back in round three, the Titans looked to have turned a corner to win two of their next three games against Brisbane and Manly.

But all that good work was brought undone at 1300 Smiles Stadium, as the Cowboys went on to break their five-game losing streak.

Boyle inspired by famous father's tough love

The 21-year-old forward is the son of rugged former Canberra Raiders utility David Boyle, who played 117 games for the Green Machine in the 1990s.

"I talk to Dad before and after games and he says I’ve got to take it more personally and be more aggressive on the field," Boyle told NRL.com.

"He wants me to hit more with my shoulder and bring the old style back in.