Round 11
Gold Coast Titans 25 d. South Sydney Rabbitohs 18

2007 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Aus_NZ > National > First Grade Competition: NRL Telstra Premiership

Titans return to winners circle holding out Rabbitohs
Sat May 26, 2007
Gold Coast have returned to the winners circle after three successive losses defeating South Sydney 25-18 who have slumped to their 4th loss on the trot.

In front of a strong crowd at Gold Coast's Carrara Stadium the tide of the match flowed with Titans halfback Scott Prince being the difference between the two sides.

New Titans import Josh Lewis created the first try with a well-timed grubber kick for former Rabbitoh Mark Minichiello to score. Mat Rogers converted from wide out for the Titans to lead 6-0.

Souths leveled up in the 13th minute when Jeremy Smith scored a controversial benefit of the doubt try when it was ruled he gained some force in grounding the ball following a deft kick into the in-goal by Joe Williams who converted the try to level up the scores.

Brett Delaney crossed for the Titans second try, which was again scored from a kick where he won the race to the ball after Reece Simmonds fumbled a bomb from Lewis. Rogers added the extras and Gold Coast held onto the 12-6 lead until the half-time break.

Fetuli Talanoa got Souths the ideal start to the second half with a try three minutes after the break and Williams successful conversion again leveled up the scores.

Prince took control of the match and tries in the 48th and 72nd minutes allowed the Titans to take a 12-point lead heading into the final stages of the clash.

Simmonds put Souths back within a chance of stealing the match with a try in the 74th minute, which was converted by Williams bringing them within a converted try.

Any chance the Rabbitohs had of stealing the match was taken away in the 77th minute when Souths forward Jaiman Lowe was sent off for a king hit on Titans centre Brett Delaney when Souths were in possession of the ball. The Rabbitohs had the momentum and that one moment was the breathing space the Titans needed.

The incident has been compared by Prince to the one where former Melbourne forward Danny Williams received 18 weeks for an unprovoked attack on Prince's former Wests Tigers team-mate Mark O'Neill in 2004.

A last minute drop-goal to Lewis sealed victory for the Titans and keeps their finals hopes alive.

The loss by the Rabbitohs nows put them in a wooden spoon shoot out with the Dragons, Bulldogs and resurgent Roosters.


Mellor returns for Rabbitohs clash against Titans
Tue May 22, 2007
Source: www.souths.com.au

The South Sydney Rabbitohs are pleased to announce their side to take on the Gold Coast Titans in round 11 of the NRL Telstra Premiership this Saturday, 26 May at 7:30pm at Carrara Stadium.

Reece Simmonds will line up at fullback with Paul Mellor returning to the wing. Scott Geddes has been named as 18th man.

The Rabbitohs NRL side is:

1. Reece Simmonds
2. Nathan Merritt
3. Nigel Vagana
4. Shannon Hegarty
5. Paul Mellor
6. Jeremy Smith
7. Joe Williams
8. Peter Cusack (c)
9. Daniel Irvine
10. Roy Asotasi (c)
11. Luke Stuart
12. David Fa'alogo
13. Dean Widders

Interchange:
14. Shane Rigon
15. Joe Galuvao
16. Manase Manuokafoa
17. Jaiman Lowe
18. Scott Geddes
(one to be omitted)

Coach - Jason Taylor

News sent by: www.souths.com.au

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