Official Match Day Thread: Roosters v Titans

[Thirteen]

Our destiny is in our own hands. Keep the focus and we finish top 2 and earn a home semi. It’s all up to us. Titans can be hot and cold. Let’s not be complacent.

Defence is key today. Keep them to a low score and build momentum
going into the semis. No soft tries and no soft marker defence.

Welcome back JWH.

Kick off 2pm.

GO ROOSTERS!

[roosterproud]

Looks like a sell out at Titties stadium.

[Waylander]

Huge opportunity today. Jazz will keep us focused. His leadership is under valued.

Smash through their middle. Keep Khan-Pereira out. No injuries or suspensions.

‘Carn the Mighty Chooks!!

[Jacks Fur Coat]

Stage is set for us to play some entertaining footy today. Arvo game, fine weather , away strip, strong line-up.

Once we get that good yardage and quick play the balls from our tall timber backs and great middles rotation, we should score plenty of points. Let's see how many we can also turn back, and limit those "soft" tries we have been giving up.

We'll miss Connors workload and energy, underrated contributor this year. Sandon gets some gametime which is good to see. And ZDC gets a rare opportunity.

Verrils and Isaac know our systems well, but we should be ok. Huge Jayden Campbell fan, must be watched.

Having JWH back and Spence off the pine should keep our energy levels high, and kill any complacency hopefully.

[Bates]

It'd be nice to be in the top 2 after this round. We need to be switched on for the full 80 minutes.

Up the Chooks.

[BTRD]

Titans are very ' ass y '. Defend well Roosters.

And no hog plays this week. Pass to your mate. There is no ' I ' in team.

GO ROOSTERS.

[rented tracksuit]

Our destiny starts today.

Go git em boys!

[Waylander]

Titans are very ' ass y '. Defend well Roosters.

And no hog plays this week. Pass to your mate. There is no ' I ' in team.

GO ROOSTERS.

No, but there’s a “me” if you look hard enough.

[fletch]

Interested to see how the attack looks with Sandon Smith or ZDC at hooker, also the Titans can be such an inconsistent team who knows if we get the good or putrid version of them today they also have enough speed outwide to trouble us if we are not switched on defensively.

[ism22]

Damn I hope we can keep our nerves together and just do the job with this one.

In the tradition of a good old Jizzy anecdote, I won my local parkrun yesterday against a field of weekend warriors (some quite competitive - including a bunch of 17-25 year olds who clearly had youth on their side).

I went out way too fast in order to make a point and got a lot of weird looks from a group of sharply dressed youngsters who were clearly used to being the front group, jostling for places (got the old gen-z 'looolz okay boomer, have your 200m of fame, then step aside for the pros, you stupid amateur'). I knew I'd gone out a little bit fast but I also knew myself and simply didn't wanna get tied up in a close competition with a stack of energetic youngsters.

First downhill stretch came about 600m in and the group passed me, while a few laughed, noting I'd killed myself on the first hill. I ignored them. Then come the second uphill section (about 1km in) I decided to blow them away. That I did (by again going a little bit too fast)... and then I held my target pace on the downhill. It was tempting to look back for the next km or so, but I was hitting my target pace and couldn't hear any other footsteps so I just held my target pace as I felt comfortable.

It was a 'there and back' run so at about the 3km mark I saw the group of jostlers about 2 minutes behind me (all competing with each other). It was at about this moment that I (unfortunately) took my foot off the gas as I realised it was only 1.5km to go and nobody was gonna catch me.

My final 1.5km involved high-fiving all the other runners/walkers/others as they ran towards the half way mark. This was pretty much like winning an Olympic gold medal [jokes] so I just sucked it in and cruised to the finish line.

Finish time was still low 17's (roughly a minute ahead of the next group) but I was aiming for mid-16's (was tracking for 15's at the start) at minimum and coulda done it if I'd stuck to my game so I was a little disappointed with myself but end of the day it's a fun run and I got the job done comfortably. I chatted with the main group of competitors afterwards (plus a local politician, who I politely refused a photo opportunity with) and we recalled some war stories about battling it out over the first kilometre. Love was shared, hands were shaken and we parted ways as friends.

Went and got a coffee and pancakes afterwards before jogging home. Was fun as other runners started packing out the cafe and looking over at me saying 'oi that's the guy who won it!!!' There was a sparkle in my eye as I shoved those sweeet sweet pancakes down my throat and washed them down with a flat white. If we were in Italy, I may well have had a glass of Prosecco instead of a coffee (or asked my barista to give me a few shots of grappa).

---

My advice to the Roosters? I wanna see you pace yourselves like I did today. Rev that engine a little harder than usual in the first 1/4 so that you can make them know you're serious. Then... steady the ship and hold a steady pace right up to the 3/4 mark. From there you can take JWH and co off the field and cruise over the line as the job's done and there's no point picking up injuries/suspensions purely so that you can further your PD.

The Titans are a young, cheeky team and if you get caught in a battle with them you may not win!!! As such, set your own pace early on by asserting yourself. Don't play their game... set the pace like a pro. This includes ignoring any temptation to do a big hit on that flog who backflipped on us. Fark the media's hype. He just used us to up his price after slacking around and being inconsistent. Titans have already been played and Gussie's form speaks for itself, so thanks for igniting the fire within him, Davo!!!

I'd wish the boys good luck but they don't need it. Please play well and don't fark around. Jizzy's signing out to do his 29km Sunday run before the game. Peace out fans!!!!

[roosterproud]

so today post game the Titans are closing off half the field and setting up for the crowd players and explayers to congratulate Keiren Forans 301 games. worth hanging around for.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

Ism22...keep your long personal monologues for the Off Topic section at least. Don't smash the gameday thread, thanks.

[King Salvo]

The Roosters will need to be on their game today as the Titans are no easy beats on their day and similar to Canberra - both can beat anyone and lose to anyone depending on what team turns up.

[BraveTheWorld]

About to head off to the game. Section 21 row 27 seats 7-9 if anyone is keen on saying hello.

Enjoy the game, everyone. Titans will be better than they have been over the past few weeks, and Kini is a fun. Have to be careful of their pace on the edges. Roosters by 20, Manu MotM.

[Mickie Lane]

Go the Chooks