Captains Call: Round 21
Welcome to week 21 of Captains Call.
Where has is gone so wrong for the Titans?
At the start of the season, many of those around the NRL tipped them to push for finals, if not make it. 20 rounds in and they are sitting last by four points with the team above them competing this year with less salary cap.
I was lucky enough to speak to a coach at the Raiders at the start of the year and we spoke about Shannon Boyd going up there. He also spoke to me about a coach they brought down from the Gold Coast and the culture at the Titans. He went on to say there is no drive up there, there’s no fight, it’s a case of do the best you can and the you should be ok. That’s why when the Titans get on the back foot it is extremely rare to see them fight back.
The culture and mentality need to change up there, hopefully the new coach will bring that. What they also need is a competitor, someone who just wants to win and will fight right down to the last second. Love him or not but I think the player the Titans really need to get is Josh Reynolds. May not be the most gifted player but will put the effort in for the whole 80 minutes. He also takes leadership when its needed and as Ryan James has been out most of the season, that would be handy right about now.
I hope the Titans can get their act together because if they don’t, there will be no more Titans.
Let’s review the five from last week.
Jake Granville – 4
Martin Taupau – 9
Victor Radley – 6
Maika Sivo – 5
Brain To’o – 1
Brian To’o and the Panthers were terrible last week. He did manage a line break but not the return you want.
Jake Granville made an easy workhorse. He’s really taking to this full-time hooking role.
Maika Sivo crossed for a try and a line break on his was to a solid five.
Victor Radley didn’t get a workhorse but managed two try assists and two-line breaks on his way to six points.
Best of the week was Martin Taupau with a workhorse, a try and line break. What’s more remarkable was he did it in only 36 minutes.
Let’s preview five for this week and don’t forget to vote or leave a comment below.
Josh Hodgson
Hodgson has really started showing his quality in the last few weeks. He has the Warriors at sixes and sevens and if the Roosters aren’t careful, he could do the same. It’s a big game for the Raiders so expect Hodgson to rise to the occasion.
Paul Vaughan
Vaughan has been playing some big minutes and punching out some big numbers. He got his first double workhorse two weeks ago and was on his was again last week until a dislocated finger brought him off. Against the Titans this week he may even cross the stripe.
Payne Haas
Hass has not missed a workhorse all season. He plays some big minutes for a front rower and I don’t expect that to end this week. Against their rivals the Cowboys, expect Haas to put in a huge performance.
Bronson Xerri
With Graham back, Xerri is looking so much better. If the Panthers aren’t careful, Graham and Xerri will tear their right edge defence right up.
Gareth Widdop
A play maker who has the ability to score tries coming up against the worst team in the comp, need I say more.
Your call
Adam Hewat
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