Titans eyeing historic NRL home final - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Titans eyeing historic NRL home final

By Tony Bartlett 12/08/2009 12:34:32 PM Comments (0)

Gold Coast hooker Nathan Friend believes a win over South Sydney on Friday night should be just about enough to clinch the Titans an NRL home final.

The Titans are sitting in third place on the ladder ahead of their trip to ANZ Stadium, five points ahead of fifth-placed Penrith with four rounds remaining.

Friend said it would be great to play a final at home, knowing how vocal the fans get at Skilled Park.

"But first and foremost just to be in the finals is a big achievement on behalf of the club, from Searly (chief executive Michael Searle) right through to the playing staff," Friend told reporters on Wednesday.

"We certainly need a home semi to get as much support as we can to get over the line.

"We've got a pretty good differential at the moment. I think from five to 12 there's only one or two points amongst the guys.

"To be five clear at this stage, it's a good buffer to have and we've got a couple more home games coming up so if we can get over Souths on the weekend we should be close enough to manage a (top four) spot."

Coach John Cartwright said while there's been a lot of outside speculation about the Titans' chances of making the semis, it's not something the players have been talking about.

"People are saying we've made the semis but that's definitely not been said within our four walls," he said.

Friend said Friday night's game against the Rabbitohs will be a big test of both teams.

"They'll be playing with a lot of confidence," he said.

"And it's going to be a tough road trip for us, but we got a lot of confidence out of our road trip last weekend against the Warriors and we trained pretty confidently yesterday and there's no reason why we can't back up that showing this week."

Friend racks up 100 NRL games this week.

"I was very excited to play my first NRL game and I'll be much the same come Friday night in Sydney," he said.

And with wife Kelly giving birth to their second son Oliver last week, Friend said he has plans for the jersey he'll be wearing.

"I'll send it home to Mum, she's got the wall of fame at home.

"At the present it probably doesn't seem too significant, but Mum will iron it and put it away and once my boys get a little bit older I might pull it out and show them - they might appreciate it."

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