Titans boss fires back at Tallis - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Titans boss fires back at Tallis

By Wayne Heming 10/09/2009 06:32:59 PM Comments (0)

Gold Coast boss Michael Searle has fired back at Broncos great Gorden Tallis for criticising the Titans forwards and accusing the club of being selfish not shifting their historic qualifying final against Brisbane to Suncorp Stadium.

Former international Tallis put himself offside with Gold Coast fans this week with his "tiny Titans" dig at their forwards, led by NSW Origin prop Luke Bailey.

He also felt the fledgling club, who have made the finals for the first time in their third season, had denied thousands of league fans the opportunity to watch the game by playing it at Skilled Park when Suncorp Stadium, with twice the capacity, was available.

"I respect Gorden and his opinions but clearly I think he is wrong on this occasion," Searle said on Thursday.

"Our forwards are a fiery mob. They may not be the biggest men but neither was Trevor Gillmeister who is their tutor."

Searle attempted to turn the tables by suggesting it could be the bigger Broncos forwards left struggling when Scott Prince, Preston Campbell and Mat Rogers, if he plays, up the tempo around the ruck.

"It'll be a very quick game on the night," said Searle.

"It will be very interesting to see how the big men handle the fast track."

Tallis didn't blame clubs for being blinkered about home finals, saying with all revenue going to the NRL, all they cared about was winning.

Asked if the Titans considered shifting the game to Brisbane's 53,000-seat Suncorp Stadium home ground, Searle fired back: "Not for a minute.

"Not even for a second, not even for a nano-second.

"There's no way in the world you give this up.

"The political correctness about people moving games has been rife in the last couple of weeks.

"The one thing the McIntyre (finals) system gives the top four sides is a home ground advantage in week one.

"Hopefully week two we will be at Suncorp."

The Titans, who are 3-3 against Brisbane in their brief history, dropped only one of their 12 games at Skilled Park this year.

But Searle said the Titans' imposing home record wouldn't count for anything on Saturday.

"We could play it at Suncorp, we could play it at nearby Beenleigh Park and the boys would be on.

"It's one of those things that doesn't happen very often, finals football in Queensland and to have us and the Broncos playing in it is a great time for Queensland and for rugby league in this area."

The Titans will make fitness calls on Rogers (hamstring) and centre Brett Delaney (hamstring) at training on Friday.

Searle said fans had got behind the team, with the Gold Coast re-named Titans Town for the finals.

"It's been a massive week, everyone from the local butcher through to the casino lit up in Titans colours, which says a lot to our players about the magnitude of the game they are going into," he said.

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