TITANS IN TOWN
Gold Coast’s Ash Taylor is coming home
TOOWOOMBA’S bid to host a Gold Coast Titans home game next year is signed, sealed and delivered.
With the Commonwealth Games taking over Cbus Super Stadium, the Titans will take two NRL home games to regional Queensland during the 2018 season.
The region has already successfully hosted two NRL trial matches as part of the Western Mustangs’ affiliation with the Gold Coast club.
“While we were making sure a trial match would still go ahead they (Gold Coast) turned around and offered an NRL fixture match,” Western Mustangs chairman Paul Reedy said.
“We grabbed the opportunity with both hands.”
Toowoomba Regional Council partnered with the State Government to bring the historic NRL game to Toowoomba.
“We have been pushing very hard for it happen, along with the Toowoomba Regional Council who without their help it would not have happened,” Reedy said.
Queensland’ tourism and major events minister Kate Jones said the game would be a huge drawcard for the region.
“With the Titans losing a number of home games we thought why don’t we look at putting some of their games on the road to regional parts of Queensland,” she said.
With a number of NRL players hailing from regional areas like Gold Coast halfback Ash Taylor who played for the U16 and U18 Toowoomba Clydesdales before moving to the Brisbane Broncos U20s system, the game is sure to draw a large crowd.
“It would be great if it’s an opening round in March,” Reedy said.
He said it would guarantee fans a chance to see Gold Coast stars Jarryd Hayne, Ash Taylor and Jarrod Wallace in action.
Details on the 2018 NRL draw are limited, however Reedy expects to fill Clive Berghofer Stadium, which can hold 9000 people.