Home a fortress in Titans’ finals push

emma.greenwood@news.com.au 2018 COMMONWEALTH GAMES HOST CITY as they attempt to embark on a run that will push them back into the top eight.

A winning home run would reverse recent fortune for the Titans, who have won only one of their four matches at Cbus this season and have not had a record better than 50 per cent since 2013, when they won seven of their 11 games at Robina and missed the finals by just one place.

Former Titan Mat Rogers, who played 77 games for the Titans between 2007-2011, said winning at home was vital if the Titans were to return to the finals. Rogers played in the club’s 2009 and 2010 finals campaigns – efforts built on the back of a dominant home record – and said this year’s squad had to “lift to another level” at Robina if they were to repeat last year’s success.

The dual international admitted better crowds in the early years spurred the Titans at home but said the current team had to lift regardless if they were to be successful.

“When we were winning those games in 2009 and 2010, the average crowd was up around 20,000, so you certainly got excited about playing at home,’’ Rogers said.

“But I think the guys showed they’ve got the mental toughness to win anywhere on the weekend.

“Without wanting to offend anyone, they’ve just got to get tougher at home, they’ve got to lit to another level when they’re playing at home.

“If you can win all your home games – or the majority of your homes games and jag a few on the road – you’re playing finals football.

“You can’t afford to lose your home games. It’s your place, you’re in your comfort zone but you’ve got to lift.

“And it’s something we’ve got to do if we’re fair dinkum.”

As well as the games at Robina, the Titans meet Melbourne as part of a doubleheader also featuring Brisbane and Manly at Suncorp Stadium next month, with their furthest foray from the Coast in their clash against the Cowboys in Townsville in Round 13. Form forward Jarrod Wallace agreed spending the next month in Queensland was something the Titans had to take advantage of.

“It’ll be good but obviously you can’t take (wins) for granted,’’ he said.

“We’re lucky we get to play in the double-header at Suncorp which will be a good environment. We’ve got the week off next week (during rep round) to freshen up and it’s always a good trip to Townsville, they always get a good crowd up there too.”