The Gold Coast Bulletin

Sell-out Cbus gives fans taste of things to come

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BELIEF is strong that the Titans can turn Cbus Stadium into a cauldron next year on the back of Saturday’s sold-out clash with the Cowboys to farewell Johnathan Thurston.

The key lesson from the Gold Coast hosting 26,681 fans – their biggest crowd in more than nine years at an NRL game – will be building on the vibe for next season.

As Coast footy fans on the way home waited in queues for the trains and buses, the discussion was not just about the football but the roar inside the Robina stadium when both northern and southern stands behind the posts are full.

Many experts believe the Titans will charge into the finals next year, bringing the success that is likely to boost regular home crowds over the 20,000 mark.

“It’s great,” said former Titans foundation football manager Scott Sattler.

“We haven’t seen long time.

“You have to be the hottest ticket in town on the Gold Coast. It’s like being the best it for a restaurant on a Saturday night, where everyone books a week ahead.

“And the only way is by winning, by being courageous and doing the jersey proud and having a community feel.”

Sattler was at Suncorp Stadium for the Broncos farewell game to Sam Thaiday on Sunday where he met supporters who talked up the “cauldron” experience at Cbus.

Fans on the Gold Coast Titans Fan Club page on Facebook posted about their excitement about next season after the last two games against the Melbourne Storm and Cowboys were rated as the team’s best efforts.

The only downside from Saturday night was the handful of empty seats in some sections where members had failed to arrive or visitors did not turn up.

Sattler told the Bulletin: “They said it was a sellout. There were empty seats everywhere. I think everyone stopped buying them.”

BULLETIN VIEW P16

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