Keegan Hipgrave fails concussion test, will miss Gold Coast’s clash with Roosters
GOLD Coast have been dealt a blow after fiery forward Keegan Hipgrave was ruled out of Sunday’s clash with the Roosters due to concussion.
Titans
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THE Titans have been dealt another setback ahead of Sunday’s clash with the Roosters, with enforcer Keegan Hipgrave ruled out of the showdown.
The Gold Coast will be without their first-choice forward pack yet again, after aggressive workhorse Hipgrave failed to pass a concussion test.
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The former Broncos under-20s gun suffered a head knock last week against his former club and has failed to recover in time for the Titans’ must-win match at Cbus Super Stadium today.
Will Matthews is expected to move into the starting side to replace Hipgrave, while Morgan Boyle or Leilani Latu will come onto the bench.
After last week losing Jarrod Wallace and Jai Arrow to Origin duties, it’s another test for the club’s forward depth against the Roosters.
But Arrow said despite the continual setbacks, the Gold Coast have not given up on their finals hopes.
The side’s disappointing 34-0 loss to the Broncos saw the Titans slip eight points outside the top eight, and they now need a miracle to play in this year’s finals series given how competitive the race to September has become.
Arrow is confident the club have that ability, even if they must turn around their fortunes immediately.
“That’s what this entire group has been about this year,” he said of the belief in the club.
“When (coach) Garth (Brennan) came to the club he told us we’re the Titans of new, not the Titans of old. He wanted us to be a team that never gave up and a team that always believed. I think we are.
“We’re starting to build combinations there that I think can go on for the future. We just need to go back, enjoy our footy and hopefully that rolls onto the field and we are chasing the finals.”
There is no denying the Titans have a tough run over the next eight weeks, starting with today’s clash with the Roosters.
They will also come up against the Warriors, Panthers and Storm, who are all sitting in the top eight, and will finish their season against the Cowboys, who will be pushing to send retiring playmaker Johnathan Thurston out on a high note.
Originally published as Keegan Hipgrave fails concussion test, will miss Gold Coast’s clash with Roosters