Gold Coast Titans Flashback: 11 years since John Cartwright’s team got smashed by Manly

It was 11 years ago today that the Gold Coast Titans had one of their best performances despite being crushed 34-14 by Manly. It was a bad night for the Titans after star Mark Minichiello was injured.

GOLD COAST BULLETIN

Saturday July 5, 2008

FOR almost 70 minutes the Gold Coast Titans looked every chance of toppling the competition leaders, after 80 they headed to the sheds 34-14 losers and with at least one other player looking at a long stretch in the casualty ward.

Those that looked at the score would think the Titans were comfortably belted but it couldn’t be further from the truth.

Gold Coast Bulletin, Saturday July 5, 2008

Midway through the second half the Titans led 14-12 and had all the momentum but a couple of defensive misreads and some bad luck late in the game swung the pendulum and Manly went rampant over the final minutes.

In a double blow, in-form backrower Mark Minichiello, who has played every game for the Titans, was rushed from the field with a serious ankle injury late in the match.

Coach John Cartwright said the injury “doesn’t look good” and while proud of his charges’ efforts was furious they let a winning game slip to a whopping 20 point loss.

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Teenagers were in the firing line that day.

“For 70 minutes of it yeah, at the 70-minute mark probably a bit of class came in and got them to the front”.

“I thought we were still in the game and firing away but for a couple of long range tries.”

Cartwright said “everything was going smooth” until Jamie Lyon crossed after Titans winger Brenton Bowen got a horror bounce from a Matt Orford kick in the 63rd minute to give the Sea Eagles back the lead.

After that bad luck the Titans capitulated.

“They drilled us when they poked their noses in front.”