Flashback: 10 years since the Titans drew first blood at home against the Penrith Panthers

THE Gold Coast Titans will hit the field tonight ready to take on the Sydney Roosters for round one of the National Rugby League season. It also marks 10 years since the Titans played their first home game.

Gold Coast Titans vs. Penrith Panthers at Gold Coast Stadium — Scott Prince at the end of the game.

THE Gold Coast Titans will hit the field at Cbus Super Stadium tonight ready to take on the Sydney Roosters for round one of the National Rugby League season.

Led by co-captains Ryan James and Kevin Proctor and featuring superstar Jarryd Hayne, the Titans are the most confident they have been for a season opener in years.

Gold Coast Titans 2017 co-captains Kevin Proctor and Ryan James … Photo: David Clark

Tonight they will carry the memory of the club’s historic first win at home — in a trial match against Penrith — a decade ago this weekend.

It was March 2007, two years after NRL chief executive David Gallop announced the Gold Coast would enter the competition.

The Titans watched on as the games was played.

It had been nearly a decade since the city’s previous national rugby league team, the Gold Coast Chargers had failed and the new team had a lot riding on its success.

The Titans played two trial games away from home in February that year. The club’s second-string side lost 32-6 to the Melbourne Storm at Coffs Harbour, but bounced back with its top stars, including inaugural co-captains Luke Bailey and Scott Prince, to defeat Parramatta 22-10 in Lismore.

Preston Campbell scored off a Scott Prince grubber kicks and was congratulated by Chris Walker.

The Titans then returned home for their final trial match against Penrith at the old Gold Coast Stadium at Carrara as the new Robina stadium was still a year away from completion.

More than 13,457 fans packed the stadium that Friday night, later described as a “lovefest” as Titans star Mat Rogers proposed to his girlfriend, Chloe Maxwell, surfing champion Joel

Chloe Maxwell showed off the engagement ring she received from Mat Rogers at the game Pic: Glenn Hampson.

Parkinson talked of love of family and football and the Gold Coast met their team formally for the first time on the field.

Yesterday, the dual international Rogers, who played in that last trial match, told the Bulletin he looked back fondly on the night.

“It was a great night and was a win-win because Chloe said yes and we are still happily married today and the Titans won the game,” he said.

Scott Prince and Mat Rogers were all smiles after the game.

“Like all relationships you have good times and tough times and the Titans have been through the same but now everyone is doing great and we are all the better for it.

“It is hard to believe it has been 10 years. It feels like just yesterday but there is the expression that life is like a toilet roll, the longer it goes, the faster it gets.”

Luke Bailey scored in the corner.

While there were no competition points on offer at the Carrara game, the event was an important turning point for the team.

“Finally, it’s real, isn’t it?” managing director Michael Searle whispered to colleagues as he looked out over the field.

Luke Bailey put in a powerful performance.

Mr Parkinson, who attended the game with his wife Monica and daughter Evie, was ecstatic.

“Look at the fans, this is what it is all about,” he said.

“The first game I ever went to was the Gold Coast Seagulls versus the Broncos way back in the early ’90s and Wally Lewis was playing for the Seagulls.

Mat Rogers scored a try and was congratulated by Richie Mathers.

“I just love being a rugby league fan. I am just like the rest of the people here. We wanted a team back on the Gold Coast and here we have it. It is actually very emotional.”

Among the players to show their power during the game was Preston Campbell, who was playing just his second match in the role of interchange utility.

Matt Hilder was in the inaugural side at the home game.

He scored the first try and set up a try for Chris Walker to give the Titans a 12-0 lead at halftime.

The Titans picked up where they left off after the break, running in another three tries to win the game.

Coach John Cartwright was elated with the 28-6 result.

A decade on from that night, the Titans are ready to win again.

Titans Coach John Cartwright watching his boys play.