Gold Coast Titans flew out Friday morning with one thing in mind ‘bring back the championship ring’
The Gold Coast Titans prepare for the game of their lives and the team couldn’t be more ‘pumped’ according to winger Karina Brown.
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The Gold Coast Titans prepare for the game of their lives and the team couldn’t be more ‘pumped’ according to winger Karina Brown.
The Titans flew out Friday morning, bound for Sydney as they prepare to come back with extra luggage on Monday.
Brown said it’s an unbelievable feeling to have made a grand final and the team is going for gold.
“I thought the rain would have scared a few people off but it was great to have a few hundred people there (at training),” Brown said.
“It is great to see what it means to the community, it gives a purpose for us to play for come Sunday.
“We had a big win against Canberra and a great win [against the Roosters] but we’re not done yet.
“I think last week instilled all the self-belief we’re going to need to take us over the line.’
The Titans landed in Sydney shortly after midday and were straight into more preparation for Sunday’s big day.
Hooker Brittany Breayley-Nati said she is trying to keep a level head and calmness for the group.
“I am just one of the experienced players of the group, I have played in two grand finals and been privilege enough to win one,” Breayley-Nati said.
“But footy is simple at the end of the day and if I bring that calmness into the group then we will be come away with the win.
“I love being the underdog coming into games, against the Roosters we were the underdog and we came out fighting and walked away with that (win).
“We have had a big focus on doing things for ourselves, and the focus was on us this week as well as last week.
“If we can remain within the inner circle, then we will get the job done.”
Dispite being in a moon boot at the airport on Friday, Breayley-Nati said she was going to be fit to play.
Created history already, the Titans have broken the Gold Coast ‘curse’ making the clubs first ever grand final.
Centre Jamie Chapman said she was excited but she’ll celebrate after the game on Sunday.
“We’ve got to stay complacent … we want to stick to our structures, stick to what we do, stick to what we know … we’re history makers now so that’s exciting,” she said.
The Titans will take on Newcastle Knights on Sunday, October 1st at 2.55pm
History making Titans chase ultimate glory
The Titans have made history but halfback Lauren Brown said they are not done with yet.
Gold Coast defeated Sydney Roosters on Sunday in the first week of the finals to book a spot in the clubs first grand final.
Brown, who played the full 70 minutes of the 12-0 win, said the Titans will now look to channel the emotions as they prepare for the grand final.
“We celebrated quite a bit after the game, and everyone was really emotional, such a great feeling,” Brown said.
“But after we channelled everything and now it is back to what we do and what we need to focus on as well.
“It was very special at full time, just knowing how hard fought the game was and the grind was.
“We stuck to what we had done all year and really proud of the girls for not getting bored or giving up.
“Especially in that early stage of the game where it was a bit of a grind back and forth.”
The Titans opened the scoring in the 28th minute mark with a try from Brittany Breayley-Nati and converted by Rilee Jorgensen giving them a 6-0 lead at half time.
It took just 10 minutes into the second half before the Titans scored again through a penalty kick by Jorgensen to convert her second goal of the day.
Destiny Mino-Sinaptai sealed they match with a try in the 64th minute, giving the Titans a 12-0 lead.
It has been an incredible turn around for the Titans who claimed the wooden spoon in 2022 to now be in the big dance.
“We have definitely built at the right time of the season, started well, then lost a few mid season and then we regrouped and regathered right before the finals,” Brown said.
“No one wants to get the wooden spoon and that was in the forefront of our minds.
“We did extra pre-season sessions, extra skills, giving yourself every chance to get into the grand final.
“We do have a really good mix of youth and experience in the group which is really exciting and a good balance.
“We will stay together as a group and stay focused, same week, same prep, nothing changes heading into the final.”
The Titans will take on the Newcastle Knights on Sunday October 1 at 2:55pm.
The Knights won the wooden spoon in 2021 and turned their club around and won the premiership in 2022.
It is a feature that the Titans will be hoping they can achieve as well.
Gold Coast kept the Roosters scoreless for the first time this season, a focus that Jaime Chapman said was what they had worked on during the week.
“We are history makers now and that is exciting, it is definitely something we were speaking about at training,” Chapman said.
“Murph (coach Karyn Murphy) said we needed to win by our defence and defence wins games.
“So that was what we definitely stuck to and it showed on the scoreboard.
“Our team culture is really good, we are such good friends on and off the field and that is a key reason to our success this season.”
Originally published as Gold Coast Titans flew out Friday morning with one thing in mind ‘bring back the championship ring’
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