Gold Coast Titans out to break losing Wollongong hoodoo

LESSONS learnt from their own dark days have given Titans coach John Cartwright an insight into how to break a 23-year hoodoo in Wollongong.

LESSONS learnt from their own dark days have given Titans coach John Cartwright an insight into how to break a 23-year hoodoo of Gold Coast rugby league teams in Wollongong.

The Titans have confronted many demons this year, most notably the financial debacle which almost sent the club bankrupt, but they've pulled together as a team to claim four wins in their past five games and climb back towards the verge of the top eight.

But that resilience will again be tested tonight as they travel to Wollongong, where no Gold Coast team has won since 1989, to play St George Illawarra with William Zillman (back), Matthew White (virus) and Beau Champion (ankle) joining NSW Origin star Greg Bird (pec) and Luke Bailey (ribs) in the casualty ward.

Cartwright doesn't read too much into the lack of success at WIN Stadium. His Titans have only ever played there on three occasions, but he senses an opportunity to end that drought tonight with the Dragons struggling for form with just one win in their past six games.

"If we can put them under some pressure, they're the ones that are going to be having some doubts," Cartwright said.

"We went through it earlier in the year, when you're losing you can train as good as you like but if you don't edge forward on the scoreboard those self doubts creep in."

Cartwright praised the attitude of the group to persevere through the hard times when creditors were preparing to make the Titans bankrupt and the ARL Commission was on standby to intervene.

Much like their on-field form, those dark off-field issues have made way for a brighter future and the club is only focused on the finals chase.

"It was a major thing, it's out of the way now and that will help us move forward for sure," he said.

"Results weren't going our way early but we stayed positive and I can see them getting tighter and tighter as a group. We want to be in a position to threaten. We're not there yet but a win this weekend will certainly help us."

Dom Peyroux, Phil Graham and Steve Michaels will come into the Titans side tonight, with Michaels finally getting to play his 100th NRL game seven years after his first grade debut for Brisbane in 2005.

Michaels has endured a rocky career due to injury, but the 24-year-old feels like he is finally starting to get back to his best.

"It's been a while since my debut when I was 18, but I've finally got there and I'm happy to do it with the Titans," Michaels said.

"I've had my share of injuries and in and out of first grade a bit so you could say it was a rocky road to getting my 100th game.

"Everyone has their setbacks and I wasn't going to give up.

"It's unfortunate it has come through injury to other boys but I will take my chance and play every game like it's my last."