DIEHARD
05-06-09, 01:12 PM
No Blue jokes from Harrison
Luke Turgeon and Daniel Meers
MAROONS backrower Ashley Harrison will resist the temptation to shout `Queenslander' around Titans training today when he reunites with Blues rivals Anthony Laffranchi and Luke Bailey to prepare for the Dragons on Monday.
The three Gold Coast State of Origin representatives have been given the all clear to take on competition leaders St George Illawarra at Skilled Park after a typically bruising series opener in Melbourne on Wednesday.
Harrison returns to the Coast with the spoils of victory but said he won't be rubbing the 28-18 Queensland win in the face of his Titans teammates.
"No, I don't think so," said Harrison when asked if he might dish out the famous Maroon battle cry around the club's Runaway Bay base. "We are straight back into it and become teammates again.
"Now it is all about playing St George on Monday.
"But they will be disappointed.
"They are both really good competitors and they love to win.
"But there are two games to go and I think they will be looking forward to a better performance in the next couple."
Titans football manager Scott Clark said Harrison, Laffranchi and Bailey underwent a recovery session on the Gold Coast yesterday afternoon and were likely starters against the Dragons.
The inclusion of the representative trio is a huge boost for the Titans as they hunt their first victory over the Dragons, the only side in the NRL the Gold Coast is yet to beat.
The Dragons' Origin quartet -- Darius Boyd, Michael Weyman, Ben Creagh and Justin Poore -- also appear set to back up.
Harrison was at his workaholic best for the Maroons, finishing behind only superhuman props Petero Civoniceva and Steve Price in the hit-up count.
Titans coach John Cartwright, who was at Melbourne's Etihad Stadium for the match, believes underrated forward Harrison was one of the best players on the park.
"Anyone who doubted his selection will have to eat their words now," he said.
"I thought he was tremendous, I think he played the full 80 minutes, he was involved in all parts of the field and his defence, as usual, was rock solid."
"Harrison was one of Queensland's best."
With the Titans' not playing until Monday Cartwright said backing up would not be as big an issue.
"We'll look after them between now and then, we don't need them to do a lot of training, at this stage of the year they know what their roles are."
Harrison agreed the Titans were in a favourable position with a five-day turnaround.
"It is almost like getting a week to recover really," he said.
The Titans trained at a rain soaked Runaway Bay yesterday.
Kevin Gordon and Preston Campbell didn't train, but are expected to play.
Harrison appears certain to retain his spot in the Queensland pack for Origin 2 in Sydney on June 24 while NSW coach Craig Bellamy hinted at making a few changes.
Bailey should keep his No.10 jumper, but Laffranchi could face a tougher challenge with the return of Blues squad members Paul Gallen (shoulder) and Glenn Stewart (suspension).
Source: http://www.goldcoast.com.au
Luke Turgeon and Daniel Meers
MAROONS backrower Ashley Harrison will resist the temptation to shout `Queenslander' around Titans training today when he reunites with Blues rivals Anthony Laffranchi and Luke Bailey to prepare for the Dragons on Monday.
The three Gold Coast State of Origin representatives have been given the all clear to take on competition leaders St George Illawarra at Skilled Park after a typically bruising series opener in Melbourne on Wednesday.
Harrison returns to the Coast with the spoils of victory but said he won't be rubbing the 28-18 Queensland win in the face of his Titans teammates.
"No, I don't think so," said Harrison when asked if he might dish out the famous Maroon battle cry around the club's Runaway Bay base. "We are straight back into it and become teammates again.
"Now it is all about playing St George on Monday.
"But they will be disappointed.
"They are both really good competitors and they love to win.
"But there are two games to go and I think they will be looking forward to a better performance in the next couple."
Titans football manager Scott Clark said Harrison, Laffranchi and Bailey underwent a recovery session on the Gold Coast yesterday afternoon and were likely starters against the Dragons.
The inclusion of the representative trio is a huge boost for the Titans as they hunt their first victory over the Dragons, the only side in the NRL the Gold Coast is yet to beat.
The Dragons' Origin quartet -- Darius Boyd, Michael Weyman, Ben Creagh and Justin Poore -- also appear set to back up.
Harrison was at his workaholic best for the Maroons, finishing behind only superhuman props Petero Civoniceva and Steve Price in the hit-up count.
Titans coach John Cartwright, who was at Melbourne's Etihad Stadium for the match, believes underrated forward Harrison was one of the best players on the park.
"Anyone who doubted his selection will have to eat their words now," he said.
"I thought he was tremendous, I think he played the full 80 minutes, he was involved in all parts of the field and his defence, as usual, was rock solid."
"Harrison was one of Queensland's best."
With the Titans' not playing until Monday Cartwright said backing up would not be as big an issue.
"We'll look after them between now and then, we don't need them to do a lot of training, at this stage of the year they know what their roles are."
Harrison agreed the Titans were in a favourable position with a five-day turnaround.
"It is almost like getting a week to recover really," he said.
The Titans trained at a rain soaked Runaway Bay yesterday.
Kevin Gordon and Preston Campbell didn't train, but are expected to play.
Harrison appears certain to retain his spot in the Queensland pack for Origin 2 in Sydney on June 24 while NSW coach Craig Bellamy hinted at making a few changes.
Bailey should keep his No.10 jumper, but Laffranchi could face a tougher challenge with the return of Blues squad members Paul Gallen (shoulder) and Glenn Stewart (suspension).
Source: http://www.goldcoast.com.au