Rugby League Coaching Manuals

 By Peter Badel - MEMO: John Cartwright. Don't buy a lottery ticket any time soon. If the Titans miss the finals this season, blame it primarily on luck, or a lack of it. The Gold Coast have had many things this season – hunger, desire, pointscoring class and defensive mongrel. Without the rub of the green, even the most imposing premiership contender will struggle to be throwing punches in the title-winning

Take last night as Exhibit A.  Desperately needing victory to maintain their place in the top eight, the injury-ravaged Titans' finals hopes copped another black eye with a 36-22 defeat to the resurgent Panthers at Skilled Park.

The loss, their third straight at home, was bad enough.

Compounding matters was the sight of star five-eighth Mat Rogers being placed on report for a high shot on Penrith winger Lachlan Coote in the 26th minute.

The rookie flyer appeared to be falling as Rogers closed in but the former Wallaby can expect at least a week on the sidelines.

The worry is that Rogers has form, having served a four-match ban for a dangerous throw earlier this season.

Titans coach Cartwright needs the loss of another match-winner like a hole in the head.

Key troops Luke Bailey (ankle), Aaron Cannings (leg), Scott Prince (arm), Mark Minichiello (ankle) and Chris Walker (ankle) can only watch from the casualty ward.

Through the injury crisis, Rogers, Preston Campbell and Anthony Laffranchi have held the Titans together.

The absence of the inspirational Rogers, however temporary, could just about represent the coup de grace for Gold Coast's season.

The NRL's 16th team will finish the weekend in seventh, just one point ahead of the Panthers.

With back-to-back away trips to Canberra and Melbourne looming, the Titans – equal leaders a month ago – could find themselves outside the top eight within a fortnight.

If ever one game can define a club's season, this one was it for the Titans.

Entering the clash, the Coast was sixth, three points clear of the eighth-placed Panthers.

The equation carried enormous consequence.

Beat Penrith and the Titans all but clinch a watershed finals spot. Lose, and the Titans crash to seventh, just one point ahead of the mountain men.

The home side couldn't have imagined a worse start at the Temple of Boom, going behind after three minutes when Penrith winger Michael Gordon finished off a right-side raid and converted his own try to get the Panthers rolling at 6-0.

The Titans hit the lead with two tries in the space of eight minutes, winger Jordan Rapana flying high to take a Rogers bomb before Luke O'Dywer crossed out wide in the 17th minute to make it 10-6.

Panthers hulk Frank Pritchard caused all sorts of trouble on Penrith's left edge, so it was fitting when he crashed over in the 27th minute.

Two minutes before halftime, centre Michael Jennings took a superb flick pass from Pritchard to score and push Penrith clear 18-10.

It was the Titans' third consecutive home loss after recent defeats at the hands of St George Illawarra and Manly.  Courier Mail