The 2008 Gold Coast Titans season was the 2nd in the club's history. They competed in the NRL's 2008 Telstra Premiership coached by John Cartwright and co-captained by Luke Bailey and Scott Prince. After 10 rounds of the premiership the Titans found themselves leading the competition with 7 wins from 9 games before slumping to finish the regular season 13th (out of 16) and failing to make the finals. Preston Campbell was awarded the Paul Broughton Medal for the club's player of the year.
Summary
Milestones Round 1: Four players made their debuts for the club; Jordan Atkins, Aaron Cannings, Ashley Harrison and Ben Jeffery. Jordan Atkins also made his NRL debut. Round 1: Jordan Atkins broke the club record for most tries scored by an individual in a single match. Round 2: Nathan Friend scored his 1st career try. Round 4: Daniel Conn scored his 1st career try. Round 7: Brenton Bowen made his debut for the club, after previously playing for the North Queensland Cowboys. Round 10: Shannon Walker made his debut for the club and his debut in the NRL. Round 12: Esikeli Tonga made his debut for the club and his debut in the NRL. Round 12: Brett Delaney played his 50th career game. Round 13: Brad Davis made his debut for the club and his debut in the NRL. Round 15: Mat Rogers played his 150th career game. Round 16: Will Matthews made his debut for the club and his debut in the NRL. Round 17: Brenton Bowen and Luke O'Dwyer played their 50th career game. Round 18: Michael Henderson played his 50th career game. Round 18: Two players made their debuts for the club; Matthew Cross and Jordan Rapana. Jordan Rapana also made his NRL debut and scored his 1st career try. Round 21: Preston Campbell played his 200th career game. Round 22: Jordan Rankin made his debut for the club and his debut in the NRL. Round 23: Michael Hodgson played his 150th career game and Esikeli Tonga scored his 1st career try. Round 26: Two players made their debuts for the club; Selasi Berdie and Billy Ngawini. Selasi Berdie also made his NRL debut.
Squad list
Squad movement
Gains Players Previous club Until End of NotesBrenton Bowen North Queensland CowboysAaron Cannings Parramatta Eels Matthew Cross Penrith PanthersAshley Harrison Sydney RoostersBen Jeffery Wests TigersBilly Ngawini Bulldogs
Losses Players Club Until End of NotesMatt Hilder Newcastle KnightsRichard Mathers Wigan WarriorsDavid MylesRetiredLelea PaeaReleasedMatthew Petersen Wakefield Trinity Wildcats (Mid-season)Jake Webster Hull Kingston Rovers
Re-signings Players Club Until End of NotesPreston Campbell Gold Coast TitansNathan Friend Gold Coast TitansJosh Graham Gold Coast TitansMichael Henderson Gold Coast TitansAnthony Laffranchi Gold Coast TitansWill Matthews Gold Coast TitansBrad Meyers Gold Coast TitansJordan Rankin Gold Coast TitansShannon Walker Gold Coast Titans
Ladder
Fixtures
Regular season Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals AttendanceFriday, 14 MarchRound 1 North Queensland CowboysSkilled Park36 – 18Atkins (4), Bailey, LaffranchiPrince (6/8)26,974Monday, 24 MarchRound 2 St. George Illawarra DragonsWIN StadiumFriend, MinichielloPrince (2/2)10,521Saturday, 29 MarchRound 3 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksSkilled Park18 – 4Rogers, Meyers, AtkinsPrince (3/3), Jeffery (0/1)19,050Saturday, 5 AprilRound 4 Canberra RaidersSkilled Park32 – 12Bailey, O'Dwyer, Laffranchi, Conn, Jeffery, MinichielloPrince (4/7)17,381Friday, 11 AprilRound 5 Parramatta EelsParramatta Stadium28 – 20Petersen, Cannings, Friend, Prince, GrahamPrince (4/5)13,321Friday, 18 AprilRound 6 Brisbane BroncosSkilled ParkPetersen (3), Harrison, LaffranchiPrince (3/5)27,176Sunday, 27 AprilRound 7 New Zealand WarriorsSkilled ParkHarrison, Jeffery, Meyers, Campbell, Laffranchi, BowenPrince (6/7)25,310Saturday, 3 MayRound 8 Newcastle KnightsEnergyAustralia Stadium12 – 13Prince, MinichielloPrince (2/2)21,280Round 9ByeFriday, 16 MayRound 10 Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsSkilled Park24 – 20Samau, Meyers, Luke O'Dwyer, PrincePrince (4/5)22,676Sunday, 25 MayRound 11 Wests TigersLeichhardt Oval18 – 20Cannings, Bowen, CampbellPrince (3/3)17,493Sunday, 1 JuneRound 12 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksToyota Stadium14 – 30Minichiello, O'Dwyer, DelaneyPrince (1/3)8,214Monday, 9 JuneRound 13 Melbourne StormSkilled Park18 – 0Delaney, Meyers, JefferyRogers (3/4)19,409Round 14ByeMonday, 23 JuneRound 15 South Sydney RabbitohsANZ Stadium23 – 24Laffranchi (2), Prince, AtkinsPrince (4/6)9,827Saturday, 28 JuneRound 16 St. George Illawarra DragonsSkilled Park22 – 26Jeffery, Delaney, O'Dwyer, RogersRogers (3/5)26,453Friday, 4 JulyRound 17 Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesSkilled Park14 – 34Laffranchi (2)Rogers (3/3)21,374Friday, 11 JulyRound 18 Sydney RoostersSydney Football Stadium32 – 28Jeffery (2), Rapana (2), Rogers, GrahamRogers (4/6)10,762Saturday, 19 JulyRound 19 Penrith PanthersSkilled Park22 – 36Rapana, O'Dwyer, Laffranchi, HodgsonRogers (3/4)17,759Saturday, 26 JulyRound 20 Canberra RaidersCanberra Stadium4 – 46LaffranchiDavis (0/1)8,700Friday, 1 AugustRound 21 Melbourne StormOlympic Park Stadium4 – 44RapanaRogers (0/1)9,400Monday, 11 AugustRound 22 Newcastle KnightsSkilled Park12 – 32Rapana, MeyersCampbell (2/2)15,136Saturday, 16 AugustRound 23 North Queensland CowboysDairy Farmers Stadium26 – 20Laffranchi (2), Rogers, Campbell, TongaPrince (3/5)17,605Friday, 22 AugustRound 24 Brisbane BroncosSuncorp Stadium21 – 25Campbell, Rogers, Josh GrahamPrince (4/4) & (FG)39,757Monday, 1 SeptemberRound 25 Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesBrookvale Oval10 – 28Cooper, AtkinsPrince (1/2)14,755Sunday, 7 SeptemberRound 26 Wests TigersSkilled Park12 – 28Prince, DelaneyPrince (2/2)20,723 Legend:
Statistics
NameAppTGFGPts6000014700289200810000520082142020152008161004141004300006000023400162120082330012202008700002210041960024201200482000090000155002016400161000021500204400161655121241000055002017516052110041600001100005100430000 Totals — 84 69 2 476 Source: NRL 2008 - Gold Coast Titans Summary
Representative honours The following players played a representative match in 2008.
Australian Kangaroos Anthony Laffranchi Scott Prince
Mate Ma'a Tonga Esikeli Tonga
NSW Blues Anthony Laffranchi
NSW City Origin Brett Delaney Mark Minichiello
NSW Country Origin Anthony Laffranchi
Queensland Maroons Ashley Harrison Scott Prince
Toa Samoa Smith Samau
References