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Titans to return to top-four - Laffranchi
By Jake Dew From: The Daily Telegraph July 06, 2010 12:00AM
ANTHONY Laffranchi has declared the Titans a top-four side, something they want to prove when they embark on the next crucial period of their season against Wests Tigers on Friday night.
While a win at Campbelltown Stadium should assure the Titans back-to-back finals appearances, Laffranchi said the stakes were much higher as the squad aims to back up their belief they can deliver something special in the run home.
Despite winning just two of their past six matches the Titans sit in fourth on the NRL ladder, equal on 22 points but one place behind Wests on for and against.
Those victories were by just two points (38-36) over Newcastle and one point (25-24) against Canterbury.
"You want to improve each year and we want to improve on last year and stay within that top three," stressed Laffranchi, who is looking forward to returning to face his former club.
"You want these games at this time of the year to really test you against quality opposition.
"There's the Tigers this week and the Broncos and Dragons as well coming up.
"It's going to be a great test for everyone and give us a benchmark of where we are at, but you have to go in confident. We have the belief we can really do something this year."
With their place in the finals almost guaranteed, Laffranchi said the club's primary focus was on booking a home final by finishing in the top four.
"It's pretty congested there throughout the top eight but you want to keep winning and you want to cement yourself in the top four," he said.
"There is no reason why we're not [a top four side]. The next nine rounds is really going to test us out and we have a big month ahead of us."
Together with Gold Coast skipper Scott Prince, Laffranchi helped deliver the Tigers an NRL premiership in 2005 and is well aware of the task facing his team at Campbelltown on Friday night.
It will be an even tougher assignment after the Tigers escaped with the points over a depleted Broncos unit last Friday, despite being far from convincing.
"I played some good ones out there and I know from personal experience they love playing out there, especially on Friday night," Laffranchi said. "They are winning so they will get a big crowd out there and plenty of support."
By Jake Dew From: The Daily Telegraph July 06, 2010 12:00AM
ANTHONY Laffranchi has declared the Titans a top-four side, something they want to prove when they embark on the next crucial period of their season against Wests Tigers on Friday night.
While a win at Campbelltown Stadium should assure the Titans back-to-back finals appearances, Laffranchi said the stakes were much higher as the squad aims to back up their belief they can deliver something special in the run home.
Despite winning just two of their past six matches the Titans sit in fourth on the NRL ladder, equal on 22 points but one place behind Wests on for and against.
Those victories were by just two points (38-36) over Newcastle and one point (25-24) against Canterbury.
"You want to improve each year and we want to improve on last year and stay within that top three," stressed Laffranchi, who is looking forward to returning to face his former club.
"You want these games at this time of the year to really test you against quality opposition.
"There's the Tigers this week and the Broncos and Dragons as well coming up.
"It's going to be a great test for everyone and give us a benchmark of where we are at, but you have to go in confident. We have the belief we can really do something this year."
With their place in the finals almost guaranteed, Laffranchi said the club's primary focus was on booking a home final by finishing in the top four.
"It's pretty congested there throughout the top eight but you want to keep winning and you want to cement yourself in the top four," he said.
"There is no reason why we're not [a top four side]. The next nine rounds is really going to test us out and we have a big month ahead of us."
Together with Gold Coast skipper Scott Prince, Laffranchi helped deliver the Tigers an NRL premiership in 2005 and is well aware of the task facing his team at Campbelltown on Friday night.
It will be an even tougher assignment after the Tigers escaped with the points over a depleted Broncos unit last Friday, despite being far from convincing.
"I played some good ones out there and I know from personal experience they love playing out there, especially on Friday night," Laffranchi said. "They are winning so they will get a big crowd out there and plenty of support."
