Titans flog Souths 42-4

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South Sydney coach John Lang has a major headache ahead of the Rabbitohs' opening match of the NRL season after a 42-4 flogging by Gold Coast Titans on Saturday night.

2011 NRL Trial Matches

Saturday 5/2/2011
Warriors 22 draw with Knights 22, Wingham Park, Greymouth

Friday 11/2/2011
Sea Eagles 18 defeat Sharks 0, Brookvale Oval, Brookvale
Tigers 22 defeat Cowboys 10, Brothers Rugby League Club, Kirwan

Saturday 12/2/2011
Warriors 24 defeat Parramatta 4, International Stadium, Rotorua
Bulldogs 24 defeat Roosters 22, Leichhardt Oval, Sydney
Broncos 42 defeat Titans 18, Kougari Oval, Wynnum

Sunday 13/2/2011
Dragons 32 defeat Rabbitohs 10, ANZ Stadium

Friday 18/2/2011
Dragons 28 defeat Bulldogs 14, WIN Stadium

Saturday 19/2/2011
Titans 42 defeat Rabbitohs 4, Coffs Harbour
Eels 30 defeat Tigers 10, Campbelltown Stadium
Broncos 26 defeat Cowboys 4, Alice Springs
Storm 24 defeat Raiders 4, Bega
Panthers 28 defeat Knights 22, Port Macquarie

Saturday 26/2/2011
Broncos v Storm Dolphin Oval, Redcliffe
Bulldogs v Raiders Scully Park, Tamworth
Cowboys v Titans Barlow Park, Cairns
Warriors v Sea Eagles North Harbour Stadium, Albany
Knights v Sharks Olympic Park, Muswellbrook
Panthers v Eels, Centrebet Stadium
Roosters v Tigers, SFS

Already missing star signing Greg Inglis and with fellow internationals Sam Burgess, Isaac Luke and Michael Crocker under injury clouds as well, Lang's worries were heightened with a further injury to backrower Ben Lowe during the trial match in Coffs Harbour on the NSW north coast.

Even accounting for the absence of his stars Lang would also be holding serious doubts over his attacking options as the tried and tested halves combination of Chris Sandow and John Sutton was virtually impotent against the Titans.

Gold Coast coach John Cartwright has no such worries.

In his first match at five-eighth for the Titans since Mat Rogers retired, Greg Bird overcame a shaky start to work into some form, culminating in a try in the 69th minute.

Gold Coast dominated early but were unable to convert opportunities, leading only 8-0 at half time.

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But the introduction of Preston Campbell after the main break caused the spark for Gold Coast as he scored two of their six second-half tries.

"He (Preston Campbell) has to be there, he just bobs up in the right place all of the time," said Cartwright.

"It's no coincidence that as soon as he got out there he made two breaks and scored a couple of tries.
"He just has that natural know how of where to be."

"We had a lot more numbers than Souths and they got a bit tired towards the end of the game but we stuck to it and I think it turned out good."

Lang took nothing positive from the performance of his men.

"We were flat as tacks, terrible," he said.

"I thought we had a bit of energy last week but we had no energy at all tonight.

"Our halves struggled, our forwards struggled, everybody struggled.

"I reckon there might have been three blokes who looked good at times but we were terrible.

"I can't believe they're unfit with all of the training they've done.

"You lack a certain amount of match fitness but we were just flat for whatever reason."