Titans a chanceto create history

A CHANCE to be crowned the top region in NSW country rugby league is driving the Northern Rivers Titans representative teams at the state finals.

The open men and women’s teams will contest grand finals along with the under-16 Andrew Johns Cup team this weekend.

It would be the first time the Northern Rivers has double or tripled up with three teams winning titles under the current structure.

The Titans men’s team were dominant in a 56–12 win over the Monaro Colts in the semi-finals.

They will play the Newcastle Rebels in the final at GIO Stadium in Canberra.

Coach Wayne Forbes said his side has been ruthless in the representative campaign.

“We’ve put the foot on the throat early and dominated the arm-wrestle,” he said.

“We would have been disappointed not to make the final with the team we’ve assembled.

“The best thing is they’re all contributing and if we go on to win it, we would have travelled more than 5000 kilometres without a home game.

“We lost a few blokes when Cyclone Alfred was on, but whoever has been out there has really stepped up.”

Brothers Connor and Caleb Ziebell will lead the way in the forwards while five-eighth Elliott Speed has impressed.

In other games, the women’s team can create history under coach Chris Binge in its grand final against the Western Rams.

The Northern Rivers has not won a women’s title since the competition started a few years ago.

Five-eighth Karri Williams and fullback Keniesha Hall were standouts in a 40–6 win over the Northern Tigers in the semi-final.

They will be key in the grand final along with experienced halfback Chloe Saddler and front-rower Jappira Torrens.

And the under-16 boys advanced after a hard-fought 20–14 win over St George Illawarra Dragons.

Fullback Jaylon Russell, front-rower Nixon O’Connor, winger Julean Woods and second-rower Max Palmer all scored tries in the win.

The Northern Rivers junior side is the most active of the Titans teams, having played five games before the finals. They will take on a Newcastle side which clawed its way to a win over Macarthur Wests Tigers in the semi-final.

The Titans under-17 girls reached the semi-finals of the Lisa Fiaola Cup where they went down 12–8 against the North Coast Bulldogs.