The 2007 Gold Coast Titans season was the first in the club's history. They competed in the NRL's 2007 Telstra Premiership, finishing the regular season 12th (out of 16).

At the end of the season Luke Bailey and Anthony Laffranchi were named co-winners of the club's inaugural Paul Broughton Medal for best and fairest player of 2007.[1]

Season summary

The Gold Coast Titans' first ever trial match resulted in a 32-6 loss to the previous season's grand finalists Melbourne Storm, however wins over the Parramatta Eels and Penrith Panthers later on led to predictions for a bright start to the Titans' premiership campaign.

Their first premiership match was played against the St. George Illawarra Dragons at Suncorp Stadium on 18 March. After at one stage leading, the Titans lost a cliffhanger, 20-18. But this disappointment was soon erased with the club registering its first ever win against Ricky Stuart's Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks at Carrara Stadium the following round.

There were mixed results in the first half of the season; highlights included wins over Preston Campbell's old club the Penrith Panthers at Penrith in round four, the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium (a Titans home game) in round five in a match which was marred by a horrible leg injury to Michael Henderson and the virus-struck Parramatta Eels by 38-12 in round seven. The Parramatta side had blamed its loss to the Titans on its preparation of its squad whom at least half of them had been struck with illness in the week leading up to the match.

By round fifteen, everything seemed to be coming together. However, injuries to many players, none more so than captain Scott Prince, struck the Titans at the wrong end of the season and lost eight of its last ten matches (including a 56-10 loss to Canberra in round 18 and a final round 50-6 loss to the Melbourne Storm in Melbourne) to fall to 12th at the end of its inaugural season. Despite this, their first season was deemed not a failure but not a success either. Only wins over the Wests Tigers and Sydney Roosters, both at home, saved the Titans from a lower finish.

Results

Round Opponent Result Tit. Opp. Date Venue Crowd
Trial Match Melbourne Storm Loss 6 32 17 Feb BCU International Stadium, Coffs Harbour, NSW 12,000
Trial Match Parramatta Eels Win 22 10 24 Feb Oakes Oval 8,612
Trial Match Penrith Panthers Win 28 6 2 Mar Carrara Stadium 13,457
1 St George Illawarra Dragons Loss 18 20 18 Mar Suncorp Stadium 42,030
2 Cronulla Sharks Win 18 16 26 Mar Carrara Stadium 17,946
3 Canterbury Bulldogs Loss 6 22 1 Apr Telstra Stadium 14,675
4 Penrith Panthers Win 24 22 8 Apr CUA Stadium 15,022
5 Brisbane Broncos Win 28 16 13 Apr Suncorp Stadium 27,686
6 Manly Sea Eagles Loss 6 20 22 Apr Brookvale Oval

25,524

7 Parramatta Eels Win 38 12 29 Apr Carrara Stadium 18,021
8 North Queensland Cowboys Loss 10 24 7 May Carrara Stadium 17,806
9 Sydney Roosters Loss 18 24 13 May Sydney Football Stadium 6,246
10 St George Illawarra Dragons Loss 10 28 18 May WIN Stadium 12,058
11 South Sydney Rabbitohs Win 25 18 26 May Carrara Stadium 17,266
12 Canberra Raiders Win 28 8 3 Jun Carrara Stadium 13,644
13 BYE - - - - - -
14 Wests Tigers Win 16 14 17 Jun Campbelltown Stadium 13,451
15 Newcastle Knights Win 28 22 23 Jun Carrara Stadium 15,306
16 New Zealand Warriors Loss 6 22 30 June Carrara Stadium 17,608
17 Brisbane Broncos Loss 18 19 6 Jul Suncorp Stadium 48,621
18 Canberra Raiders Loss 10 56 15 Jul Canberra Stadium 9,136
19 Canterbury Bulldogs Loss 12 36 20 Jul Carrara Stadium 15,873
20 South Sydney Rabbitohs Loss 14 20 28 Jul Telstra Stadium 13,351
21 Wests Tigers Win 30 14 4 Aug Carrara Stadium 17,257
22 New Zealand Warriors Loss 6 30 11 Aug Mt Smart Stadium 20,609
23 Sydney Roosters Win 22 18 19 Aug Carrara Stadium 17,423
24 Cronulla Sharks Loss 12 28 25 Aug Toyota Stadium 9,036
25 Melbourne Storm Loss 6 50 2 Sep Olympic Park 11,770
Round Position
1 10/16
2 9/16
3 12/16
4 10/16
5 7/16
6 9/16
7 6/16
8 9/16
9 10/16
10 13/16
11 12/16
12 9/16
13 8/16
14 6/16
15 4/16
16 7/16
17 9/16
18 10/16
19 11/16
20 12/16
21 11/16
22 12/16
23 11/16
24 12/16
25 12/16

References

  1. ^ abc.net.au (4 October 2007). "Bailey, Laffranchi share Titans' top honour". ABC News. Australia: ABC. Retrieved 4 July 2010.

28°00′23″S 153°22′2″E / 28.00639°S 153.36722°E / -28.00639; 153.36722 (Carrara Stadium)

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