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Titans able to fly home to host Knights

3 minute read

Gold Coast NRL players and staff have been given clearance to return home to Queensland after being forced out for almost a week due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Titans Head Coach JUSTIN HOLBROOK
Titans Head Coach JUSTIN HOLBROOK Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Gold Coast will be able to fly home on Monday and can host Newcastle on Saturday after the NRL cleared their region following COVID-19 concerns.

The Titans were forced to rush to Sydney last Wednesday, with the club fearing Saturday's "home" game against Canberra at Kogarah would be the first of many on the road.

But coronavirus numbers in Queensland have subsided significantly in recent days, with no new locally-acquired infections announced on Sunday.

"We're thrilled that the team is coming home to the Coast," Titans CEO Stephen Mitchell said.

"The NRL has today informed us that we can head back to Queensland and we are preparing to play in front of a big crowd at Cbus Super Stadium on Saturday.

"Justin (Holbrook) and the team love playing in front of The Legion and we hope that a huge crowd will turn out to support the team against the Knights."

The decision allowing the Titans to fly home doesn't have any immediate impact on the Brisbane Broncos, who are happy to stay in Sydney given they play Souths on Thursday night.

But with the NRL's Apollo committee meeting regularly on the situation, it does boost Brisbane's hopes of returning home on Friday morning.

The Broncos are due to play at home in round six, hosting front-runners Penrith on April 15.

Meanwhile, the Titans are hopeful a cork suffered by halfback Jamal Fogarty won't rule him out of the Knights clash.

Already without Ash Taylor for another week because of a broken hand, Gold Coast desperately need Fogarty's playmaking in attack with Eric Clark and Tyrone Peachey the other options.

The Titans failed to make use of their opportunities in the loss to the Raiders, with three clear try-savers denying them while they completed justt 67 per cent of their sets.

"It was a bit of a shambles all round," Holbrook said of the loss.

"We've played well the last couple of weeks (against Brisbane and North Queensland) and we had to play better (against Canberra).

"We missed our chances ... That made it a tough night."

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