NRL: Cleary keeps cards close to his chest

Warriors' coach is poker-faced as he joins in the mind games. Photo / Richard Robinson

The contrast in approaches could hardly have been more stark as the Warriors and Titans went through their final preparations for tonight's playoff match on the Gold Coast.

The Titans were in relaxed mood at their open training session at Skilled Stadium yesterday, playing touch and running through some lightly opposed plays in front of the media. At the far end of the field fullback Preston Campbell tried and failed to prove his fitness in a series of running drills. From the outset it was obvious Campbell wouldn't be playing, something coach John Cartwright confirmed as he, captain Scott Prince and Clinton Toopi fronted a sizeable press pack.

That pack shrunk considerably when it was the Warriors turn to train. Actually, it disappeared, with a security guard clearing the stadium for the closed session. When the Herald and some local photographers attempted to linger they were politely but firmly escorted from the stadium.

Television crews and photographers with telephoto lenses resorted to shooting through a gap in the perimeter gates, while a helicopter circled overhead in an attempt to access the Warriors' trade secrets.

Asked if his side was in as serious a mood as that made it seem, coach Ivan Cleary deadpanned "oh we are all business" before offering: "No, we are pretty relaxed. Everyone knows their job. Now it is just staying relaxed and mentally preparing for the game. I am not worried that I have seen anything different to most of our games recently."

It's unclear exactly what Cleary was so keen to hide, however centre Jerome Ropati was a notable absentee from the opening team huddle.

When he held court at the team hotel in the afternoon, Cleary said Ropati was on limited training because of a nagging abdominal injury.

"He got through the game fine last week and I am very confident he will do that again," Cleary said. Backrower Sione Lousi and prop Jesse Royal have travelled with the team as cover.

Cleary said the same 17 he named on Tuesday - minus hooker Alehana Mara - would take the field.

"At this stage, yes, but we've had one of those years where I wouldn't put my house on anything."

Sure wouldn't.

Mind games have been a close companion to the cloak and dagger.

Cartwright insinuated the Warriors might be mentally fragile after dropping five straight matches to the Titans, including two lose-from-in-front efforts this season.

"It is nice to have that in the bank I suppose," he said. "It is maybe something that they, hopefully, think about but it is not something we have mentioned."

Cleary returned serve with a missive about the likelihood the Titans would be pondering last year's blown finals campaign when they were bundled out in straight sets by the Broncos and Eels.

"The pressure is really on them," Cleary said. "They are favourites. It will be hard for them not to be thinking 'gee, I don't want to lose this one'."

Cartwright did his best to fend off reminders of last season's failure.

"It is ringing in our ears because we keep getting told about it," he said. "We didn't go into those games to lose them. We prepared like we always did. We expected to win, we just didn't. It hasn't been mentioned this year. We have been through that experience. It is in the bank and it will come out when it matters."

Also coming out when it matters will be injured captain Scott Prince (shoulder), props Luke Bailey (thumb) and Brad Meyers (ribs) and centre Steve Michaels (shoulder). All face late fitness tests but are expected to play.

"If I wasn't confident they could at least go out and do a job for us for the majority of the game they wouldn't be there [at training]," Cartwright said.

TITANS v WARRIORS
Skilled Park, 9.45 tonight

TITANS
William Zillman
Kevin Gordson
Steve Michaels
Clinton Toopi
Jordan Atkins
Mat Rogers
Scott Prince
Luke Bailey
Nathan Friend
Anthony Laffranchi
Greg Bird
Mark Minichiello
Ashley Harrison
Interchange: Michael Henderson, Brad Meyers, Matthew White, Bodene Thompson, Luke O'Dwyer.

WARRIORS
Lance Hohaia
Kevin Locke
Brent Tate
Jerome Ropati
Manu Vatuvei
James Maloney
Brett Seymour
Sam Rapira
Aaron Heremaia
Russell Packer
S. Mannering (c)
Lewis Brown
Micheal Luck
Interchange: Ben Matulino, Ukuma Ta'ai, Jacob Lillyman, Jesse Royal, Joel Moon, Sione Lousi.