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THE Titans may be sitting pretty at the top of the NRL ladder but they're not taking a finals place for granted — and with good reason.
Since the inception of compulsory grand finals in 1954, just six teams have missed the finals after leading through the first six rounds of the season.
And the last of them?
The Titans in 2008.
The club finished in 13th position that season, well outside playoff contention.
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So it's understandable coach John Cartwright is taking nothing for granted.
"It's way too early to look at the ladder because there's sides that have had probably easier runs than others and home games, away games and all that sort of stuff,'' Cartwright said.
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"You don't get a good read on the competition probably until you hit the Origin period and it all changes again then, teams are losing their key players and it's a tough period in itself.
"It's nice to be where we are but there's a lot in front of us.''
Since the inception of the top eight, the Titans (2008), Cowboys (2006) and Canberra (2005) are the only teams to miss the finals after leading the competition at Round 6.
Fox Sports stats also show the Roosters (6th, 1992), Canterbury (7th, 1990) and North Sydney (5th, 1959) missed the finals after leading early in the season.
Cartwright knew it was vital the Titans maintain their winning momentum.
John Cartwright believes the Titans' attitude is having an effect on the field. Source: News Corp Australia
"You look at the sides that aren't in the eight at the moment and I'd be very surprised if they're not there at the end of the year,'' he said.
"That means that someone in the eight has to make way for them.
"It's way too early in the year to look at the table as far as where it's going to finish but you'd certainly rather be there than not.''
After missing the finals for the past three years, the Titans have been rated the surprise packet of the competition having won five of their first six to sit in outright first place.
But Cartwright, who has argued for the past two years his team has not been far off the pace, is not surprised.
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"There's a struck match in (the competition). A lot of it is turning up with the right attitude on the day and we've been able to do that,'' he said.
"That's a lot easier to do when you're winning and we'll be tested as the year goes on.''
While captain Nate Myles and forward Mark Minichiello noted a new professionalism on their return from World Cup duties and fullback David Mead said he was simply "sick of losing'', Cartwright said there had been no huge shift in team culture.
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"The difference is we're winning some tight games,'' he said.
"In all honesty we've had a bit of luck but you've got to be there to take advantage of that luck.
"There's no one thing the side has gained, it's been a whole lot of small things and a little bit of luck comes into it as well.
"We've got some young guys who have played up on 100 games now, so they're getting towards where you're playing your best football; we've got some guys at the back end of their career that really want to go out on a high; and we've got some halves that are really gaining experience every week.
"You put all those things together and it's a bit of each, I think.''
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