Craig Cauchi previews a middle table match between the Dragons and the Titans. This is what we have to look forward to.
Embed from Getty ImagesTEAM NEWS
Venue: CBUS Stadium, Date: 25/7, Time: 1:50pm
Dragons Team
1. Matt Dufty
2. Jordan Pereira
3. Gerard Beale
4. Cody Ramsey
5. Mathew Feagai
6. Jayden Sullivan
7. Ben Hunt
8. Blake Lawrie
9. Andrew McCullough
10. Josh Kerr
11. Jack Bird
12. Tariq Sims
13. Josh McGuire
14. Adam Clune
15. Tyrell Fuimaono
16. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown
17. Jack de Belin
18. Kaide Ellis
19. Talatau Amone
20. Billy Burns
21. Tyrell Sloan
Team Changes
IN: Jayden Sullivan, Jordan Pereira, Kaide Ellis, Mathew Feagai, Matthew Dufty, Talatau Amone, Tyrell Fuimaono
OUT: Brayden Williame, Corey Norman, Jackson Ford, Poasa Faamausili
Titans Team
1. Alexander Brimson
2. Greg Marzhew
3. Brian Kelly
4. Patrick Herbert
5. Corey Thompson
6. Ashley Taylor
7. Toby Sexton
8. Jarrod Wallace
9. Mitch Rein
10. Moeaki Fotuaika
11. Kevin Proctor
12. David Fifita
13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
14. Tyrone Peachey
15. Sam Lisone
16. Jaimin Jolliffe
17. Beau Fermor
18. Esan Marsters
19. Sam McIntyre
20. Tanah Boyd
21. Jayden Campbell
Team Changes
IN: Esan Marsters, Greg Marzhew, Jayden Campbell, Mitch Rein, Tanah Boyd, Toby Sexton
OUT: Erin Clark, Jamal Fogarty, Phillip Sami
Referee: Grant Atkins
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Dragons
Embed from Getty ImagesDragons have made some big changes to their side with Jayden Sullivan named at five-eighth in place of Corey Norman. Matt Dufty and Tyrell Fuimaono return from their COVID breach suspensions. Mat Feagai’s return forces a domino of changes with Cody Ramsey moved to centre, Jack Bird into second row, Josh Kerr to prop and Jack de Belin named on the bench.
The Dragons will return to the same ground they lost to Manly last week. Their performance in the second half handed the match over to the Sea Eagles ending the Dragons two match win streak.
Titans
Embed from Getty ImagesToby Sexton has been named to make his debut in place of injured skipper Jamal Fogarty. Phillip Sami and Erin Clark have both missed out due to injury with Greg Marzhew and Mitch Rein named to replace them.
The Titans took their chance against the Raiders and ended up winning big but they failed to back that performance up against the top 4 Eels. Kevin Proctor’s first half sin binning was a big turning point with the Eels running in 3 tries with the forward off the field.
PREVIEW
These two teams played twice last year and it was the away team that came away with victory on each occasion. The second match ended with Jamal Fogarty leading his team on the comeback to win by 4 points. This time the skipper is out injured and both teams are fighting for a finals spot this year. The COVID lockdown has forced Sydney teams to relocate to Brisbane creating the unusual circumstance that we have here. The Dragons play the Gold Coast Titans on the Gold Coast with the Titans playing as the away team.
Both teams have shown that they are capable of scoring plenty of tries but their issues stem from being able to stop the other teams scoring. Last week the Dragons missed 45 tackles and their passive nature in defence allowed Manly to dominate them up the middle and out wide. While overall for the entire season the Dragons sit in the top 4 for the most missed tackle with 571. It’s a far cry from the team that beat Parramatta off the back of an aggressive defensive line. The Titans on the other hand have the fifth highest amount of points scored against them. Last week they missed 35 tackles and previous to that they were blown away in the second half by a rampart Manly team. The Titans will look to enter this match with the same defensive effort that kept a Raiders side to 6.
KEY STAT
Toby Sexton is in his second year as a Gold Coast Titan and is a former Australian Schoolboys representative and will run out for his debut on Sunday afternoon at the age of 20. He’s been playing in the Intrust Super Cup for Tweed Seagulls this year with 2 tries and 2 try assists. This match will also see Jack Bird line up for his 100th first grade appearance.
PREDICTION
The Dragons are in need of an energy lift and even then that might not be enough. Titans by 10. http://gty.im/1304329832 http://gty.im/1329030425 http://gty.im/1321477968
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