Todd Warren previews Tigers vs Titans with the home team coming off and good win and the visitors coming off a horrible, embarrassing loss.
TEAM NEWS
Venue: Campbelltown Stadium, Date: Saturday May 8, Time: 5:30pm
Tigers
1. Daine Laurie
2. David Nofoaluma
3. Joseph Leilua
4. Moses Mbye
5. Zac Cini
6. Adam Doueihi
7. Luke Brooks
8. James Tamou (c)
9. Jake Simkin
10. Alex Twal
11. Luke Garner
12. Luciano Leilua
13. Joe Ofahengaue
14. Jacob Liddle
15. Stefano Utoikamanu
16. Alex Seyfarth
17. Thomas Mikaele
18. Michael Chee Kam
19. Zane Musgrove
20. Tom Amone
21. Shawn Blore
Team Changes
IN: Jacob Liddle
OUT: Tommy Talau
Titans
1. AJ Brimson
2. Anthony Don
3. Brian Kelly
4. Beau Fermor
5. Phillip Sami
6. Ash Taylor
7. Jamal Fogarty (c)
8. Jarrod Wallace
9. Mitch Rein
10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
11. Kevin Proctor
12. David Fifita
13. Tyrone Peachey
14. Moeaki Fotuaika
15. Herman Ese’ese
16. Jaimin Jolliffe
17. Erin Clark
18. Sam McIntyre
19. Tanah Boyd
20. Jayden Campbell
21. Esan Marsters
Team Changes
IN: Esan Marsters
OUT: Corey Thompson
Referee: Ashley Klein
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Tigers
The Tigers were very good against the Dragons last week and got a well deserved hard fought win, keeping the Dragons scoreless in the second half. Tommy Talau is suspended so Moses Mbye starts at centre, and Jacob Liddle comes onto the bench. Joseph Leilua gets another run in the centres as well and James Roberts is still out after a poor start to the year.
Titans
While the official team lists haven’t been updated, Ash Taylor will not play as he is still struggling with a hip injury. He will be replaced by Tanah Boyd. Corey Thompson is out a few months with syndesmosis. Beau Fermor starts in the centres. New signing Esan Marsters has been named on the extended bench and is a possibility of playing.
I’m not sure what exactly happened against the Broncos last week apart from me sending a few too many text messages when the Titans were up 22-0 after 14 minutes, only to lose 36-28 to the 2020 wooden spooners. No doubt the Broncos were very good for the last 60 minutes of that game, however the Titans were just plain bad with missed tackles and flat attack. They still finished with a competition rate of around 90% though so all is not lost.
PREVIEW
Daine Laurie was fantastic against the Dragons and has been great for the Tigers this season. He lines up against Origin rep AJ Brimson in what will be an exciting matchup.
It’s hard to guess what will happen between the Tigers and the Titans. History tells us that the Titans have the advantage, but they gave away a 22 point lead against a team they were expected to beat last week, while the Tigers were well on top in their game against an in-form Dragons team.
Big Tino being back for the Titans helps but the loss of Corey Thompson is significant after his good form. Ash Taylor being out might not be such a bad thing as Fogarty is more than capable of handling the playmaking with the help of Brimson, however Tanah Boyd hasn’t exactly impressed in many of his first grade games.
Adam Doueihi has also been great this year and is showing no signs of slowing down and the Tigers love to throw the offloads around so could open the flimsy Gold Coast defence up.
KEY STAT
The Titans have won six of the last eight of these fixtures.
The first half has been the highest scoring half in nine of the last 12 Tigers games.
PREDICTION
Yeah I will not be putting any money on this game because nothing would really surprise me. Tipping this way purely because I am completely biased. Titans by 10
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