2022 NRL Round 18 Preview, Titans Vs Broncos

Joshua Knox previews the clash between the Gold Coast Titans and the Brisbane Broncos on Saturday evening on the Gold Coast. Here’s what we have to look forward to.

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MATCHDAY NEWS

MATCHDAY SCHEDULE

Gold Coast Titans Vs Brisbane Broncos
Venue: CBUS Super Stadium
Date: Saturday July 16, 7:35pm

MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS

Related: NRL Team List Tuesday

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Titans: 1. AJ Brimson 2. Sosefo Fifita 3. Phillip Sami 4. Patrick Herbert 5. Corey Thompson 6. Tanah Boyd 7. Toby Sexton 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Aaron Booth 10. Isaac Liu 11. David Fifita 12. Beau Fermor 13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 14. Erin Clark 15. Jaimin Jolliffe 16. Herman Ese’ese 17. Paul Turner 18. Sam McIntyre 19. Jamayne Isaako 20. Greg Marzhew 21. Brian Kelly 22. Kevin Proctor

A number of changes for the struggling Titans, headlined by Tanah Boyd starting in the 6 jersey with Aaron Booth making his club debut at hooker. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui has been named to back up from State of Origin. Young gun Sosefo Fifita has been named to make his NRL debut on the wing.

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Broncos: 1. Tesi Niu 2. Delouise Hoeter 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Brenko Lee 5. Jordan Pereira 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Keenan Palasia 9. Billy Walters 10. Ryan James 11. Zac Hosking 12. Jordan Riki 13. Kobe Hetherington 14. Jake Turpin 15. Rhys Kennedy 16. Thomas Flegler 17. Tyson Gamble 18. Deine Mariner 19. Brendan Piakura 20. Corey Jensen 21. Tyrone Roberts 22. Logan Bayliss-Brow 23. Corey Oates 24. Patrick Carrigan

Some of the Broncos’ Origin contingent have been named in the extended squad, and are a chance of backing up, but Kurt Capewell and Selwyn Cobbo will not back up. Corey Paix is out ofter suffering a concussion last week and Thomas Flegler joins the bench in his absence.

Referee: Chris Sutton

MATCHDAY PREVIEW

The Titans enter this one fresh off the bye – which lifted them off the bottom of the ladder – but they have only won one of their last 11 matches and are in dire straits. Coach Justin Holbrook has shuffled his spine and outside backs in an attempt to find the attacking flair and defensive toughness to move the club in the right direction. They fell to the Knights in disappointing fashion (going down 38-12) in their last outing before the bye.

Brisbane will come into the clash in fifth position after a win over the Dragons in round 17 (32-18). It was a welcome return to the winners circle in a match where they were without a number of players due to Origin and injury. The Broncos famously overturned a 24-6 half-time deficit in round 12 against the Titans, scoring 29 unanswered points to win 35-24.

It shapes as a must-win for the Titans, who are looking to get away from the bottom of the ladder; while the Broncos must keep winning if they want to stay in touch with the top four but also cement their position in the top eight.

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INTERESTING FACT

The Broncos have had the wood over the Gold Coast, winning 22 of the 32 match-ups between the two Queensland teams. Aaron Booth of the Titans makes his NRL debut at the age of 26.

MATCHDAY PREDICTION

Broncos by six.

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