2022 NRL Round 11 Preview, Titans Vs Sharks

Matt Pritchard previews the final round 11 clash between the Titans and Sharks to be played at CBUS Stadium on Sunday.

MATCHDAY NEWS

MATCHDAY SCHEDULE

Gold Coast Titans Vs Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Venue: CBUS Stadium
Date: Sunday May 22, 4:05pm

MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS

Related: NRL Team List Tuesday

Embed from Getty Images

Titans: 1. Jayden Campbell 2. Corey Thompson 3. Phillip Sami 4. Esan Marsters 5. Jamayne Isaako 6. AJ Brimson 7. Toby Sexton 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Erin Clark 10. Jarrod Wallace 11. Isaac Liu 12. Beau Fermor 13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 14. Tanah Boyd 15. Sam Lisone 16. Herman Ese’ese 17. Sam McIntyre 18. Will Smith 19. Paul Turner 20. Jaimin Jolliffe 21. Brian Kelly 22. Greg Marzhew 23. Patrick Herbert 24. Aaron Booth

After their golden point victory over St George-Illawarra Dragons in the Saturday’s middle game of Magic Round, Justin Holbrook has stuck to the same seventeen. The Titans are expected to have David Fifita and Patrick Herbert back from injury in the coming weeks.

Embed from Getty Images

Sharks: 1. Lachlan Miller 2. Sione Katoa 3. Connor Tracey 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Matt Moylan 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Toby Rudolf 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Royce Hunt 11. Briton Nikora 12. Wade Graham 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Aiden Tolman 15. Braydon Trindall 16. Teig Wilton 17. Andrew Fifita 18. Kade Dykes 19. Thomas Hazelton 20. Luke Metcalf 21. Mawene Hiroti 22. Jayden Berrell 23. Jesse Colquhoun 24. Jonaiah Lualua

Following their loss to Canberra Raiders last Sunday, Nicho Hynes returns to the number 7 jersey at the expense of Braydon Trindall. This allows Lachlan Miller to make his debut at fullback while Will Kennedy continues to serve his suspension. Miller becomes another late bloomer to make his National Rugby League debut in his mid-to-late twenties. Dale Finucane is out through injury with Royce Hunt coming back into the starting side.

Referee: Ashley Klein

MATCHDAY PREVIEW

Sunday’s clash between the Gold Coast Titans and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks has a different meaning of importance for both sides.

In the driving rain at Magic Round, the Titans produced the great escape with Jamayne Isaako scoring two minutes from golden point full-time to defeat the St George-Illawarra Dragons. With just their third win of the season they are in with a big chance to upstage the Sharks who are coming off a poor performance against the Canberra Raiders.

For the Sharks, the focus is on correcting their attack which was clunky in the driest conditions at Magic Round last weekend. They’ve corrected an error this week in selecting Nicho Hynes to be more involved at halfback. He was easy prey for the Raiders from fullback last week. This move will hopefully give the Sharks more direction in attack and turn opportunities into points.

But are the Sharks hurting more with Will Kennedy out suspended?

If the Sharks are suffering more from Kennedy’s influence on the game, the Gold Coast can seize the opportunity to position themselves just two points from ninth spot with victory. Perhaps it’s the return of Jayden Campbell who sparks the Titans after an excellent performance in making 266 metres and one line-break in his first game since round 3.

There won’t be much in this game and the Titans will be confident of ending the Sharks stranglehold in clashes between the two teams.

Embed from Getty Images

INTERESTING FACT

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks have won their last six against the Titans by an average of 16 points. Their biggest victory coming in 2020 when the Sharks scored seven tries to two in their 40-10 win at CBUS Stadium. Their only encounter last year was played at Coffs Harbour where the Sharks led 26-6 at half-time before going onto win 38-10.

MATCHDAY PREDICTION

Titans by 8.

Follow Nothing But Rugby League on Facebook