Dylan Jhugroo previews the round 15 match between the Gold Coast Titans and the Wests Tigers.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Gold Coast Titans Vs Wests Tigers
Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
Date: Thursday June 8, 7:50pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Titans: 1. AJ Brimson 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Aaron Schoupp 5. Phillip Sami 6. Jayden Campbell 7. Tanah Boyd 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 11. Klese Haas 12. Joe Stimson 13. Isaac Liu 14. Kruise Leeming 15. Erin Clark 16. Jaimin Jolliffe 17. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui 18. Jojo Fifita 19. Keano Kini 20. Thomas Mikaele 21. Jo Vuna 22. Ken Maumalo
Tigers: 1. Jahream Bula 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Starford To’a 4. Tommy Talau 5. Junior Tupou 6. Brandon Wakeham 7. Luke Brooks 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. David Klemmer 11. Isaiah Papali’i 12. John Bateman 13. Fonua Pole 14. Jake Simpkin 15. Alex Seyfarth 16. Alex Twal 17. Asu Kepaoa 18. Daine Laurie 19. Shawn Blore 20. Aistasi James 21. Justin Matamua 22. Tallyn Da Silva
Referee: Todd Smith
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
The Gold Coast Titans take on the Wests Tigers for the second time in 2023, with both sides coming off missed opportunities last week.
For the Titans, it was the same old story of a halftime lead last week against the South Sydney Rabbitohs. But Justin Holbrook’s men once again fell victim to a second-half fadeout, with a late try to Tino Fa’asuamaleaui only a consolation to a comprehensive defeat. The Titans will be without hooker Chris Randall and barnstorming backrower David Fifita, but welcome back Kruise Leeming alongside fan-favourite AJ Brimson. Jayden Campbell has once again been named in the five-eighth jersey after defending well – but failing to inject himself last week. A late switch shifting Brimson to five-eighth and Campbell to fullback could be on the cards.
The Tigers suffered a very different loss last week, after a miracle comeback against the Canberra Raiders was stifled by a late Jamal Fogarty penalty goal. The Tigers should be buoyed by the flurry of points, but the fact remains that they only managed to score against twelve men last week. However, the Titans are the second-worst defensive side in the NRL, so opportunity beckons for the likes of Isaiah Papali’i, Starford To’a and Jahream Bula. Luke Brooks has been in fantastic individual form recently and will gain pre-match confidence from the Titans’ relatively inexperienced halves.
KEY STAT: The Titans won the Round 1 matchup between these clubs 22-10. This is despite only having had 44% of possession, running for 300 less meters, making 16 fewer offloads and losing the line break count 6-2.
LAST TEN MATCHES
Titans 8, Tigers 2.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Tigers by 8.
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