Check out the match preview and prediction for the round one clash between the Titans and Dragons.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Gold Coast Titans Vs St George-Illawarra Dragons
Venue: Cbus Super Stadium
Date: Saturday, March 9, 7:35 pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Titans: 1. Keano Kini 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. AJ Brimson 5. Phillip Sami 6. Kieran Foran 7. Tanah Boyd 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Chris Randall 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 11. Klese Haas 12. Beau Fermor 13. Keenan Palasia 14. Sam Verrills 15. Isaac Liu 16. Erin Clark 17. Jaimin Jolliffe 18. Joe Stimson 19. Jojo Fifita 20. Jacob Alick 21. Harley Smith-Shields 22. Josiah Pahulu
Dragons: 1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Zac Lomax 3. Moses Suli 4. Jack Bird 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Ben Hunt 8. Francis Molo 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Blake Lawrie 11. Tom Eisenhuth 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Jack de Belin 14. Connor Muhleisen 15. Michael Molo 16. Viliami Fifita 17. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 18. Ben Murdoch-Masila 19. Christian Tuipulotu 20. Jesse Marschke 21. Ryan Couchman 22. Mathew Feagai
Referee: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
It’s a new season, with new coaches for both teams, and they have their work cut out to make their sides finals contenders. It may be a long season for one coach or possibly both.
Des Hasler gets to restart his career on the Gold Coast after some lean seasons at the Sea Eagles, where in his last season as coach in 2022, had 9 wins and 15 losses.
There will be a few positional changes to start the season due to injuries to crucial Titans, with Jayden Campbell out with a knee injury and David Fifita with a pectoral injury. Beau Fermor and Keano Kini respectfully step into the second row and fullback positions. AJ Brimson has been named at centre; seeing how he performs in that position will be interesting.
The key for the Titans is consistency this season. They finished 14th on the ladder last season, and with their talent, they should be a top-eight team. They will be a boost when Campbell and Fifita return, but until they return, this squad must win games and put them in a position to play finals.
Shane Flanagan returns to first-grade coaching for the first time since 2018. A former premiership winner with the Sharks in 2016, the question will be, can he turn an underperforming side around like the Dragons?
Flanagan’s son Kyle has followed him to the Red V, and it’s his last chance to prove he is a first grade player. He has Ben Hunt as his half-partner, so having a player of that calibre should help his game. Zac Lomax moves from the centre to the wing this season. While some may see this as a demotion, Lomax will make the most of his chances to become a centre again.
The sleeping giant of the team may be their forward pack. It’s not a star-studded pack, but they can make a mark this season by taking it to the more prominent names in the game. A win here for the Dragons may give their fans something to smile about and start the Flanagan era off on the right foot.
Head-to-head stats can be found at Round 1 Number Crunch.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Titans by 12.
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