Check out the match preview and prediction for the round 10 clash between the Gold Coast Titans and North Queensland Cowboys.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Gold Coast Titans Vs North Queensland Cowboys
Venue: CBUS Super Stadium, Gold Coast
Date: Sunday 12 May, 4:05pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Titans: 1.ย AJ Brimson, 2.ย Phillip Sami, 3.ย Brian Kelly, 4.ย Harley Smith-Shields, 5.ย Jojo Fifita, 6.ย Chris Randall, 7.ย Kieran Foran, 8.ย Moeaki Fotuaika, 9.ย Sam Verrills, 10.ย Jaimin Jolliffe, 11.ย David Fifita, 12.ย Beau Fermor, 13.ย Isaac Liu, 14.ย Keano Kini, 15.ย Erin Clark, 16.ย Klese Haas, 17.ย Josiah Pahulu, 18.ย Alofiana Khan-Pereira, 19.ย Keenan Palasia, 20.ย Joe Stimson, 21.ย Jacob Alick-Wiencke, 22.ย Aaron Schoupp
Cowboys: 1.ย Scott Drinkwater, 2.ย Kyle Feldt, 3.ย Valentine Holmes, 4.ย Viliami Vailea, 5.ย Semi Valemei, 6.ย Tom Dearden, 7.ย Chad Townsend, 8.ย Jordan McLean, 9.ย Reece Robson, 10.ย Griffin Neame, 11.ย Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, 12.ย Jeremiah Nanai, 13.ย Reuben Cotter, 14.ย Heilum Luki, 15.ย Thomas Mikaele, 16.ย Sam McIntyre, 17.ย Jason Taumalolo, 18.ย Jake Granville, 19. Jake Clifford, 20.ย Harrison Edwards, 21.ย Braidon Burns, 22. Jaxon Purdue
Referee: Wyatt Raymond
Bunker: Peter Gough
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
This weekend, two Queensland teams will compete for supremacy and pride when the sixteenth placed Gold Coast Titans face the tenth placed North Queensland Cowboys at CBUS Stadium on the Gold Coast.
The Titans have been disappointing this season, winning only one game against the Warriors in round 8, with a close score of 27-24.
Their last four games have all come down to four points or less, including a nail-biting, close match against the Storm last weekend that ended 22-20, despite controversial and questionable calls.
The Titans have won three of their last four games against the Cowboys at CBUS Super Stadium and appear confident and comfortable in their abilities; they will enter this next game knowing they have what it takes to win.
With a backline that includes captain Kieran Foran and A J Brimson, Jojo Fifita in the centre, and Phillip Sami on the outside edge, the Titans certainly have strength in numbers.
The Titans fullback, Brimson, has eight tries in 11 games against the Cowboys and will look to exploit any weaknesses and break through the Cowboys line to help them win.
The Cowboys will struggle to break through their formidable forward pack, which includes players like David Fifita, who has a defensive tackle efficiency of 96.9% and an average running distance of 140 metres, and Moeaki Fotuaika, who has a defensive tackle efficiency of 93.2%.
Tannah Boyd replaced at five-eighth by Chris Randall due to a wrist injury, Sam Verrills will start at dummy half, Fotuaika returns from concussion, and Keano Kini will be on the bench, bumping Joe Stimson out of the starting 17.
The North Queensland Cowboys have four wins from nine games this season and will be determined to add another victory at CBUS Super Stadium this weekend, especially after losing 28-26 to the Dolphins last weekend in Townsville.
After winning four of their last five games against the Titans, the odds may be in their favour this weekend, but their shaky, weakened defence may prove an easy target for the Titans.
Coach Todd Payten believes in his team’s ability, recognising that to win, they must defend their line, stay within the system, be heavy on the ground, and move faster to the try line.
They benefit from having players like Reuben Cotter, who can make quick moves, as he did in their game against the Dolphins last weekend, surging over the line and scoring a try for the Cowboys.
Teaming up with Cotter in the forward pack, Cowboys second rower Jeremiah Nanai demonstrated the lightning speed required to get his team over the line. He has scored four tries in his last four games.
The Cowboys’ backline is a winning combination of strength and endurance, thanks to Scott Drinkwater and Valentine Holmes.
Drinkwater has made 41 tackle breaks and averaged 155 running metres, while Holmes has made 38 tackle breaks and an average of 159 running metres.
The Titans have conceded more tries through the middle than any other team, and Holmes will look to capitalise on the fact that he is only three tries shy of 100 NRL career tries.
Chad Townsend’s return from a knee injury will be the only change in the Cowboys’ lineup. Murray Taulagi remains sidelined due to a hamstring injury.
It will be a display of strength and power in a match that both teams fervently want to win and will battle to the very end.
Head-to-head stats can be found at Round 10 Number Crunch.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Check out all the NRL Predictions for round 10 here.
Cowboys by 12 points.
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