Check out the match preview and prediction for the round 23 clash between the Gold Coast Titans and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Gold Coast Titans Vs Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Robina
Date: Friday August 9, 6:00pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Titans: 1. Keano Kini, 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira, 3. Brian Kelly, 4. Phillip Sami, 5. Jojo Fifita, 6. Jayden Campbell, 7. Kieran Foran, 8. Moeaki Fotuaika, 9. Sam Verrills, 10. Erin Clark, 11. David Fifita, 12. Klese Haas, 13. Chris Randall, 14. Isaac Liu, 15. Jaimin Jolliffe, 16. Josiah Pahulu, 17. Keenan Palasia, 18. AJ Brimson, 19. Tanah Boyd, 20. Joe Stimson, 21. Jacob Alick-Wiencke, 22. Tony Francis
Sharks: 1. William Kennedy, 2. Sione Katoa, 3. Jesse Ramien, 4. Kayal Iro, 5. Samuel Stonestreet, 6. Daniel Atkinson, 7. Blayke Brailey, 8. Royce Hunt, 9. Cameron McInnes, 10. Oregon Kaufusi, 11. Briton Nikora, 12. Teig Wilton, 13. Jack Williams, 14. Jayden Berrell, 15. Siosifa Talakai, 16. Toby Rudolf, 17. Thomas Hazelton, 18. Niwhai Puru, 19. Tuku Hau Tapuha, 20. Billy Burns, 21. Mawene Hiroti, 22. Liam Ison
Referee: Adam Gee
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
It’s a vastly different tale for the Gold Coast Titans and Cronulla Sharks as they prepare to meet at Cbus Super Stadium in round 23. The Titans have won five of their past six to sit 11th on the ladder, four points outside the top eight, and remain a slim chance of a stunning finals berth. Cronulla have only won two of their past six and sit fourth thanks to an ugly win against South Sydney last weekend.
There’s only a couple of minor changes to the Gold Coast side that thrashed Brisbane on Saturday, with Beau Fermor out of the side due to a bruised kidney. As a result, Klese Haas has been named to start in the back row and Keenan Palasia joining the bench. Additionally, Erin Clark has been named to start with Jaimin Joliffe on the bench after the latter was brought into the run-on side late against the Broncos. Sam Verrills is right to go despite picking up an ankle complaint, while AJ Brimson has been named among the reserves as he nears a return from a groin injury.
Injuries are starting to hit hard for the Sharks, with Braydon Trindall (hamstring strain) and Braden Hamlin-Uele (knee soreness) joining the casualty ward for round 23. Blayke Brailey has been named to start at halfback after doing so in their win against Melbourne earlier in the year, with Cameron McInnes taking on the hooking role and Jack Williams moving to lock. Tom Hazelton returns to the side after missing the win over Souths with a foot injury, joined on the bench by Jayden Berrell. Penrith 2022 Jersey Flegg premiership five-eighth Niwhai Puru has been named among the reserves and may be a late inclusion to debut.
After losing their opening six games, the turnaround of the Titans has been extraordinary. If the NRL ladder only counted the last seven rounds, they would sit atop the table with a better for-and-against than the Roosters, Storm, and Panthers, along with the second-best attack and fifth-best defence in that time. Although they play three of the top four in their final five games, they’ll still believe they can make the finals.
Things have gone downhill for the Sharks since Magic Round. They’ve won only three games since then, all against struggling teams Brisbane, Wests Tigers, and South Sydney. On top of their poor form, injuries have started to take a toll, making their hopes of turning it around much tougher. They currently sit fourth but have Canterbury and North Queensland breathing down their necks.
The Sharks have a strong record against the Titans, winning 17 and drawing one of their 27 previous meetings. Despite the Titans claiming their first-ever first grade victory against the Sharks in round 2, 2007, they’ve only won back-to-back matches against the Sharks twice (2014-15 and 2017). After hanging on for a 20-16 victory in Coffs Harbour in round 18, the Titans will be aiming for two victories against the Sharks in one season for just the second time. The record at Cbus Super Stadium is slightly closer, with the Sharks winning five, the Titans winning three, and one match drawn.
Oddly enough, Friday night’s game should be the first time since Magic Round 2019 that a match between the two clubs has drawn more than 10,000 spectators. While pandemic crowd limits accounted for two of the small crowds, three other games were played in Coffs Harbour and one at the notoriously small PointsBet Stadium. The only other meeting between the two in that time was at Cbus Super Stadium in 2022, which attracted the largest crowd at 9,882.
Based on form, a Titans victory seems likely, however a Sharks side that needs to fix its form can’t be ruled out too early.
Head-to-head stats can be found at Number Crunch Stats.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Check out all the NRL Predictions here.
Titans by 8 points.
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