Check out the match preview and prediction for the round 4 clash between the Gold Coast Titans and Dolphins at CBUS Super Stadium.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Gold Coast Titans Vs Dolphins
Venue: CBUS Stadium, Gold Coast
Date: Saturday March 30, 6:35pm (local)
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Titans: 1. Jayden Campbell 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. Keenan Palasia 11. Klese Haas 12. Beau Fermor 13. Jaimin Jolliffe 14. Sam Verrills 15. Isaac Liu 16. Erin Clark 17. Joe Stimson 18. David Fifita 19. Jojo Fifita 20. Harley Smith-Shields 21. Thomas Weaver 22. Josiah Pahulu
Dolphins: Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Thomas Flegler 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Euan Aitken 13. Max Plath 14. Josh Kerr 15. Kurt Donoghoe 16. Mark Nicholls 17. Ray Stone 18. Kenny Bromwich 19. Sean O’Sullivan 20. Oryn Keeley 21. Tesi Niu 22. Mason Teague
Referee: Belinda Sharpe
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
Easter Saturday will see an all south-east Queensland derby between the Gold Coast Titans and Dolphins, a match featuring the two newest NRL teams. The newest of those teams, the Dolphins hold the advantage securing two wins in their first season in 2023.
The first saw the Dolphins break the record for biggest comeback, coming from 26-0 to win 28-26. The second was decided by a penalty in golden point time. There wasn’t much in it in 2023, but the teams head into the game in different moods. Dolphins are refreshed from a bye following a 38-0 win, while the Gold Coast have lost two from two by a combined 60-4.
It can’t get too much worse for the Gold Coast Titans, thrashed by two bottom four clubs from 2023, and without scoring last weekend against the Bulldogs, and they have now lost their captain and arguably best player Tino Fa’asuamaleaui for the season through injury. But it’s early days and they do have a proven winner Des Hasler at the helm.
To break through the gloom there’s two key players returning this week – Jayden Campbell and David Fifita. Both should liven up an attack which hasn’t score in their last three halves of football and have scored only four points in two games. Fifita is currently named as the 18th player, but the Titans need something as they are currently sitting on just two line breaks for 2024 and the rampaging forward was fifth last season for tackle breaks.
Other team movements for this weekend sees Keenan Palasia promoted to the starting side and Joe Stimson coming onto the bench.
The Dolphins turned around an ordinary opening game performance against the Cowboys with a magnificent 38-0 win against the Dragons in round two. A match that saw them break the new club’s record for points scored and conceded. So who knows if the bye is well timed or not. The two teams to have had a bye in 2024 lost their first game after the rest.
That extra week off has allowed Kodi Nikorima to recover after failing a HIA in their last match, but with Sean O’Sullivan named in an extended bench and master coach Wayne Bennett always full of surprises, who knows what the starting halves will be.
Returning for the Easter Saturday clash is hard man and fan favourite Ray Stone, who is named on the bench having lost his starting spot to Max Plath, who filled in admirably for Stone in the second round. Jarrod Wallace is the unlucky player to miss out, dropping off the bench. Kenny Bromwich, who was dropped to 18th man on gameday for the Dragons win is again named in that role.
Head-to-Head stats aside, some numbers are against the Titans. They have lost their last seven Saturday games and won just one of their last nine home games on a Saturday. The Titans have also won just two of ten home games on a Saturday against Queensland sides.
The Dolphins’ Saturday form is also poor with just three wins from 12 games last season and one win from seven away from home. They did win two of three away games in 2023 against fellow Queensland sides away from home.
Head-to-head stats can be found at Round 4 Number Crunch.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Team by 6 points.
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