Todd Warren previews the round 10 clash between Gold Coast Titans and Canterbury Bulldogs where both teams desperate for a win with only two victories in 2019.
TEAM FORM GUIDE
Gold Coast Titans
The Titans looked good a few weeks ago when they won back-to-back, but have regressed ever since. They come into Round 10 on a three-game losing streak and look to turn it around at home.
Canterbury Bulldogs
The Bulldogs have actually looked quite good in patches this season despite injuries to key players. The game against Manly in Round 8 could have gone either way but they’ve struggled to close games out. They’re coming off back-to-back loses and only won one game of their last six.
SQUAD NEWS
Gold Coast Titans
Michael Gordon is out with a leg injury but is replaced by the electric AJ Brimson. Tyrone Roberts returns from concussion to join Ash Taylor at 5/8. Shannon Boyd will play off the bench to bring some impact while Moeaki Fotuaika starts in his place. Shannon Boyd will have to pass tests through the week after failing a HIA in the Sharks game in Magic Round.
Gold Coast Titans squad:ย 1. Alexander Brimson 2. Anthony Don 3. Tyrone Peachey 4. Brian Kelly 5. Dale Copley 6. Tyrone Roberts 7. Ash Taylor 8. Jarrod Wallace 9. Mitch Rein 10. Moeaki Fotuaika 11. Kevin Proctor 12. Bryce Cartwright 13. Jai Arrow 14. Jesse Arthars 15. Shannon Boyd 16. Jack Stockwell 17. Max King 18. Jai Whitbread 19. Will Matthews 20. Ryley Jacks 21. Brenko Lee.
Canterbury Bulldogs
Changes for the bottom of the table Bulldogs. Keiran Foran and Jack Cogger swap between half and 5/8, Corey Harawira-Naera returns in the back row which pushes Chris Smith back to the bench where he is joined by Rhyse Martin who is back in the 17 after being dropped. Danny Fualalo replaces Adam Elliot at lock.
Canterbury Bulldogs squad:ย 1. Nick Meaney 2. Jayden Okunbor 3. Marcelo Montoya 4. Will Hopoate 5. Reimis Smith 6. Kieran Foran 7. Jack Cogger 8. Aiden Tolman 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Dylan Napa 11. Josh Jackson 12. Corey Harawira-Naera 13. Danny Fualalo 14. Rhyse Martin 15. Ofahiki Ogd
HEAD TO HEAD
Out of the last 10 games, Titans have won six. Interesting enough though, two of those games have gone to Golden Point, with both teams getting a win. Of those two Golden Point games however, Josh Reynolds snapped the winning field goal in 2016 and William Zillman snapped the winner is 2014 and neither player is still at the club. Out of the six games between the two teams at CBUS, the Bulldogs have only won two although they got a 12 point win in their last game (round 25 in 2017).
KEY BATTLE
In what shapes up to be a fiery battle, two Queensland props will line up against each other. Jarrod Wallace is having a pretty good year in a struggling side, and Dylan Napa has been good for his new club after making the move from the Roosters looking to get a bigger role at his new club. Napa spent a few weeks out injured but is back now and ready to go. We all know how damaging Napa can be and no doubt Jarrod and Dylan will both be lining up to put some big hits on with Origin selection just around the corner.
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
Date:ย Saturday May 18th
Venue:ย CBUS Super Stadium, Gold Coast
Kick-off:ย 3.00pm
Referee:ย Peter Gough, Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
WHO WILL WIN?
Tough one. Neither team really has any momentum and they are both as desperate as each other. With the injection of Brimson at fullback and Tyrone Roberts back in the starting side I’ll have to give the advantage to the home team. Titans by 10.
