The Gold Coast Titans will host the Sydney Roosters at Cbus Super Stadium 6.30pm on Sunday 15th July.
TEAM FORM GUIDE
Gold Coast Titans
The Titans are coming off a 34-0 hammering from the Brisbane Broncos last round. A lowly 63% completion rate and 50 missed tackles contributing to the loss.ย The poor performance at home, was made worse as the Gold Coast were coming off back-to-back wins in the two previous rounds, which had them sitting equal ninth prior to last weeks loss.
Sydney Roosters
The Roosters had the bye last round, with their big name players Cordner, Tedesco, and Mitchell playing in Origin. Their form leading into the bye has been one of the main talking points in the NRL, with the Roosters demolishing the high-flying Panthers, then taking the Storm to the wire, although going down narrowly 9-8.
SQUAD NEWS
Gold Coast Titans
The Titans Origin stars Jai Arrow and Jarrod Wallace are expected to play on Sunday after their Queensland Origin Win on Wednesday. Moeaki Fotuaika, Keegan Hipgrave make way for the Origin stars, while Dale Copley is out through injury with Konrad Hurrell called up into the starting line-up.
Sydney Roosters
The Roosters Origin stars, unlike the Titans won’t be backing up with coach Trent Robinson electing to rest Latrell Mitchell, and James Tedesco, while Boyd Cordner will be sitting out after playing through Origin 3 with a calf injury. Cooper Cronk is also in doubt with his wife due to give birth, with Dylan Napa out due to a knee injury and Victor Radley through suspension.
PREVIEW
Earlier this season, Round 12, the Roosters beat the Titans 34-14 at Central Coast Stadium, with a poor completion rate and missed tackles also plaguing the Titans game that day. The Roosters hold the upper hand over the Titans over recent season’s winning 5 of the past 7 since 2013.
The halves will be a key battle, with Ashley Taylor admitting that the speculation around his potential State of Origin debut in Origin 3, got the better of him in his last performance. He will be determined to guide the Titans with a win to repay the home town fans, after a good crowd of 18,000 watched the thrashing last round. Taylor leads the NRL with Try Assists, but Cronk’s reputation speaks for itself, he is still the benchmark for halfbacks. The doubt though remains around Cronk playing, with his replacement potentially 19-year-old Sean O’Sullivan making his debut.
KEY STAT
The Roosters are ranked first in almost every defensive category, points conceded, tries conceded and fewest missed tackles. The Titans will be looking to get onto the scoreboard after coming up empty last round.
SQUADS
Gold Coast Titans
1 Michael Gordon,ย 2 Anthony Don,ย 3 Konrad Hurrell,ย 4 Brenko Lee,ย 5 Phillip Sami,ย 6 Alexander Brimson,ย 7 Ashley Taylor,ย 8 Jarrod Wallace,ย 9 Nathan Peats,ย 10 Ryan James,ย 11 Kevin Proctor,ย 16 Will Matthews*,ย 13 Jai Arrow Interchange:ย 14 Mitch Rein,ย 15 Moeaki Fotuaika,ย 17 Jack Stockwell,ย 18 Morgan Boyle,ย 19 Leilani Latu
Sydney Roosters
18 Matthew Ikuvalu,ย 2 Daniel Tupou,ย 3 Mitchell Aubusson,ย 4 Joseph Manu,ย 5 Blake Ferguson,ย 6 Luke Keary,
7 Cooper Cronk*,ย 8 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves,ย 9 Jake Friend,ย 10 Sio Siua Taukeiaho,ย 20 Ryan Matterson,ย 12 Nat Butcher,ย 13 Isaac Liuย Interchange:ย 14 Zane Tetevano,ย 15 Lindsay Collins,ย 17 Kurt Baptiste,ย 23 Poasa Faamausili
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
Date: Sunday 15th July 2018
Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
Kick-off: 6:30 PM
Referees:ย Jon Stone, Chris Butler, Video Referee: Bryan Norrie
https://nothingbutleague.com/2018/07/12/nrl-predictions-round-18/
