Check out the match preview and prediction for the round 25 clash between the Titans and Panthers.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Gold Coast Titans Vs Penrith Panthers
Venue: CBUS Super Stadium
Date: Saturday August 19, 17:30
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Titans: 1. Keano Kini 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Aaron Schoupp 5. Phillip Sami 6. Jayden Campbell 7. Thomas Weaver 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Chris Randall 10. Jaimin Jolliffe 11. David Fifita 12. Klese Haas 13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 14. Kruise Leeming 15. Isaac Liu 16. Joe Stimson 17. Jacob Alick 18. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui 19. AJ Brimson 20. Tony Francis 21. Joseph Vuna 22. Josiah Pahulu
Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Tyrone Peachey 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Soni Luke 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Matt Eisenhuth 17. Jaeman Salmon 18. Jack Cogger 19. Luke Garner 20. Zac Hosking 21. Thomas Jenkins 22. Spencer Leniu
Referee: Chris Butler
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
A number of changes this week for the Titans. Jayden Campbell will start at five-eighth in place of the injured Kieran Foran, while Keano Kini will start at fullback with AJ Brimson named on the extended bench after being a late scratching last week.
Tanah Boyd is out for the season with a shoulder injury so Thomas Weaver will make his NRL debut at halfback.
Meoaki Fotuaika returns from suspension and will start in the front row, with Tino Fa’asuamaleaui shifting to lock and Erin Clark dropping out of the side.
Kleese Haas has been promoted to starting second row, with Joe Stimson dropping back to the bench, while Jacob Alick will also start from the interchange.
Jarome Luai and Mitch Kenny return to the side in a boost for the Panthers, alongside Tyrone Peachey who returns from suspension and will start at centre with Izack Tago still missing.
Jack Cogger has been named 18th man and Zac Hosking drops to the reserves, while Spencer Leniu is an outside chance of returning from injury.
The Titans struggled last week, going down easily in a 36-6 thumping at the hands of the Sharks. It’s unlikely to get any easier against a Panthers side who gains a couple of key players back. They were given an early fright last week against the Sea Eagles but ran out comfortable winners in the end thanks to a dominant second half performance.
Manly showed the blueprint on how to defeat the Panthers, throwing the ball around from the get-go and chancing their arm which seemed to disrupt the reigning premiers. The Titans will have to do the same if they’re any chance here this weekend. With their season all but over, look for Gold Coast to play with freedom in an attempt to pull off the upset.
However, Penrith hold a strong record against their opponents, winning eight of their past nine games against the Titans. It should be a similar result on Saturday.
LAST TEN MATCHES
Panthers 8, Titans 2
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Panthers by 18 points.
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