Matchday Details
Sunday, 10 August – 2:00 pm (AEST) – Cbus Super Stadium
📺 Broadcast: Fox League / Kayo
Referee: Todd Smith | Bunker: Adam Gee
Titans
1. AJ Brimson 2. Jaylan De Groot 3. Brian Kelly 4. Jojo Fifita 5. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 6. Kieran Foran 7. Jayden Campbell 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Jaimin Jolliffe 11. Chris Randall 12. Beau Fermor 13. Klese Haas 14. Jacob Alick-Wiencke 15. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 16. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui 17. Josh Patston
Rabbitohs
1. Jye Gray 2. Alex Johnston 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Tallis Duncan 5. Bayleigh Bentley-Hape 6. Ashton Ward 7. Jamie Humphreys 8. Jai Arrow 9. Siliva Havili 10. Sean Keppie 11. Euan Aitken 12. Jacob Host 13. Lachlan Hubner 14. Peter Mamouzelos 15. Liam Le Blanc 16. Brandon Smith 17. Thomas Fletcher
Match Preview
Even if there are still four rounds to play, it is safe to say Sunday’s game between the Titans and the Rabbitohs is for the dreaded wooden spoon, or the ‘Spoon Bowl’ as fans have called it recently. These two sides have squads that could have gotten them into the top eight, but injuries and inconsistency ruined their seasons.
The Titans are coming off a four-point loss to the Panthers, where they staged an epic comeback from 24-nil down. The ‘Iceman’ Nathan Cleary and Blaize Talagi broke their hearts. There was a lot of talk around the trainer who ran across the front of Jayden Campbell when he was kicking for goal. That split the rugby league world until the Tigers took over the headlines.
Phillip Sami is out due to a concussion, Alofiana Khan-Pereira comes on the wing for Sami. Chris Randall returns to the starting side after sitting out with a concussion. Jacob Alick-Wiencke moves to the bench, with Tom Weaver dropping out of the 17.
It was a tough night for the Rabbitohs last Friday night; they copped an absolute flogging by the Broncos. It hasn’t been the best season for the team from Redfern; injuries have ravaged the club. Players such as Campbell Graham, Cam Murray, Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker have all been out at different times during the season.
There are some whispers that Mitchell might play in this game; he has been named in the reserves. Brandon Smith has been named on the bench to make his return from a knee injury. Jamie Humpreys and Peter Mamouzelos have both been named to return from concussion. Lewis Dodd, Tyrone Munro and Ryan Gray have all dropped out of the side.
Sam Verrills plays his 100th NRL game, and he is one of the Titans’ key players. Verrills is a good dummy half who gives good service from dummy half and knows how to pick his spots when running from dummy half. Injuries have set him back, but if he stays healthy, the Titans will get big things out of him. Both Sivilia Havili and Mamouzelos do an admirable job at hooker; Verrills probably has it over them. Brandon Smith, on the other hand, could be a different story if he is used as a hooker at all in the game.
One of the best match-ups is that of front rowers Moeaki Fotuaika and Jai Arrow. Both are hard as nails and on their day can be devastating with the ball. Arrow will no doubt be fired up; he hates to lose games. No doubt he will be keen to get a win over his former club. Fotuaika hasn’t had the best season by his standards; no doubt he will want to go out on a high in the last rounds of the season.
Alex Johnston has scored 14 tries in his last 12 games against the Titans. Johnston only needs six more tries to break the try-scoring record; a hat-trick against the Titans will certainly help achieve that feat before the season ends.
Prediction
RLZ Tip: Titans by 8.
See our full Round 23 Predictions (live Wednesday 12pm) here: 2025 NRL Tipping: Round 23 Writer Predictions
Have your say: Who wins? Drop your tip in the comments or vote in our poll.
