Check out the match preview and prediction for the 2025 National Rugby League round 2 clash between the Titans and Knights.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Gold Coast Titans Vs Newcastle Knights
Venue: CBUS Super Stadium, Gold Coast
Date: Saturday, March 22, 7:35 pm (ADST)
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Titans: 1. Keano Kini 2. Tony Francis 3. Brian Kelly 4. Phillip Sami 5. Jojo Fifita 6. AJ Brimson 7. Jayden Campbell 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 11. Klese Haas 12. Beau Fermor 13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 14. Chris Randall 15. David Fifita 16. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui 17. Brock Gray 18. Jaylan De Groot 19. Arama Hau 20. Jacob Alick-Wiencke 21. Tom Weaver 22. Ken Maumalo
Knights: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. James Schiller 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Fletcher Sharpe 7. Jack Cogger 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Brodie Jones 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Tyson Frizell 13. Adam Elliott 14. Jayden Brailey 15. Jack Hetherington 16. Thomas Cant 17. Mathew Croker 18. Kyle McCarthy 19. Jermaine McEwen 20. Will Pryce 21. Matthew Arthur 22. Tyrone Thompson
Referee: Liam Kennedy
Bunker: Matt Noyen
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
After having the bye in round 1, the Titans were looking to kick off their 2025 campaign with a win, but the Bulldogs had other ideas. Whether it was on the edges or in the middle of the park, Matt Burton and Co. broke the line at will. The Titans had one particularly inexcusable moment when Josh Curran took a simple run off a tap and the defence dropped him over the line.
There were a couple of bright moments, with Alofiana Khan-Pereira scoring two scintillating tries, while Keano Kini did some fantastic work to set up a try for Jojo Fifita. The other bright spot was forward Tino Fa’asuamaleaui returning after a knee injury.
Khan-Pereira is out with a hamstring injury, so Tony Francis will replace him on the wing. Jamin Joliffe has a calf injury – Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui takes his place on the bench.
The Knights put on a dominant display against the Dolphins. Kalyn Ponga stepped up his performance from round 1, showing why a combination between him and Dylan Brown could be one of the most dangerous next season. Bradman Best and Dane Gagai are still among the best centre pairings in the NRL, scoring strong tries. Fletcher Sharpe’s also performed strongly for the Knights, begging the question of where he will fit in next season.
Leo Thompson has a knee injury and will miss this weekend’s game. Brodie Jones comes into the front row. Kai Pearce-Paul is serving a two-match suspension for a shoulder charge. Tyson Frizzell moves from lock to second row, with Adam Elliot coming into lock.
While Cogger and Sharpe have been playing well in the halves, Ponga has been their go-to man in attack. They will again look to him as their X factor, while Cogger and Sharpe can get the team where they need to be.
On the other side of the park, AJ Brimson and Jayden Campbell are inexperienced halves pairings but can have moments of brilliance. They will need more than moments of brilliance to get a win: if they can play to their game plan and go off the cuff when the need calls for it, they will have a chance. The fullback Kini is also a player who can create something out of nothing: with him chiming in, an upset could be in the air.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Knights by 18 points.
Check out all the NRL Predictions here.
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