Two of the NRL’s bottom-placed sides meet in a clash that could have major implications for avoiding the wooden spoon. The St George Illawarra Dragons will be looking to close the gap on the Gold Coast Titans at Kogarah, while the visitors aim to build on last week’s thrilling comeback victory. Read our full preview for team news, key match-ups, prediction, and bold call.
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- Dragons vs Titans → Read full preview: dragons-vs-titans-round-21-preview-2026
- Sea Eagles vs Sharks → Read full preview: sea-eagles-vs-sharks-round-21-preview-2026
Matchday Details
Sunday 26 July – 2 PM (AEST) – St Georges Venues Jubilee Stadium
📺 Broadcast: Fox League / Kayo
Referee: Todd Smith | Senior Review Official: Liam Kennedy
St George Illawarra Dragons: 1. Clinton Gutherson, 2. Setu Tu, 3. Mathew Feagai, 4. Valentine Holmes, 5. Tyrell Sloan, 6. Daniel Atkinson, 7. Kyle Flanagan, 8. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga, 9. Damien Cook (c), 10. Toby Couchman, 11. Dylan Egan, 12. Hamish Stewart, 13. Ryan Couchman, 14. Jacob Liddle, 15. Luciano Leilua, 16. Josh Kerr, 17. Jacob Halangahu, 18. Moses Suli, 19. Lyhkan King-Togia, 20. Emre Guler, 21. Christian Tuipulotu, 22. Jacob Webster
Gold Coast Titans: 1. Keano Kini, 2. Dean Ieremia, 3. Jojo Fifita, 4. Jaylan De Groot, 5. Phillip Sami, 6. Jayden Campbell, 7. Zane Harrison, 8. Moeaki Fotuaika (c), 9. Oliver Pascoe, 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, 11. Arama Hau, 12. Beau Fermor, 13. Chris Randall, 14. Kurtis Morrin, 15. Josh Patston, 16. Klese Haas, 17. Cooper Bai, 18. Sam Verrills, 19. Lachlan Ilias, 20. Michael Molo, 21. Siale Faeamani, 22. Adam Christensen
Match Preview
It is the battle of the cellar dwellers when the Titans make the trip down to Kogarah to take on the Dragons on a Sunday afternoon in Sydney.
The last-placed Dragons will be hoping to reduce the gap between themselves and the Titans, who sit just one spot above them on the ladder, but with six competition points separating the two.
The Dragons really took the fight to the Warriors in their last start, going down 20-12 in their Round 20 clash, while the Titans pulled themselves back from a 10-point deficit in just six minutes to walk away 38-32 winners against the Sea Eagles.
The home side will trot out the same 17 from their last start; while for the Titans, AJ Brimson will miss the game due to concussion protocols, replaced by Jaylan De Groot, and Kurtis Morrin returns to the bench.
Two lethal ball-running sixes go head-to-head in this clash, with Daniel Atkinson taking on Jayden Campbell. While Atkinson may have had a quiet year running the ball, forgetting how damaging he can be in broken play can be a death sentence for an opposition defence, and with nothing to lose, expect him to take the line on early and often. Campbell has played some of his best footy of the year in recent weeks, and isn’t just a danger in broken play, but can leave defenders grasping at thin air in the blink of an eye with a big step. Both of these sixes will be key in how their sides perform come game day, so expect both to look to take the game by the scruff of the neck.
The crop of young forwards coming through at the Dragons have the ability to match it with any of the forward packs in the competition, and will not shy away from taking the fight to the representative talents in the Titans. The Couchman twins, Hamish Stewart, and Dylan Egan have been bright sparks in what has been a disappointing season for the Red V, and can create plenty of momentum for their side, so the Titans forward leaders Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Moe Fotuaika, and Beau Fermor will need to be ready and raring to go if they want to stop the rolling tide of the young guns.
The Dragons hold the historical advantage over the Titans, winning 21 of their total 32 clashes, with the sides splitting the chocolates five-a-piece over the last 10.
Prediction
RLZ Tip: Titans by 10.
Full Round 21 tips → /nrl-round-21-predictions-2026/
Bold call: Damien Cook to catch the Titans napping to score the first try of the game.
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Related
- Full Round 21 coverage → /nrl/2026-season/round-21/
- NRL Round 21 Team Lists → /nrl-round-21-team-lists-2026/
- NRL Injury List → /nrl/injuries/
