The Gold Coast Titans are playing their best football of the season and have climbed off the bottom of the ladder, but a wounded Warriors side desperate to respond to last week’s heavy defeat looms as a dangerous challenge at Cbus Super Stadium.

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Matchday Details

Saturday, 1 August 2026 – 3:00pm AEST – Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
📺 Foxtel / Kayo
Referee: Jarrod Cole | Senior Review Official: Wyatt Raymond 

Titans: 1. Keano Kini, 2. Dean Ieremia, 3. Jojo Fifita, 4. AJ Brimson, 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. Jaylan De Groot, 21. Adam Christensen, 22. Jett Liu

Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Ali Leiataua, 4. Adam Pompey, 5. Alofiana Khan-Pereira, 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7. Te Maire Martin, 8. James Fisher-Harris (c), 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Mitchell Barnett, 11. Kurt Capewell, 12. Jacob Laban, 13. Erin Clark, 14. Sam Healey, 15. Tanner Stowers-Smith, 16. Demitric Vaimauga, 17. Leka Halasima, 18. Luke Metcalf, 20. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, 21. Rocco Berry, 22. Luke Laulilii, 23. Jacob Auloa

Match Preview

The Gold Coast Titans have climbed off the bottom of the ladder and suddenly have momentum behind them heading into Round 22. After securing their sixth win of the season last weekend, the Titans moved from 16th to 13th on the ladder, leapfrogging the Brisbane Broncos in the process and giving their supporters something to smile about.

Standing in their way is a Warriors side sitting third on the ladder but carrying growing concerns after a disappointing loss to the Bulldogs. After being thoroughly outplayed in Sydney, Andrew Webster’s men head to the Gold Coast under pressure to prove they remain genuine premiership contenders.

There has been significant improvement at the Titans under Josh Hannay throughout 2026. Their campaign gained traction with a stunning upset victory over Penrith courtesy of Zane Harrison’s clutch field goal, before competitive performances against Canterbury and Melbourne suggested the Gold Coast were becoming a far tougher proposition.

Since then, victories over Manly and St George Illawarra have lifted confidence around the club heading into the final six rounds of the season.

The Warriors find themselves in a remarkably similar position to where they were at the same stage in 2025: 12 wins and six losses entering Round 22. The difference is that last season that record had them sitting fourth, while this year it is enough for third place.

However, recent form will be concerning for Webster. The Warriors were unimpressive in a narrow win over the Dragons before being comprehensively beaten by the Bulldogs. Even more worrying is the possibility of history repeating itself after the club lost four of its final six regular-season matches in 2025.

The Titans receive a timely boost with AJ Brimson returning from concussion and Kurtis Morrin overcoming a leg infection to rejoin the extended squad.

Gold Coast’s injury list is relatively light compared to many rivals. Brock Gray, Jaimin Jolliffe and Jensen Taumoepeau remain sidelined for the remainder of the campaign, but the Titans otherwise have most of their key players available.

For the Warriors, Eddie Ieremia-Toeava returns after recovering from concussion, but Taine Tuaupiki’s foot injury suffered against Canterbury forces him out this week. The dynamic outside back is expected to return in Round 23.

Jackson Ford remains on track for a return during the finals, while Tanah Boyd’s season-ending ACL injury continues to leave a noticeable gap in the Warriors’ attack.

The Warriors built much of their early-season success on disciplined football and efficient attack, but their scoring output has noticeably declined since Magic Round. During their first 10 matches of the season, New Zealand scored 30 points or more on six occasions. Since then, they have managed that feat just three times in eight games.

The drop-off has coincided with Boyd’s absence. While the Warriors remain one of the stronger defensive units in the competition, they have often lacked the attacking spark and creativity that previously allowed them to turn territorial dominance into points.

The Titans, on the other hand, arrive full of confidence after posting 38 points in consecutive victories over Manly and St George Illawarra. Their attacking shape has been spearheaded by Keano Kini and Jayden Campbell, who continue to cause problems with their speed and ball-playing ability.

Campbell produced three try assists last weekend, while Harrison is showing increasing confidence and composure as a first-grade playmaker. Gold Coast’s best path to victory may be through mobility, looking to move the Warriors’ big forward pack around the park and create fatigue late in the contest.

If they can remain within striking distance entering the final quarter, the Titans possess the attacking weapons capable of producing a late surge.

Few fullbacks are playing with more freedom than Kini right now. Still only 46 games into his NRL career, the young Titan has repeatedly demonstrated his ability to influence games through his speed, support play and instinctive attacking football.

Nicoll-Klokstad brings a vastly different profile. Approaching 150 first-grade appearances, he remains one of the competition’s most reliable custodians and a crucial organiser of the Warriors’ defensive systems.

The Titans halves pairing continues to develop with every week. Campbell has a history of troubling the Warriors, highlighted by his starring role in Gold Coast’s incredible 66-6 victory in 2024, while Harrison’s confidence has soared since his match-winning heroics against Penrith.

Across the park, Harris-Tavita and Martin offer experience and composure, though there is a growing feeling the Warriors still miss some of the attacking direction Boyd provided before his injury.

The opening exchanges should be fascinating.

Moeaki Fotuaika and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui lead a powerful Titans middle rotation, while the Warriors counter with representative stars James Fisher-Harris and Mitch Barnett.

At hooker, emerging Titan Oliver Pascoe continues to impress during his rookie campaign. The 26-year-old faces one of the competition’s most dependable dummy-halves in Wayde Egan, whose defence, work rate and game management have been central to the Warriors’ success over recent seasons.

The Warriors hold a narrow 10-9 head-to-head advantage over the Titans at Cbus Super Stadium.

Gold Coast’s largest-ever victory came against the Warriors in Round 16, 2024, when they produced a remarkable 66-6 victory. Current Warriors winger Alofiana Khan-Pereira scored four tries in that match, while Jayden Campbell accumulated 26 points.

The Titans have also won three of their past five home meetings against the Warriors.

Adding further significance to the occasion, captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui will become just the latest member of the Titans’ 100-game club, marking an important milestone in his Gold Coast career.

The Warriors remain the better side on paper, but recent performances have raised enough questions to make this a genuine danger game. Gold Coast are playing with confidence, have key players returning and possess the attacking threats capable of exposing any defensive lapses.

Expect the Warriors’ experience to keep them in control for long periods, but the Titans look capable of making this far closer than the ladder suggests.

Prediction

RLZ Tip: Titans by 7
Full Round 22 tips → /nrl-round-22-predictions-2026/
Bold call: Keano Kini records two try assists and scores a try as the Titans overturn a second-half deficit to claim a fourth win from their past six games.

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Matt Pritchard
Penrith Panthers Member 13120.

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