Titans v Panthers: Fifita suspended; Hopgood debuts for Penrith
Gold Coast have shown plenty in attack at times this season but their progress will be well and truly tested by the unforgiving defence of the competition-leading Panthers.
The Titans rank sixth in points scored but Penrith have conceded just 60 points, or 6.66 points per game, with the biggest score against them being 16 points by Manly in round eight.
Last Saturday's 36-28 victory over Wests Tigers snapped a three-game losing streak and gave Justin Holbrook's men a much-needed boost.
But if the Titans can't play above their No.10 ranking in defence then the potent Panthers (equal second with 260 points scored) will make them pay a heavy price.
The Telstra Premiership's No.1 team is firing on all cylinders and looking to chalk up their 26th victory in 27 starts.
Match: Titans v Panthers
Round 10 -
home Team
Titans
9th Position
away Team
Panthers
1st Position
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
The rundown
Team news
Titans: David Fifita will miss two games after failing to have his grade two high tackle charge downgraded at the judiciary. Beau Fermor moves into the second row and new recruit Esan Marsters will play centre in jersey 17. Tanah Boyd retains the five-eighth jersey.
Jayden Campbell is the final omission from the team one hour from kick-off and Sam Stone is 18th man. Erin Clark was omitted from the squad on Saturday.
Prop Tino Fa'asuamaleaui was sent home from Gold Coast training on Wednesday because he is still getting over a bout of gastroenteritis. As expected he will take his place in the starting line-up.
The Titans have conceded 140 points in their past four games.
Panthers: Kurt Capewell will miss a week after a failed HIA in round nine, with Liam Martin starting in the back row and debutant J'maine Hopgood joining the bench.
Mitch Kenny drops out of the final 17 and centre Paul Momirovski, returning after serving a three-game suspension, is 18th man with Matt Burton retaining his place in the starting side.
Spencer Leniu and Robert Jennings were the first two players cut 24 hours before kick-off.
The Panthers will be aiming to become only the seventh team to win their first 10 games in a season.
Match: Titans v Panthers
Round 10 -
home Team
Titans
away Team
Panthers
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Titans is number 1 AJ BrimsonFullback for Panthers is number 1 Dylan Edwards
-
Winger for Titans is number 2 Anthony DonWinger for Panthers is number 2 Charlie Staines
-
Centre for Titans is number 3 Brian KellyCentre for Panthers is number 3 Stephen Crichton
-
Centre for Titans is number 17 Esan MarstersCentre for Panthers is number 4 Matt Burton
-
Winger for Titans is number 5 Phillip SamiWinger for Panthers is number 5 Brian To'o
-
Five-Eighth for Titans is number 6 Tanah BoydFive-Eighth for Panthers is number 6 Jarome Luai
-
Halfback for Titans is number 7 Jamal FogartyHalfback for Panthers is number 7 Nathan Cleary
Forwards
-
Prop for Titans is number 8 Jarrod WallaceProp for Panthers is number 8 Moses Leota
-
Hooker for Titans is number 9 Mitch ReinHooker for Panthers is number 9 Apisai Koroisau
-
Prop for Titans is number 10 Tino Fa'asuamaleauiProp for Panthers is number 10 James Fisher-Harris
-
2nd Row for Titans is number 4 Beau Fermor2nd Row for Panthers is number 11 Viliame Kikau
-
2nd Row for Titans is number 11 Kevin Proctor2nd Row for Panthers is number 12 Liam Martin
-
Lock for Titans is number 13 Tyrone PeacheyLock for Panthers is number 13 Isaah Yeo
Interchange
-
Interchange for Titans is number 14 Moeaki FotuaikaInterchange for Panthers is number 14 Tyrone May
-
Interchange for Titans is number 15 Herman Ese'eseInterchange for Panthers is number 15 Scott Sorensen
-
Interchange for Titans is number 16 Jaimin JolliffeInterchange for Panthers is number 16 Matthew Eisenhuth
-
Interchange for Titans is number 18 Sam McIntyreInterchange for Panthers is number 17 J'maine Hopgood
Reserves
-
Reserve for Titans is number 20 Sam StoneReserve for Panthers is number 18 Paul Momirovski
Match Officials
- Referee: Adam Gee
- Touch Judge: Matt Noyen
- Touch Judge: Wyatt Raymond
- Senior Review Official: Henry Perenara
Last updated:
Key match-up
AJ Brimson v Dylan Edwards: Maroons hopeful Brimson showed what he is capable of when he gapped the Wests Tigers and sent Tyrone Peachey over for a length-of-the-field try in round nine.
His speed and elusiveness present a threat every time he touches the ball and have produced three tries, six try assists, 23 tackle busts and seven line breaks.
But Edwards is doing a mighty job himself for Penrith and has as many tries in two fewer games while actually more than having the measure of Brimson in tackle busts with 33-23.
Stat attack
As befits a team that is yet to lose this season Penrith rank No.1 in a glut of statistical categories in addition to points conceded including post-contact metres, tackle breaks, run and kick return metres and kick metres. They are second or third in another six categories.
The Titans, meanwhile, top just one - penalties conceded.
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