Roosters v Titans: Radley, JWH back; Proctor returns
The fifth-placed Roosters will be the red-hot favourites for Saturday's elimination final but that won't bother a Titans side coming off arguably its best performance of the season.
Trent Robinson's injury-ravaged squad has performed admirably despite having millions of dollars of its salary cap on the sidelines to come within a whisker of a top-four finish.
They warmed up for the finals with an impressive win over the Raiders.
The Titans' 10-14 record was enough to scrape into eighth spot with a better differential than the Sharks but they saved their best till last, piling on a big score against the Warriors in a game they had to win by at least 11 points.
Sportsbet Betting Preview - Roosters v Titans
Gold Coast, as the only remaining Queensland team in the playoffs, should at least have the crowd on their side even though they'll be lining up a long way from home.
With a few attacking weapons, they represent a challenging task in week one of the finals.
Match: Roosters v Titans
Finals Week 1 -
home Team
Roosters
5th Position
away Team
Titans
8th Position
Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
The rundown
Team news
Roosters: Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (knee) a confirmed starter after missing for each of the last two weeks.
Isaac Liu starts at prop with Siosiua Taukeiaho to come off the bench. Victor Radley returns to the starting pack, pushing Egan Butcher to the bench.
Dale Copley is the 18th man with Ben Thomas dropping out of the playing squad an hour before kick-off. Ben Marschke and Naufahu Whyte were the two players omitted 24-hours before the match.
The Roosters have won their past seven games against the Titans.
Titans: Kevin Proctor (shoulder) returns to the second row, while David Fifita remains on the bench as he has for six of the Titans' past seven games.
Fifita will require a pain-killing injection to his ribs on Saturday prior to taking the field after damaging cartilage last month.
Sam McIntyre is the 18th man, with Toby Sexton dropping off the reserves list on game day. Greg Marzhew and Anthony Don were dropped from the squad 24 hours before kick-off.
Over half of the Titans' line-up will be playing their first NRL finals match.
Match: Roosters v Titans
Finals Week 1 -
home Team
Roosters
away Team
Titans
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Roosters is number 1 James TedescoFullback for Titans is number 1 Jayden Campbell
-
Winger for Roosters is number 2 Daniel TupouWinger for Titans is number 2 Phillip Sami
-
Centre for Roosters is number 3 Josh MorrisCentre for Titans is number 3 Brian Kelly
-
Centre for Roosters is number 4 Adam KeighranCentre for Titans is number 4 Patrick Herbert
-
Winger for Roosters is number 5 Matt IkuvaluWinger for Titans is number 5 Corey Thompson
-
Five-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Drew HutchisonFive-Eighth for Titans is number 6 Tyrone Peachey
-
Halfback for Roosters is number 7 Lachlan LamHalfback for Titans is number 7 Jamal Fogarty
Forwards
-
Prop for Roosters is number 8 Jared Waerea-HargreavesProp for Titans is number 8 Jarrod Wallace
-
Hooker for Roosters is number 9 Sam VerrillsHooker for Titans is number 9 Mitch Rein
-
Prop for Roosters is number 15 Isaac LiuProp for Titans is number 10 Moeaki Fotuaika
-
2nd Row for Roosters is number 11 Angus Crichton2nd Row for Titans is number 11 Kevin Proctor
-
2nd Row for Roosters is number 12 Sitili Tupouniua2nd Row for Titans is number 12 Beau Fermor
-
Lock for Roosters is number 13 Victor RadleyLock for Titans is number 13 Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
Interchange
-
Interchange for Roosters is number 10 Siosiua TaukeiahoInterchange for Titans is number 14 Erin Clark
-
Interchange for Roosters is number 14 Sam WalkerInterchange for Titans is number 15 Sam Lisone
-
Interchange for Roosters is number 16 Egan ButcherInterchange for Titans is number 16 David Fifita
-
Interchange for Roosters is number 17 Fletcher BakerInterchange for Titans is number 17 Jaimin Jolliffe
Reserves
-
Reserve for Roosters is number 18 Dale CopleyReserve for Titans is number 18 Sam McIntyre
Match Officials
- Referee: Adam Gee
- Touch Judge: Liam Kennedy
- Touch Judge: Chris Butler
- Senior Review Official: Steve Chiddy
Last updated:
Key match-up
James Tedesco v Jayden Campbell: Tedesco has been simply brilliant through the closing rounds of the season, leading the way with some huge performances.
AJ Brimson could have been a season-ending loss for the Titans but Campbell's irrepressible form has given the Titans a new edge in attack and his scintillating two-try effort against the Warriors has him primed for a big game in his maiden finals match.
Stat attack
Only two forwards in history have scored more tries than the 17 recorded by David Fifita this year - Steve Menzies (1995 and 1998) and Frank Burge (1915, 1916 and 1918).
His tally of 17 is also the most in a season by a Titan, eclipsing David Mead and James Roberts (both 16). The second-best try-scoring forward this year is the Roosters' own edge weapon Sitili Tupouniua (12).
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