Titans v Knights: Thompson in for Sami; Saifiti benched
The Titans are fighting to avoid the wooden spoon and the Knights are fighting to restore credibility when they clash at Cbus Super Stadium on Sunday.
The final game of Round 25 has no bearing on the top eight but there's still plenty at stake for two sides who started the year with promise but have dropped off dramatically.
The Titans were 2-2 after four rounds after wins over the Warriors and Tigers and hard-fought losses to the Raiders and Eels, while the Knights flew out of the blocks with wins over the Roosters and Tigers before losing six on the trot.
On the strength of their Round 23 form it's the Knights who'll be feeling better about themselves after taking Canberra to the limit on the same afternoon the Titans capitulated against a 12-man Dragons side.
Match: Titans v Knights
Round 24 -
home Team
Titans
15th Position
away Team
Knights
13th Position
Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
The Rundown
Team news
Titans: Corey Thompson comes onto the wing for Phil Sami, who has been ruled out after failing a HIA last week. The change will see a reshuffle in the backline with Jojo Fifita shifting to the centres alongside Brian Kelly, who returns from a knee injury just in time after Patrick Herbert (knee) was ruled out earlier this week.
Knights: In a late switch, Daniel Saifiti (COVID-19) will return via the bench with brother Jacob to start alongside David Klemmer. Knights back-rower Tyson Frizell also returns from a rib complaint with Mat Croker reverting to the bench.
Match: Titans v Knights
Round 24 -
home Team
Titans
away Team
Knights
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Titans is number 1 Jayden CampbellFullback for Knights is number 1 Tex Hoy
-
Winger for Titans is number 5 Greg MarzhewWinger for Knights is number 2 Edrick Lee
-
Centre for Titans is number 2 Jojo FifitaCentre for Knights is number 3 Dane Gagai
-
Centre for Titans is number 3 Brian KellyCentre for Knights is number 4 Krystian Mapapalangi
-
Winger for Titans is number 18 Corey ThompsonWinger for Knights is number 5 Dominic Young
-
Five-Eighth for Titans is number 6 AJ BrimsonFive-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Anthony Milford
-
Halfback for Titans is number 7 Tanah BoydHalfback for Knights is number 7 Adam Clune
Forwards
-
Prop for Titans is number 8 Jaimin JolliffeProp for Knights is number 8 David Klemmer
-
Hooker for Titans is number 9 Sam McIntyreHooker for Knights is number 9 Jayden Brailey
-
Prop for Titans is number 10 Tino Fa'asuamaleauiProp for Knights is number 15 Jacob Saifiti
-
2nd Row for Titans is number 11 David Fifita2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Tyson Frizell
-
2nd Row for Titans is number 12 Beau Fermor2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Brodie Jones
-
Lock for Titans is number 13 Isaac LiuLock for Knights is number 13 Sauaso Sue
Interchange
-
Interchange for Titans is number 14 Paul TurnerInterchange for Knights is number 10 Daniel Saifiti
-
Interchange for Titans is number 15 Herman Ese'eseInterchange for Knights is number 14 Phoenix Crossland
-
Interchange for Titans is number 16 Moeaki FotuaikaInterchange for Knights is number 16 Pasami Saulo
-
Interchange for Titans is number 17 Klese HaasInterchange for Knights is number 17 Mat Croker
Reserves
-
Replacement for Titans is number 19 Jarrod WallaceReplacement for Knights is number 18 Jack Johns
Match Officials
- Referee: Ben Cummins
- Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
- Touch Judge: Nick Morel
- Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins
Last updated:
Key match-up
Tino Fa'asuamaleaui v Jayden Brailey: When the chips are down and the end of the season can't come quickly enough it's the skippers who need to lead by example and drive the standards. At 22 and 26 respectively, Fa'asuamaleaui and Brailey are two of the NRL's youngest leaders and they will have learned plenty about the demands of the job in 2022. If they can get the best out of their men and salvage some pride in the last couple of games it will give their club something positive to take into the off-season.
Stat Attack
The Knights and Titans have both come up with 56 try assists this season, well short of the benchmark set by the Storm with 87 and Roosters and Panthers with 86. The Titans' leader in the caegory is AJ Brimson with 13 try assists in 20 games while Adam Clune is the best of the Knights with 10.
Match: Titans v Knights
Round 24 -
home Team
Titans
15th Position
away Team
Knights
13th Position
Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
