A new era under the guidance of premiership-winning coaches begins for both the Titans and Dragons after they each ended 2023 ranked among the bottom four teams on the ladder.
Des Hasler has inherited a Gold Coast roster loaded with representative talent that should be in a position to challenge for the top eight immediately,
While he doesn't have the same level of talent at his disposal right now, Shane Flanagan has been busy in the player market this off-season and welcomes in eight new recruits, with an expectation that he can lift the Dragons away from the bottom end of the ladder sooner rather than later.
Since meeting in the Titans' first ever NRL game back in 2007, these two sides have played a further 28 times with the Dragons winning 18 of those encounters.
In 2023 they shared a win each, while the Dragons are winless in their last four visits to Cbus Super Stadium.
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Team News
Titans: A huge blow for the home side on sees veteran Kieran Foran been ruled out with a lower limb injury with rookie Tom Weaver called up to start at five-eighth. Another change on game day with milestone man Isaac Liu starting at lock with former Bronco Keenan Palasia shifting to the bench for his club debut. Keano Kini takes over in the No.1 jersey with Jayden Campbell likely to miss the first month with a knee injury. The absence of David Fifita (pectoral) sees Beau Fermor move to the left edge while Klese Haas claims the other second row spot. AJ Brimson (head knock) is right to go in the centres in his 100th NRL game.
Dragons: No late changes after prop Blake Lawrie (rib cartilage) dropped out of the side on Friday with Jack de Belin moving to the front row and Raymond Faitala-Mariner joining the starting side. Ben Murdoch-Masila is the new man on the bench. Hooker Jacob Liddle (hamstring) is good to go. Viliami Fifita has been named to make his NRL debut off the interchange whilst Kyle Flanagan, Tom Eisenhuth and Faitala-Mariner make their club debuts. Fellow recruits Hame Sele (hamstring) and Luciano Leilua (suspension) are unavailable.
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Stat Attack
- The Titans have won four of their past six games against the Dragons.
- The Dragons have lost their past four games at Cbus Super Stadium.
- Titans winger Alofiana Khan-Pereira has scored 20 tries in 23 NRL games.
- Dragons winger Mikaele Ravalawa has scored 15 tries in his past 12 NRL games.
- Titans forward Isaac Liu will reach the milestone of 250 NRL games if he overcomes injury in time to play against the Dragons.
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Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.