After both falling desperately short in two-point losses last week, the Titans and Cowboys will be eyeing a bounce back when they clash in the final game of Round 10.
Following their upset win over the Warriors on ANZAC Day, the Gold Coast showed plenty of positives once again in an eventual 22-20 loss to the Storm, but couldn’t come up with the clutch plays late on when the game sat in the balance.
Led by AJ Brimson, it was another impressive showing from the Titans’ powerful backline who ran for over 700 metres combined.
Up in Townsville it was a less optimistic result for the Cowboys who collapsed badly after running out to a 10-0 lead on nine minutes, to suffer their fifth loss of the season.
Thirteen errors across the 80 minutes didn't help their cause and Todd Payten’s side have now leaked at least 20 points in all but one of their nine games this season.
In the Cowboys’ favour this week is recent knowledge of how to beat the Titans – which they did by a score of 25-22 back in Round 5 – but when playing the Cowboys at Cbus Super Stadium the Gold Coast have won three of their past four.
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Team News
Titans: A late change to the halves sees AJ Brimson shift to five-eighth with young gun Keano Kini moving not fullback and Chris Randall to hooker after being named in the halves earlier in the week. Tanah Boyd is out after suffering a wrist injury early in last week’s loss to the Storm. Moeaki Fotuaika (concussion) is good to go and will start up front in a huge boost for the Gold Coast side. Alofiana Khan-Pereira is 18th man.
Cowboys:A late change for the visitors sees Heilum Luki join the starting side at second row, with Kulikefu Finefeuiaki moving back to the bench. This cones after coach Todd Payten confirmed on Saturday that prop Jordan McLean (hamstring) was unavailable for the trip to the Gold Coast and will be replaced in the side by new signing Harrison Edwards, with Thomas Mikaele promoted to the run-on side. Halfback Chad Townsend will play after missing Round 9 with a knee injury. Jake Granville is 18th man.
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Stat Attack
- The Titans’ last four games have been decided by four points or less.
- The Cowboys have won four of their past five games against the Titans.
- Titans fullback AJ Brimson has scored eight tries in 11 games against the Cowboys.
- Cowboys second-rower Jeremiah Nanai has scored four tries in his past four games.
- The Titans have won only one of their past seven games at Cbus Super Stadium.
This article contains content that is only available on NRL.com
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.