Titans v Warriors: Fifita back on deck; RTS good to go
Having slumped to the bottom of the ladder on the back of their loss to the Tigers, Des Hasler's Titans must find a way to regroup on home soil against a Warriors side sure to be smarting after giving up a 14-0 lead against the Storm.
Hasler could scarcely believe his team had failed to turn nine line breaks into a victory at Leichhardt Oval, succumbing 18-10 to a desperate Tigers outfit that had lost nine games in a row.
The Warriors exploded out of the blocks in front of a raucous home crowd in Auckland but offered little in attack in the second half as their losing streak against Melbourne stretched to 16 matches.
With Kurt Capewell called into the Maroons side for Origin Two and Mitch Barnett listed as 18th man for NSW, the Warriors are down a couple of experienced forwards, while the Titans will be without Maroons prop Moeaki Fotuaika.
The Titans have won just one game at Cbus Super Stadium in 2024 but they did knock off the Warriors in Auckland in Round 8 to give them hope of climbing out of the cellar with a victory on Saturday.
Sportsbet Betting Preview - Titans v Warriors
Team News
Titans: David Fifita returns from a minor ankle injury and is part of a re-jigged forward pack that has Erin Clark at prop, Jacob Alick-Wiencke in the second row and Chris Randall at lock, after a flurry of late changes from Des Hasler. Sam Verrills now starts at hooker, with Beau Fermor shifting out to the centres. Moeaki Fotuaika is their lone Origin representative.
Warriors: No late changes, with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck returning from a hamstring injury at centre. Dylan Walker starts in the second row with Kurt Capewell returning to the Origin arena, and Tohu Harris comes in at lock. Bunty Afoa is the replacement player.
Match: Titans v Warriors
Round 16 -
home Team
Titans
away Team
Warriors
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Titans is number 1 Keano KiniFullback for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
-
Winger for Titans is number 2 Alofiana Khan-PereiraWinger for Warriors is number 2 Edward Kosi
-
Centre for Titans is number 3 Brian KellyCentre for Warriors is number 3 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
-
Centre for Titans is number 12 Beau FermorCentre for Warriors is number 4 Adam Pompey
-
Winger for Titans is number 4 Phillip SamiWinger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo Montoya
-
Five-Eighth for Titans is number 6 Jayden CampbellFive-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Te Maire Martin
-
Halfback for Titans is number 7 Kieran ForanHalfback for Warriors is number 7 Shaun Johnson
Forwards
-
Prop for Titans is number 10 Josiah PahuluProp for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake
-
Hooker for Titans is number 14 Sam VerrillsHooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan
-
Prop for Titans is number 13 Erin ClarkProp for Warriors is number 10 Jackson Ford
-
2nd Row for Titans is number 11 David Fifita2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Marata Niukore
-
2nd Row for Titans is number 19 Jacob Alick-Wiencke2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Dylan Walker
-
Lock for Titans is number 9 Chris RandallLock for Warriors is number 13 Tohu Harris
Interchange
-
Interchange for Titans is number 8 Keenan PalasiaInterchange for Warriors is number 14 Chanel Harris-Tavita
-
Interchange for Titans is number 15 Isaac LiuInterchange for Warriors is number 15 Jacob Laban
-
Interchange for Titans is number 16 Iszac Fa'asuamaleauiInterchange for Warriors is number 16 Jazz Tevaga
-
Interchange for Titans is number 17 Joe StimsonInterchange for Warriors is number 17 Tom Ale
Reserves
-
Replacement for Titans is number 18 Tanah BoydReplacement for Warriors is number 18 Bunty Afoa
Match Officials
- Referee: Adam Gee
- Touch Judge: Dave Munro
- Touch Judge: Matt Noyen
- Senior Review Official: Kasey Badger
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Titans have won four of their past five games against the Warriors.
- Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson has won 18 of his 21 games against the Titans.
- The Titans have won only one of six games at Cbus Super Stadium this season.
- The Warriors have lost three of their past four away games.
- Titans winger Alofiana Khan-Pereira has scored 12 tries in 15 games at Cbus Super Stadium.
Match: Titans v Warriors
Round 16 -
home Team
Titans
15th Position
away Team
Warriors
13th Position
Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
