In a season of few highlights, the Titans' emphatic win over Manly at Lottoland in round 11 was certainly a night to remember.
The Titans have only scored 43 tries all season and seven of those came that night as their attack clicked into gear and Dale Copley reaped the rewards with a hat-trick.
Unfortunately for Gold Coast they turned around a week later and crossed the stripe only once in a demoralising 6-4 home loss to the Cowboys.
And that's their season in a nutshell - dangerous one week, dire the next.
Hard to know which Titans outfit will turn up on Saturday but at least they come with the knowledge they have what it takes to beat the Sea Eagles.
Match: Titans v Sea Eagles
Round 15 -
home Team
Titans
away Team
Sea Eagles
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Titans is number 1 AJ BrimsonFullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Tom Trbojevic
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Winger for Titans is number 2 Anthony DonWinger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jorge Taufua
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Centre for Titans is number 3 Jesse ArtharsCentre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Dylan Walker
-
Centre for Titans is number 4 Brian KellyCentre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Mosese Suli
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Winger for Titans is number 19 Phillip SamiWinger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Reuben Garrick
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Five-Eighth for Titans is number 6 Tyrone RobertsFive-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Cade Cust
-
Halfback for Titans is number 7 Ryley JacksHalfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-Evans
Forwards
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Prop for Titans is number 8 Jarrod WallaceProp for Sea Eagles is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake
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Hooker for Titans is number 9 Nathan PeatsHooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Manase Fainu
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Prop for Titans is number 10 Moeaki FotuaikaProp for Sea Eagles is number 10 Martin Taupau
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2nd Row for Titans is number 12 Bryce Cartwright2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Joel Thompson
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2nd Row for Titans is number 21 Kevin Proctor2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Curtis Sironen
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Lock for Titans is number 13 Jai WhitbreadLock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic
Interchange
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Interchange for Titans is number 11 Will MatthewsInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Brendan Elliot
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Interchange for Titans is number 14 Mitch ReinInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Corey Waddell
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Interchange for Titans is number 16 Jack StockwellInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Morgan Boyle
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Interchange for Titans is number 17 Shannon BoydInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Taniela Paseka
Match Officials
- Referee: Chris Sutton
- Referee: Phil Henderson
- Senior Review Official: Henry Perenara
Last updated:
The Rundown
Team news
Titans: Phil Sami comes onto the wing at the expense of Dale Copley, while Kevin Proctor has been cleared to return and rushed into the starting lineup for Will Matthews, who has dropped to the bench. Tyrone Peachey has been ruled out and Jai Arrow remains sidelined with an ankle injury. Prop Moeaki Fotuaika was forced to withdraw from Tonga's extended squad for their Test against New Zealand with a wrist injury but has been named. Branko Lee was omitted an hour prior to kick-off and Leilani Latu was cut from the reserves on Friday.
Sea Eagles: No disruptions or concerns in regards to the 17-man team Des Hasler named on Tuesday. Manase Fainu replaces injured hooker Api Koroisau (ankle), while Brendan Elliot and Corey Waddell are the new faces on the bench. Kane Elgey and Haumole Olakau'atu were the last players cut before kick-off. Lachlan Croker and Lloyd Perrett were trimmed from the reserves on Friday.
Match: Titans v Sea Eagles
Round 15 -
home Team
Titans
away Team
Sea Eagles
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Titans is number 1 AJ BrimsonFullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Tom Trbojevic
-
Winger for Titans is number 2 Anthony DonWinger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jorge Taufua
-
Centre for Titans is number 3 Jesse ArtharsCentre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Dylan Walker
-
Centre for Titans is number 4 Brian KellyCentre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Mosese Suli
-
Winger for Titans is number 19 Phillip SamiWinger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Reuben Garrick
-
Five-Eighth for Titans is number 6 Tyrone RobertsFive-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Cade Cust
-
Halfback for Titans is number 7 Ryley JacksHalfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-Evans
Forwards
-
Prop for Titans is number 8 Jarrod WallaceProp for Sea Eagles is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake
-
Hooker for Titans is number 9 Nathan PeatsHooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Manase Fainu
-
Prop for Titans is number 10 Moeaki FotuaikaProp for Sea Eagles is number 10 Martin Taupau
-
2nd Row for Titans is number 12 Bryce Cartwright2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Joel Thompson
-
2nd Row for Titans is number 21 Kevin Proctor2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Curtis Sironen
-
Lock for Titans is number 13 Jai WhitbreadLock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic
Interchange
-
Interchange for Titans is number 11 Will MatthewsInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Brendan Elliot
-
Interchange for Titans is number 14 Mitch ReinInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Corey Waddell
-
Interchange for Titans is number 16 Jack StockwellInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Morgan Boyle
-
Interchange for Titans is number 17 Shannon BoydInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Taniela Paseka
Match Officials
- Referee: Chris Sutton
- Referee: Phil Henderson
- Senior Review Official: Henry Perenara
Last updated:
Key match-up
With Ash Taylor not expected to be rushed back, the job of trying to drag the Titans out of the cellar falls to Ryley Jacks. At 27, he is just three years younger than Manly No.7 Daly Cherry-Evans, but is 175 games younger in terms of NRL experience. DCE has enjoyed an Origin renaissance and has Manly playing some attractive footy while Jacks has looked composed in his four games in 2019.
For the Titans to win
With Jai Arrow sidelined the Titans desperately need a couple of other big men to put their hands up and match motors with Martin Taupau, Addin Fonua-Blake and Jake Trbojevic. If Moeaki Fotuaiki returns from a wrist injury that will be a big boost and Maroons rep Jarrod Wallace is another who can churn out plenty of metres. Wallace has averaged 153.3 metres per game in 2019 and he'll need every one of those if the 15th placed Titans are to upset a confident Manly side which sits nine spots above them on the ladder.
For the Sea Eagles to win
Get the ball to Tom and Jake and let them do their stuff. The Trbojevic boys were simply stunning for the Blues in Origin II and can be relied upon to deliver another high quality performance before they get a bye in round 16 and then set their sights on the series decider. It's a rare feat for brothers to play in the same Origin side - think Brett and Josh Morris and Brett and Glenn Stewart - but even rarer that they would emerge as two of the standout stars and battle it out for man of the match honours.
Brett Kimmorley says
Des is doing wonderful things at Manly. They’ll get rep players back. The Trobojevic brothers were wonderful in Origin II. The Titans are unsure where they’re at. They haven’t shown me enough to convince me they’ll challenge one of the red-hot teams. Sea Eagles by 10
Stat Attack
The Titans will have to be focused on making ball-and-all tackles all afternoon of risk paying the price against the NRL's most prolific off-loaders. The Sea Eagles have 168 offloads, four more than second-placed Parramatta. On the downside, Manly's 245 ineffective tackles is the highest in the league, while their 104 penalties is equal-second most with Canberra.
And another thing ...
The Titans have become something of a bogey side for the Sea Eagles, winning their past three meetings, including a 36-18 triumph in round 11 on Manly's home turf. The Sea Eagles can't afford a second loss to a team that looks like finishing well down the ladder. Des Hasler will be preaching defence after Manly conceded an average of 36.7 points in those three previous losses to the Titans.
