Sportal Preview: Titans v Wests Tigers
Luke Buttigieg
VENUE & TIME: Skilled Park, Friday, April 15, 7.30pm (AEST), 9.30pm (NZT)
COVERAGE: Channel Nine/Sky Sport
HEAD TO HEAD Played 7, Titans 4, Wests Tigers 3
LAST TIME: Titans 21 - Wests Tigers 18 at Skilled Park, Round 26, 2010
WALKING WOUNDED:
Two huge inclusions for Gold Coast this week with Greg Bird back from suspension and Ashley Harrison returning from injury, with Anthony Laffranchi dropped. But veteran Preston Campbell (knee) and Kevin Gordon (knee) are both still out, Gordon until 2012.
Wests Tigers have injury concerns of their own with Liam Fulton (shoulder), Lote Tuqiri (arm), Robert Lui (ankle) and Chris Lawrence (hip) joined in the casualty ward by Geoff Daniela (chest) and Keith Galloway (groin).
FORM:
It's been a terrible start to the year for the Titans with their only win coming in Round 4 when they got out of jail in the nation's capital. They went down again last week though, beaten 22-12 by the Cowboys after trailing 22-0 at the break.
Hamstrung by injury, the Tigers were given little hope by many against the Rabbitohs and then conceded the game's opening try. But from that point on they ran riot, charging away to a 30-6 win.
WHO'S HOT:
Gold Coast prop Ryan James might only be 19 and only a handful of games into his first-grade career but that hasn't stopped him being touted as an Origin bolter for New South Wales, who will be seeking to avoid a sixth-straight series defeat.
Wests back-rower Simon Dwyer led the way on the scoring front last week with a couple of tries but both were set up by Kiwis superstar Benji Marshall, who also landed five of his six kicks for goal while skipper Robbie Farah also impressed despite battling a groin strain.
WE THINK:
Already in trouble after some terrible displays so far this season, Gold Coast desperately need some points to kick-start their faltering campaign from last on the ladder with the second-worst points differential in the comp.
But while they will be back at home, where they have already dropped their two games this season, it won't be an easy task against the Tigers who ran riot last week and will be looking to strengthen their position in the top eight. On form, you can't go past the visitors. Wests Tigers by 12.
