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Match Preview

Dragons v Titans: Speed to burn in epic backline battle

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pan66.com
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The Dragons and Titans kick off a Sunday afternoon triple-header of NRLW football, with the Titans playing their first ever match and the Dragons looking for another grand final shot after being runners-up in 2019.

The Titans have picked up six players from last year's Warriors squad with the New Zealand side sitting out the 2021 competition due to border difficulties.

The Dragons have a number of players returning from the 2020 season but have also been heavily impacted by the competition's expansion with a number of stars being picked up by other clubs. 

For a new club, the Titans line-up is strong with four Jillaroos and three Kiwi Ferns in the squad under coach Jamie Feeney. Dragons legend Jamie Soward takes the reins of the Red V this year taking over from Daniel Lacey.

The Rundown

Team news

Dragons: Australian rugby sevens star Emma Tonegato has been handed the No.1 jersey by Jamie Soward as part of a quality backline which features two-time Indigenous All Star Taliah Fuimaono at five-eighth and Karina Brown on the wing.

Kezie Apps captains the side and headlines a forward pack which includes PNG international Elsie Albert and Dragons mainstays Shaylee Bent and Holli Wheeler in the back row. Former Rooster Quincy Dodd arrives at the club after three years at the Tricolours and provides a one-two punch with Keeley Davis at hooker.

Keele Brown, Aliti Namoce-Sagano, Alexandra Sulusi and Matilda Power dropped out of the extended squad 24 hours before kick-off.

Titans: A change for the Titans 24 hours before kick-off with centre Jasmine Peters out of the side and her place taken by Lauren Dam in jersey No.18. Cobie-Jane Morgan, Laikha Clarke and Karli Hansen also dropped out of the extended squad on Saturday.

Former premiership-winning Bronco and 2018 Dally M winner Brittany Breayley-Nati captains the side from hooker. Her wife, New Zealand international and 2018 grand final player of the match Kimiora Breayley-Nati, is the halfback. Rugby convert and 2020 NRLW sensation Evania Pelite starts at fullback with veteran Karina Brown adding star power on the wing.

Prop Shannon Mato is coming off a mighty stint for the Maori All Stars while Steph Hancock, Georgia Hale, Jessika Elliston and Shaniah Power make up one of the most impressive and experienced benches in the competition. 

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Emma Tonegato
    Fullback for Titans is number 1 Evania Pelite
  • Winger for Dragons is number 2 Teagan Berry
    Winger for Titans is number 2 Karina Brown
  • Centre for Dragons is number 3 Jaime Chapman
    Centre for Titans is number 4 Tiana Raftstrand-Smith 
  • Centre for Dragons is number 4 Page McGregor
    Centre for Titans is number 18 Lauren Dam
  • Winger for Dragons is number 5 Madison Bartlett
    Winger for Titans is number 5 Jetaya Faifua
  • Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Taliah Fuimaono
    Five-Eighth for Titans is number 6 Grace Griffin
  • Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Rachael Pearson
    Halfback for Titans is number 7 Kimiora Breayley-Nati 

Forwards

  • Prop for Dragons is number 8 Elsie Albert
    Prop for Titans is number 8 Shannon Mato
  • Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Keeley Davis
    Hooker for Titans is number 9 Brittany Breayley-Nati
  • Prop for Dragons is number 10 Kezie Apps
    Prop for Titans is number 10 Brianna Clark
  • 2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Talei Holmes
    2nd Row for Titans is number 11 Zara Canfield
  • 2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Shaylee Bent
    2nd Row for Titans is number 12 Tazmin Gray
  • Lock for Dragons is number 13 Holli Wheeler
    Lock for Titans is number 14 Georgia Hale

Interchange

  • Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Quincy Dodd
    Interchange for Titans is number 13 Destiny Brill
  • Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Kody House
    Interchange for Titans is number 15 Jessika Elliston
  • Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Tegan Dymock
    Interchange for Titans is number 16 Stephanie Hancock
  • Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Janelle Williams
    Interchange for Titans is number 17 Shaniah Power

Reserves

  • Reserve for Dragons is number 18 Renee Targett
    Reserve for Titans is number 19 April Ngatupuna

Match Officials

  • Senior Review Official: Steve Chiddy

Last updated:

Key match-up

Steph Hancock v Elsie Albert: Former Jillaroos skipper Hancock is the player age cannot catch and continues to put up high-class performances in the middle through two premiership-winning seasons at the Broncos and last year at the Dragons. She will face off against former Red V teammate and PNG Orchids powerhouse Albert, herself one of the best forwards in the game. 

Stat attack

Five-eighth-turned-lock Georgia Hale topped the NRLW tackle count last year. Playing for the Warriors, Hale completed a massive 116 tackles in three games. She may be starting from the interchange but the inaugural Titan will again be leading the way in the middle for her new club. 

Related

Acknowledgement of Country

National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.