The Cowboys will be bouncing into round seven full of confidence after a stunning comeback win in Canberra while the Titans could be forgiven for being flat after yet another narrow defeat.
Down 12-0 at the break in the national capital the Cowboys looked like being steamrolled by the Green Machine but instead they dug deep and produced three qualtiy tries to stun the Raiders and their coach.
The Titans were in it all the way at 4 Pines Park and finished four tries apiece woth Manly but Toby Sexton's radar deserted him and it was another case of 'what might have been' for Justin Holbrook.
Plenty of great clashes across the park with Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and David Fifita squaring off with Jason Taumalolo and Jeremiah Nanai, while Holmes and Hiku against Kelly and Herbert in the centres should be an intriguing battle of speed, strength and experience.
Sportsbet Betting preview: Cowboys v Titans
The Rundown
Team news
Cowboys: Reuben Cotter and Tom Gilbert have been promoted to the starting side an hour before kick-off with Coen Hess and Heilum Luki going to the bench. Brendan Elliot is 18th man.
Bench forward Griffin Neame returns from concussion and Jordan McLean starts. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (knee) was listed among the reserves on Tuesday but was cut from the squad on Friday along with Jamayne Taunoa-Brown, Riley Price, Jordan Lipp and Tomas Chester.
Titans: A number of late changes on game day with Phil Sami dropping out, Patrick Herbert moving to the wing and David Fifita going to the centres. Jaimin Jolliffe has come into the starting side at prop with Moeaki Fotuaika going to the bench. Kevin Proctor has come into the starting side after being named in the reserves on Tuesday.
Fullback Jayden Campbell was listed among the reserves on Tuesday as he nears a return from a rib injury that has sidelined him since round three but he was cut from the squad in the 24-hour update along with Tanah Boyd, Sam McIntyre, Sosefo Fifita and Corey Thompson.
Match: Cowboys v Titans
Round 7 -
home Team
Cowboys
away Team
Titans
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Cowboys is number 1 Scott DrinkwaterFullback for Titans is number 1 Jamayne Isaako
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Winger for Cowboys is number 2 Kyle FeldtWinger for Titans is number 4 Patrick Herbert
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Centre for Cowboys is number 3 Valentine HolmesCentre for Titans is number 3 Brian Kelly
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Centre for Cowboys is number 4 Peta HikuCentre for Titans is number 11 David Fifita
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Winger for Cowboys is number 5 Murray TaulagiWinger for Titans is number 5 Greg Marzhew
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Five-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Tom DeardenFive-Eighth for Titans is number 6 AJ Brimson
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Halfback for Cowboys is number 7 Chad TownsendHalfback for Titans is number 7 Toby Sexton
Forwards
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Prop for Cowboys is number 8 Jordan McLeanProp for Titans is number 10 Isaac Liu
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Hooker for Cowboys is number 9 Reece RobsonHooker for Titans is number 9 Erin Clark
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Prop for Cowboys is number 16 Reuben CotterProp for Titans is number 16 Jaimin Jolliffe
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2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 Jeremiah Nanai2nd Row for Titans is number 12 Beau Fermor
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2nd Row for Cowboys is number 15 Tom Gilbert2nd Row for Titans is number 19 Kevin Proctor
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Lock for Cowboys is number 13 Jason TaumaloloLock for Titans is number 13 Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
Interchange
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Interchange for Cowboys is number 10 Coen HessInterchange for Titans is number 8 Moeaki Fotuaika
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Interchange for Cowboys is number 11 Heilum LukiInterchange for Titans is number 14 Will Smith
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Interchange for Cowboys is number 14 Jake GranvilleInterchange for Titans is number 15 Sam Lisone
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Interchange for Cowboys is number 17 Griffin NeameInterchange for Titans is number 17 Jarrod Wallace
Reserves
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Replacement for Cowboys is number 19 Brendan ElliotReplacement for Titans is number 18 Paul Turner
Match Officials
- Referee: Chris Butler
- Touch Judge: Wyatt Raymond
- Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins
Last updated:
Key match-up
Jason Taumalolo v David Fifita: Two giants of the game who put their team on their back and carry them when an inspirational charge is needed. Taumalolo has run for 1020 metres at an average of 170m per game with a whopping 447 of those metres coming post-contact. Fifita has made 767 metres at 128 per game and his impact has been massive the past two weeks with a couple of barnstorming individual tries that very few players are capable of scoring.
Match: Cowboys v Titans
Round 7 -
home Team
Cowboys
5th Position
away Team
Titans
12th Position
Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
Stat attack
The Sharks lead the NRL for line breaks with 39 in six games, well clear of the Storm on 32. The Cowboys showed what they can do with an even share of possession as they powered home to beat Canberra in round five but still have just 18 line breaks for the year while the Titans have 26, of which David Fifita has five.
