You have skipped the navigation, tab for page content
Match Preview

Titans v Panthers: Holbrook shuffles the deck; Premiers unchanged

Author
pan66.com
Timestamp

The Titans will need to produce a stunning form turnaround if they hope to end the Panthers' unbeaten start to the season.

After six rounds of tight contests in which their biggest winning margin was two points and their biggest loss was eight points, Justin Holbrook's men were humbled 30-4 by the Cowboys - hardly the ideal build-up for a clash with the premiers.

In stark contrast, the Panthers are flying at 7-0 and looking extremely ominous as they go in search of back-to-back titles.

With Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo, Stephen Crichton and Dylan Edwards at the peak of their powers the Panthers look all but unbeatable and it's hard to see Gold Coast stopping the juggernaut.

Sportsbet Betting preview: Titans v Panthers

The Rundown

Team news

Titans: A late switch on game day with Kevin Proctor moving into the starting side and David Fifita reverting to the bench.

AJ Brimson takes over from Jamayne Isaako at fullback, Will Smith goes to five-eighth, Patrick Herbert returns to centre and Corey Thompson came on to the wing on Thursday after Phil Sami (knee) failed to come up. 

Moeaki Fotuaika starts at prop and Jaimin Jolliffe is out with a calf injury. Tanah Boyd and Herman Ese'ese join the bench.

Jayden Campbell (ribs) was listed among the reserves on Tuesday after having a run in Queensland Cup last weekend but he was left out when the squad was cut to 19 on Thursday.

Panthers: Impressive debutant Soni Luke retains his place on the bench as the Panthers go with the same 17 that took care of business against Canberra. Premiership-winning winger Brian To'o (knee) is aiming for a return in round nine.

No changes to the squad on game day. Chris Smith is 18th man.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Titans is number 1 AJ Brimson
    Fullback for Panthers is number 1 Dylan Edwards
  • Winger for Titans is number 5 Greg Marzhew
    Winger for Panthers is number 2 Charlie Staines
  • Centre for Titans is number 3 Brian Kelly
    Centre for Panthers is number 3 Izack Tago
  • Centre for Titans is number 4 Patrick Herbert
    Centre for Panthers is number 4 Stephen Crichton
  • Winger for Titans is number 23 Corey Thompson
    Winger for Panthers is number 5 Taylan May
  • Five-Eighth for Titans is number 6 Will Smith
    Five-Eighth for Panthers is number 6 Jarome Luai
  • Halfback for Titans is number 7 Toby Sexton
    Halfback for Panthers is number 7 Nathan Cleary

Forwards

  • Prop for Titans is number 8 Moeaki Fotuaika
    Prop for Panthers is number 8 Matthew Eisenhuth
  • Hooker for Titans is number 9 Erin Clark
    Hooker for Panthers is number 9 Apisai Koroisau
  • Prop for Titans is number 10 Isaac Liu
    Prop for Panthers is number 10 James Fisher-Harris
  • 2nd Row for Titans is number 12 Beau Fermor
    2nd Row for Panthers is number 11 Viliame Kikau
  • 2nd Row for Titans is number 17 Kevin Proctor
    2nd Row for Panthers is number 12 Liam Martin
  • Lock for Titans is number 13 Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
    Lock for Panthers is number 13 Isaah Yeo

Interchange

  • Interchange for Titans is number 11 David Fifita
    Interchange for Panthers is number 14 Soni Luke
  • Interchange for Titans is number 14 Tanah Boyd
    Interchange for Panthers is number 15 Scott Sorensen
  • Interchange for Titans is number 15 Sam Lisone
    Interchange for Panthers is number 16 Spencer Leniu
  • Interchange for Titans is number 16 Herman Ese'ese
    Interchange for Panthers is number 17 Jaeman Salmon

Reserves

  • Replacement for Titans is number 18 Jamayne Isaako
    Replacement for Panthers is number 19 Chris Smith

Match Officials

  • Referee: Peter Gough
  • Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
  • Touch Judge: Jon Stone
  • Senior Review Official: Gerard Sutton

Last updated:

Key match-up

Toby Sexton v Nathan Cleary: At 21 and 11 games into his NRL career, the Titans' playmaker gets to test his skills against the best in the business and if Sexton can lead his side to an unlikely victory it would be a massive shot in the arm. Sexton needs to take control from the outset, kicking to the corners and riding his forwards to mix it up in the middle with the powerhouse Panthers pack. Cleary continues to evolve as the game's utlimate general and it'll take a very special performance to out-point him.

Stat attack

The Panthers have scored 100 more points than the Titans across the first seven rounds (220 to 120) and conceded 78 fewer points (84 to 162). The Panthers' differential of +136 was clearly the best in the NRL until the Storm ran rampant on ANZAC Day, winning by 60 and taking their differential to +141.

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.

Premier Partner

Media Partners

Major Partners

View All Partners