The Dragons will look to hit the ground running after a round one bye but they face a stiff test against a Titans team that opened their season in style at Leichhardt Oval.
Having missed the finals for the past four seasons, the Dragons must get away to a good start and then find the consistency that eluded them for much of 2022 until they finished the year with three wins on the trot.
One of those victories came against the Titans at WIN Stadium in round 23 when they piled on 46 points, their highest score of the season.
The Titans were able to regroup and win their final two matches before carrying that momentum into the Pre-Season Challenge where they put 40 points on the Dolphins and then the season opener against Wests Tigers (22-10).
With star signing Kieran Foran feeding David Fifita on the left edge and fullback AJ Brimson ever present in support, the Titans' attack looked sharp and they will fancy their chances against a Dragons defence that leaked 72 points in its two Pre-Season Challenge games.
The Dragons will again rely heavily on skipper Ben Hunt to provide direction and calmness in attack and Tyrell Sloan and Mat Feagai to bring spark out wide.
This article contains content that is only available on pan66.com
Team News
Dragons: Josh Kerr comes onto the bench with Michael Molo reverting to 18th man in the only change for the Red V. Jack Bird (knee) is back after having surgery in early February. Talatau Amone has been cleared to return to play but dropped out of the squad in Saturday's 24-hour update as he seeks more time on the training paddock before a comeback. Toby Couchman will make his NRL debut off the bench.
Titans: Jaimin Jolliffe is out with Erin Clark to start at prop. Chris Randall is the new man on the bench after overcoming a hamstring injury. Kieran Foran (cork) will play after getting through training this week. Treymain Spry will be 18th man.
This article contains content that is only available on pan66.com
Stat Attack
- The Dragons have won three of their past four games at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
- Dragons winger Mat Feagai has scored four tries in five games at Netstrata Jubilee.
- Titans centre Phillip Sami has scored three tries in three games at Kogarah.
- The Titans had the fifth most tackle breaks in the NRL in 2022 behind big guns the Sharks, Panthers, Storm and Roosters. The Titans had 882 tackle breaks compared to the Dragons' 751.
- Dragons centre Zac Lomax requires five goals to bring 200 career goals in the NRL.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the .