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Titans v Storm: Gold Coast unchanged; Four fresh faces for Bellamy's men

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pan66.com
Timestamp

Gold Coast and Melbourne clash for the 26th time in NRL history on Saturday afternoon after both sides suffered losses in Round 2 following first-up wins to open the season.

The Titans came back to earth at Kogarah on Sunday after an impressive start to the season while Melbourne copped more injury concerns in their loss to the Bulldogs but were otherwise beaten on enthusiasm. 

Craig Bellamy's men hold a dominant record against the Titans, particularly at Cbus Super Stadium, and with a few stars slated to return, they'll want to correct their efforts last week.

Star recruit Kieran Foran has seen it all in his 264-game career and the Titans will look to him for guidance and a steadying hand as they look to bounce back in front of the Cbus Super Stadium faithful.

Their 12-2 lead early against the Dragons was encouraging but the kicking game of Foran's and Tanah Boyd will need to be better to get the home side over the line.

Team News

Titans: No late changes. Hooker Sam Verrills (shoulder) is out, replaced by Chris Randall. The new faces on the interchange are Joseph Vuna in his first game since 2021 after missing all of 2022 due to an ACL injury and Iszac Fa'asuamaleaui, younger brother of skipper Tino, who makes his NRL debut.

Storm: Xavier Coates (shoulder), Tui Kamikamica (foot), Tariq Sims (calf) and Justin Olam (arm) have all been named in a huge boost for the Storm. Tyran Wishart drops back to the bench with Jonah Pezet set to start in the halves alongside Jahrome Hughes. Bronson Garlick joins the bench in place of Jordan Grant.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Titans is number 1 AJ Brimson
    Fullback for Storm is number 1 Nick Meaney
  • Winger for Titans is number 2 Alofiana Khan-Pereira
    Winger for Storm is number 2 Will Warbrick
  • Centre for Titans is number 3 Brian Kelly
    Centre for Storm is number 3 Reimis Smith
  • Centre for Titans is number 4 Aaron Schoupp
    Centre for Storm is number 4 Justin Olam
  • Winger for Titans is number 5 Phillip Sami
    Winger for Storm is number 5 Xavier Coates
  • Five-Eighth for Titans is number 6 Kieran Foran
    Five-Eighth for Storm is number 14 Jonah Pezet
  • Halfback for Titans is number 7 Tanah Boyd
    Halfback for Storm is number 7 Jahrome Hughes

Forwards

  • Prop for Titans is number 8 Moeaki Fotuaika
    Prop for Storm is number 8 Tui  Kamikamica 
  • Hooker for Titans is number 9 Chris Randall
    Hooker for Storm is number 9 Harry Grant
  • Prop for Titans is number 10 Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
    Prop for Storm is number 10 Christian Welch
  • 2nd Row for Titans is number 11 David Fifita
    2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Trent Loiero
  • 2nd Row for Titans is number 12 Joe Stimson
    2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Eliesa Katoa
  • Lock for Titans is number 13 Isaac Liu
    Lock for Storm is number 13 Josh King

Interchange

  • Interchange for Titans is number 14 Jayden Campbell
    Interchange for Storm is number 6 Tyran Wishart
  • Interchange for Titans is number 15 Erin Clark
    Interchange for Storm is number 15 Alec MacDonald
  • Interchange for Titans is number 16 Joe Vuna
    Interchange for Storm is number 16 Tariq Sims
  • Interchange for Titans is number 17 Iszac Fa'asuamaleaui
    Interchange for Storm is number 21 Bronson Garlick

Reserves

  • Replacement for Titans is number 18 Sam McIntyre
    Replacement for Storm is number 17 Jordan Grant

Match Officials

  • Referee: Grant Atkins
  • Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
  • Touch Judge: Wyatt Raymond
  • Senior Review Official: Matt Noyen

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • The Titans have not defeated the Storm at Cbus Super Stadium since 2013.
  • Melbourne have won their past eight games against the Titans.
  • The Titans have scored 80 points in their past two games at Cbus Super Stadium.
  • Titans utility Jayden Campbell has scored seven tries in his past nine games at Cbus Super Stadium.
  • The Storm and Titans sit atop the missed tackle count after two rounds - Storm have missed 86 and Titans 84.
  • The Storm have made 11 line breaks in their two matches, second only to the Warriors with 12. The Titans have come up with just seven.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the .

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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.