A new-look Titans outfit will host competition debutants the Cowboys in a new Queensland derby on Saturday at Cbus Super Stadium.
The two sides have already seen a little of what to expect having played in a trial match with the Titans coming out on top in that instance.
The Gold Coast side have recruited well with Jillaroos Taliah Fuimaono, Shaylee Bent and Jaime Chapman joined by New Zealand rugby sevens star Niall Williams-Guthrie as new faces in the squad.
Cowboys coach Ben Jeffries has assembled a talent squad for their first season, with a mix of North Queensland talent and experienced campaigners like Tallisha Harden showing the way for the relatively young side.
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Team News
Titans: No further changes on game day after Hailee-Jay Ormond-Maunsell was replaced on the bench by former Rooster and Bronco Kaitlyn Phillips on Friday. Karyn Murphy has named teenagers Chantay Kiria-Ratu and Destiny Mino-Sinapati in her starting line-up, along with Rugby sevens star Niall Williams-Guthrie, who will make her NRLW debut in the centres. Kiria-Ratu will partner new recruit Taliah Fuimaono in the halves while Evania Pelite resumes her role at fullback. Lauren Brown shifts to hooker with veterans Brittany Breayley-Nati and Steph Hancock on the bench.
Cowboys: Sareka Mooka will start at prop and co-captain Tallisha Harden comes from the bench in a game day switch. Winger Autumn-Rain Stephens Daly and five-eighth Tahlulah Tillett (hand) came out of the starting side on Friday. Mia Middleton moves from centre to wing and Shellie Long moves from the bench to start at centre. Krystal Blackwell is the new five-eighth. Essay Banu has dropped off the bench and the new faces are April Ngatupuna, Sera Koroi and Vitalina Naikore.
English star Fran Goldthorp gets the nod at fullback and will make here NRLW debut on Saturday. Former Titan Tiana Raftstrand-Smith shifts to the middle as she prepares to take on her old side. Newcastle premiership winners Emma Manzelmann and Makenzie Weale are in the starting 13 for coach Ben Jeffries.
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Stat Attack
- The Titans beat the Cowboys 30-6 in a trial game a fortnight ago.
- The Cowboys have five former Titans in their inaugural squad.
- The Titans have the second most experienced squad in the NRLW behind the Roosters with 219 appearances.
- The Titans averaged just 11.6 points per game in 2022.
- Cowboys hooker Emma Manzelmann touched the ball more than any other player in 2022 with 356 receipts while playing for the Knights.