A new era under the guidance of premiership-winning coaches begins for both the Titans and Dragons after they each ended 2023 ranked among the bottom four teams on the ladder.
Des Hasler has inherited a Gold Coast roster loaded with representative talent that should be in a position to challenge for the top eight immediately,
While he doesn't have the same level of talent at his disposal right now, Shane Flanagan has been busy in the player market this off-season and welcomes in eight new recruits, with an expectation that he can lift the Dragons away from the bottom end of the ladder sooner rather than later.
Since meeting in the Titans' first ever NRL game back in 2007, these two sides have played a further 28 times with the Dragons winning 18 of those encounters.
In 2023 they shared a win each, while the Dragons are winless in their last four visits to Cbus Super Stadium.
Sportsbet Betting Preview - Titans v Dragons
Team News
Titans: A huge blow for the home side on sees veteran Kieran Foran been ruled out with a lower limb injury with rookie Tom Weaver called up to start at five-eighth. Another change on game day with milestone man Isaac Liu starting at lock with former Bronco Keenan Palasia shifting to the bench for his club debut. Keano Kini takes over in the No.1 jersey with Jayden Campbell likely to miss the first month with a knee injury. The absence of David Fifita (pectoral) sees Beau Fermor move to the left edge while Klese Haas claims the other second row spot. AJ Brimson (head knock) is right to go in the centres in his 100th NRL game.
Dragons: No late changes after prop Blake Lawrie (rib cartilage) dropped out of the side on Friday with Jack de Belin moving to the front row and Raymond Faitala-Mariner joining the starting side. Ben Murdoch-Masila is the new man on the bench. Hooker Jacob Liddle (hamstring) is good to go. Viliami Fifita has been named to make his NRL debut off the interchange whilst Kyle Flanagan, Tom Eisenhuth and Faitala-Mariner make their club debuts. Fellow recruits Hame Sele (hamstring) and Luciano Leilua (suspension) are unavailable.
Match: Titans v Dragons
Round 1 -
home Team
Titans
away Team
Dragons
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Titans is number 1 Keano KiniFullback for Dragons is number 1 Tyrell Sloan
-
Winger for Titans is number 2 Alofiana Khan-PereiraWinger for Dragons is number 2 Zac Lomax
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Centre for Titans is number 3 Brian KellyCentre for Dragons is number 3 Mosese Suli
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Centre for Titans is number 4 AJ BrimsonCentre for Dragons is number 4 Jack Bird
-
Winger for Titans is number 5 Phillip SamiWinger for Dragons is number 5 Mikaele Ravalawa
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Five-Eighth for Titans is number 21 Tom WeaverFive-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Kyle Flanagan
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Halfback for Titans is number 7 Tanah BoydHalfback for Dragons is number 7 Ben Hunt
Forwards
-
Prop for Titans is number 8 Moeaki FotuaikaProp for Dragons is number 8 Francis Molo
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Hooker for Titans is number 9 Chris RandallHooker for Dragons is number 9 Jacob Liddle
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Prop for Titans is number 10 Tino Fa'asuamaleauiProp for Dragons is number 13 Jack De Belin
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2nd Row for Titans is number 11 Klese Haas2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Jaydn Su'a
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2nd Row for Titans is number 12 Beau Fermor2nd Row for Dragons is number 17 Raymond Faitala-Mariner
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Lock for Titans is number 15 Isaac LiuLock for Dragons is number 11 Tom Eisenhuth
Interchange
-
Interchange for Titans is number 13 Keenan PalasiaInterchange for Dragons is number 14 Connor Muhleisen
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Interchange for Titans is number 14 Sam VerrillsInterchange for Dragons is number 15 Michael Molo
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Interchange for Titans is number 16 Erin ClarkInterchange for Dragons is number 16 Viliami Fifita
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Interchange for Titans is number 17 Jaimin JolliffeInterchange for Dragons is number 18 Ben Murdoch-Masila
Reserves
-
Replacement for Titans is number 19 Jojo FifitaReplacement for Dragons is number 20 Jesse Marschke
Match Officials
- Referee: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
- Touch Judge: Matt Noyen
- Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Titans have won four of their past six games against the Dragons.
- The Dragons have lost their past four games at Cbus Super Stadium.
- Titans winger Alofiana Khan-Pereira has scored 20 tries in 23 NRL games.
- Dragons winger Mikaele Ravalawa has scored 15 tries in his past 12 NRL games.
- Titans forward Isaac Liu will reach the milestone of 250 NRL games if he overcomes injury in time to play against the Dragons.
Match: Titans v Dragons
Round 1 -
home Team
Titans
15th Position
away Team
Dragons
2nd Position
Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the .
