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Match Preview

Titans v Cowboys: Brimson to five-eighth; Townsend back on deck

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pan66.com
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After both falling desperately short in two-point losses last week, the Titans and Cowboys will be eyeing a bounce back when they clash in the final game of Round 10.

Following their upset win over the Warriors on ANZAC Day, the Gold Coast showed plenty of positives once again in an eventual 22-20 loss to the Storm, but couldn’t come up with the clutch plays late on when the game sat in the balance.

Led by AJ Brimson, it was another impressive showing from the Titans’ powerful backline who ran for over 700 metres combined.

Up in Townsville it was a less optimistic result for the Cowboys who collapsed badly after running out to a 10-0 lead on nine minutes, to suffer their fifth loss of the season.

Thirteen errors across the 80 minutes didn't help their cause and Todd Payten’s side have now leaked at least 20 points in all but one of their nine games this season.  

In the Cowboys’ favour this week is recent knowledge of how to beat the Titans – which they did by a score of 25-22 back in Round 5 – but when playing the Cowboys at Cbus Super Stadium the Gold Coast have won three of their past four.

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Team News

Titans: A late change to the halves sees AJ Brimson shift to five-eighth with young gun Keano Kini moving not fullback and Chris Randall to hooker after being named in the halves earlier in the week. Tanah Boyd is out after suffering a wrist injury early in last week’s loss to the Storm. Moeaki Fotuaika (concussion) is good to go and will start up front in a huge boost for the Gold Coast side. Alofiana Khan-Pereira is 18th man.

Cowboys:A late change for the visitors sees Heilum Luki join the starting side at second row, with Kulikefu Finefeuiaki moving back to the bench.  This cones after coach Todd Payten confirmed on Saturday that prop Jordan McLean (hamstring) was unavailable for the trip to the Gold Coast and will be replaced in the side by new signing Harrison Edwards, with Thomas Mikaele promoted to the run-on side. Halfback Chad Townsend will play after missing Round 9 with a knee injury. Jake Granville is 18th man.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Titans is number 14 Keano Kini
    Fullback for Cowboys is number 1 Scott Drinkwater 
  • Winger for Titans is number 2 Phillip Sami
    Winger for Cowboys is number 2 Kyle Feldt
  • Centre for Titans is number 3 Brian Kelly
    Centre for Cowboys is number 3 Valentine Holmes
  • Centre for Titans is number 4 Harley Smith-Shields
    Centre for Cowboys is number 4 Viliami Vailea
  • Winger for Titans is number 5 Jojo Fifita
    Winger for Cowboys is number 5 Semi Valemei
  • Five-Eighth for Titans is number 1 AJ Brimson
    Five-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Tom Dearden
  • Halfback for Titans is number 7 Kieran Foran
    Halfback for Cowboys is number 7 Chad Townsend

Forwards

  • Prop for Titans is number 8 Moeaki Fotuaika
    Prop for Cowboys is number 10 Griffin Neame
  • Hooker for Titans is number 6 Chris Randall
    Hooker for Cowboys is number 9 Reece Robson
  • Prop for Titans is number 10 Jaimin Jolliffe
    Prop for Cowboys is number 15 Thomas Mikaele
  • 2nd Row for Titans is number 11 David Fifita
    2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 Jeremiah Nanai
  • 2nd Row for Titans is number 12 Beau Fermor
    2nd Row for Cowboys is number 14 Heilum Luki
  • Lock for Titans is number 16 Klese Haas
    Lock for Cowboys is number 13 Reuben Cotter

Interchange

  • Interchange for Titans is number 9 Sam Verrills
    Interchange for Cowboys is number 11 Kulikefu   Finefeuiaki
  • Interchange for Titans is number 13 Isaac Liu
    Interchange for Cowboys is number 16 Sam McIntyre
  • Interchange for Titans is number 15 Erin Clark
    Interchange for Cowboys is number 17 Jason Taumalolo
  • Interchange for Titans is number 17 Josiah Pahulu
    Interchange for Cowboys is number 20 Harrison Edwards

Reserves

  • Replacement for Titans is number 18 Alofiana Khan-Pereira
    Replacement for Cowboys is number 18 Jake Granville

Match Officials

  • Referee: Wyatt Raymond
  • Touch Judge: Dave Munro
  • Senior Review Official: Peter Gough

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • The Titans’ last four games have been decided by four points or less.
  • The Cowboys have won four of their past five games against the Titans.
  • Titans fullback AJ Brimson has scored eight tries in 11 games against the Cowboys.
  • Cowboys second-rower Jeremiah Nanai has scored four tries in his past four games.
  • The Titans have won only one of their past seven games at Cbus Super Stadium.

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

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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.