NRL 2024: Titans, Round 9 team: AJ v Paps battle awaits as experience returns to weather the Storm

Author: Titans.com.au
Timestamp: Tue 30 Apr 2024, 03:59 PM

AJ Brimson will be hoping to continue his heroics at fullback when the Titans face the Melbourne Storm at Cbus Super Stadium on Saturday night.

Set to play in the No. 1 role for the third week in a row, the 25-year-old will remain in the favoured position even with the return of Phil Sami, who was initially named to fill duties at the back against the Sea Eagles a fortnight ago.

Failing a fitness test in the lead-up to that match, Gold Coast medicos have given the experienced winger extra time to overcome a syndesmosis injury with full confidence he will be right to go after missing the past four weeks.

His inclusion pushes Alofiana Khan-Pereira to the extended bench, with Jojo Fifita to retain his wing spot after having filled Sami's spot during his absence.

In other team changes, Joe Stimson has been named to start in Moeaki Fotuaika's place after the back-fence specialist was subjected to a mandatory 11-day stand-down under the NRL's concussion protocols.

Harley Smith-Shields is also expected to return to the centres after suffering a minor abdominal injury during the warm-up in New Zealand, although Aaron Schoupp retains his place in the extended squad after his late inclusion against the Warriors.

Keenan Palasia will also be given every opportunity to prove his fitness, named in the 22-man team for the first time since sustaining a quad injury on the eve of Round 4.

Kick-off is at 5.30pm on Saturday at Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast.

Round 9 - Round 9 - Saturday 4 May

Full Time

Titans

Storm

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Titans is number 1 AJ Brimson

Fullback for Storm is number 1 Ryan Papenhuyzen
Winger for Titans is number 2 Phillip Sami

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 Harley Smith-Shields

Centre for Storm is number 4 Nick Meaney
Winger for Titans is number 5 Jojo Fifita

Winger for Storm is number 19 Sualauvi Faalogo
Five-Eighth for Titans is number 6 Tanah Boyd

Five-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Cameron Munster
Halfback for Titans is number 7 Kieran Foran

Halfback for Storm is number 7 Jahrome Hughes

Forwards

Prop for Titans is number 10 Jaimin Jolliffe

Prop for Storm is number 8 Christian Welch
Hooker for Titans is number 9 Chris Randall

Hooker for Storm is number 9 Harry Grant
Prop for Titans is number 17 Josiah Pahulu

Prop for Storm is number 10 Josh King
2nd Row for Titans is number 11 David Fifita

2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Shawn Blore
2nd Row for Titans is number 12 Beau Fermor

2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Eliesa Katoa
Lock for Titans is number 13 Isaac Liu

Lock for Storm is number 13 Trent Loiero

Interchange

Interchange for Titans is number 8 Joe Stimson

Interchange for Storm is number 5 Tyran Wishart
Interchange for Titans is number 14 Sam Verrills

Interchange for Storm is number 15 Joe Chan
Interchange for Titans is number 15 Erin Clark

Interchange for Storm is number 16 Nelson Asofa-Solomona
Interchange for Titans is number 16 Klese Haas

Interchange for Storm is number 17 Alec MacDonald