The Titans Gold Training under-20s have lost lock Sam Swift for tomorrow’s clash with Canberra Raiders at GIO Stadium. He joins centre Brian Kelly (ankle) in missing the key clash.
Swift (pictured), who was in great form against Wests Tigers last Saturday, will be replaced in the squad by Kelepi Faukafa who becomes ninth player to make his NYC debut in Ben Woolf’s side this season and the 12th newcomer to last season’s side.
David Pritchard is the other NYC debutant, as Kelly’s replacement, playing on the wing with Phillip Sami moving to centre.
The Titans beat the Raiders last time they met, in round 23 last season, 40-12 but are out to avenge the loss in Canberra earlier in 2015 when luck deserted them.
Prop Max Elliott was taken off with concussion after a heavy collision in the first tackle of the match, leaving the team to play a man down. They were beaten 46-18 after being behind just 16-12 at half-time.
Both teams have won two of their three games in 20-16 and the Raiders go into the clash after a 46-28 victory against Newcastle which took them past the 100 points scored in three games, although they have conceded 94, same as the Titans.
“They are always tough down there but we really hung in well against the Tigers last week and defended a lot better, and we’ll need that attitude down there,” Woolf said.
Woolf will decide the starting 13 pre-match. Morgan Boyle, outstanding against the Tigers when he scored two tries and was tireless in defence when playing the whole 80 minutes, will be a key player for the Titans against his former club.
So too is Max King who had the exceptional stats of 144 metres, 43 tackles and a try assist against the Tigers.
The game kicks-off at 1.10pm (12.10pm in Queensland) and will be shown live on Fox Sports.
The team is: Brayden McGrady, David Pritchard, Greg Leleisiuao, Phillip Sami, Tyronne Roberts-Davis, Josh Rogers, Josh Fauid, Kurt Bernard, Jordan Scott, Nathan Watts, Morgan Boyle, Jed Cartwright (capt), Ethan Roberts, Max King, Jerome Veve, Simione Fatafahi, Kelepi Faukafa.
