Gold Coast Titans v Parramatta Eels: Round 22 preview

Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Fri 16 Aug 2019, 05:07 PM

Parramatta can keep touch with the top four by downing a Titans side playing for nothing more than pride.

The Eels sit sixth - two points away from the fourth-placed Rabbitohs after defeating Newcastle last weekend.

On the flip-side, Gold Coast's woes extended to seven straight defeats with last week's 40-28 loss to the Dragons.

Given the battle for fourth spot is so tight, Parramatta can't afford to drop this match if they want a second crack in the finals.

Racking up a hefty score would help their cause tremendously - all the more reason for the Titans to hang tough and show incoming coach Justin Holbrook they're willing to fight.

Round 22 - Round 22 - Friday 16 Aug

Full Time

Titans

Eels

Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast

Highlights Latest

The Rundown

Team news

Titans: The Titans have made a few late changes with Moeaki Fotuaika and Nathan Peats brought into the run-on side with Jai Whitbread relegated to the bench and Jarrod Wallace left out due to personal reasons. Anthony Don has been omitted. Tanah Boyd and Latu were the two men omitted from extended squad on Thursday. The Titans have achieved their best winning record against the Eels (61.1 per cent).

Eels: Junior Paulo is out of Parramatta's team to face Gold Coast on Friday night with Daniel Alvaro elevated to the starting side in the front row. Paulo was ruled out after rolling his ankle at training. Tepai Moeroa has been brought onto the interchange from the reserves while Will Smith has also been dropped from the team an hour before kick-off. George Jennings and Stefano Utoikamanu were omitted from the squad 24 hours before kick-off. The Eels have not won at Cbus Super Stadium since 2014.

Round 22 - Round 22 - Friday 16 Aug

Full Time

Titans

Eels

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Titans is number 1 AJ Brimson

Fullback for Eels is number 1 Clinton Gutherson
Winger for Titans is number 2 Jesse Arthars

Winger for Eels is number 2 Maika Sivo
Centre for Titans is number 3 Kallum Watkins

Centre for Eels is number 3 Michael Jennings
Centre for Titans is number 4 Brian Kelly

Centre for Eels is number 4 Waqa Blake
Winger for Titans is number 5 Phillip Sami

Winger for Eels is number 5 Brad Takairangi
Five-Eighth for Titans is number 6 Tyrone Peachey

Five-Eighth for Eels is number 6 Dylan Brown
Halfback for Titans is number 7 Ryley Jacks

Halfback for Eels is number 7 Mitchell Moses

Forwards

Prop for Titans is number 15 Moeaki Fotuaika

Prop for Eels is number 8 Kane Evans
Hooker for Titans is number 9 Mitch Rein

Hooker for Eels is number 9 Reed Mahoney
Prop for Titans is number 21 Nathan Peats

Prop for Eels is number 16 Daniel Alvaro
2nd Row for Titans is number 11 Kevin Proctor

2nd Row for Eels is number 11 Shaun Lane
2nd Row for Titans is number 12 Sam Stone

2nd Row for Eels is number 12 Manu Ma'u
Lock for Titans is number 13 Jai Arrow

Lock for Eels is number 13 Nathan Brown

Interchange

Interchange for Titans is number 10 Jai Whitbread

Interchange for Eels is number 14 Peni Terepo
Interchange for Titans is number 14 Michael Gordon

Interchange for Eels is number 15 David Gower
Interchange for Titans is number 16 Bryce Cartwright

Interchange for Eels is number 17 Marata Niukore
Interchange for Titans is number 17 Brenko Lee

Interchange for Eels is number 18 Tepai Moeroa

Match Officials

Referee: Peter Gough
Referee: Gavin Badger
Touch Judge: Liam Kennedy
Touch Judge: Nick Morel
Senior Review Official: Jared Maxwell

Last updated: 9/7/2024 12:27:24 PM

Key match-up

Jai Arrow is far and away Gold Coast's most valuable player and the non-stop lock will be integral to his team's hopes. Parramatta's Nathan Brown also has an insatiable appetite for work and is a leader of the Eels pack.

For the Titans to win

With limited cattle, Gold Coast don't have a lot of points in them against top-eight sides - so a boilover will likely come on the back of committed defence. Parramatta have a tendency to clock off in patches and the Titans must capitalise on any lapses.

For the Eels to win

If they wear down the Titans' middles quickly, Parramatta will trundle downfield with ease and get into scoring positions. And with their strike out wide, the Eels should find the stripe regularly.

Brett Kimmorley says

The Titans scored a lot of points in attack last week, but once again they conceded too many. The big thing they need to do is work on how to defend. It looks like there are not many players having a go for them. I can’t see that changing this week. It’s a big game for Parramatta – top four aspirations are still there. The next four weeks for them are about finding their best style of football and having consistency. Eels by 10

Stat Attack

Parramatta love to promote the footy. Brad Arthur's men rank third in the league for offloads (230), with skilful prop Junior Paulo passing in contact a team-high 44 times (4th in the league).