Spots up for grabs as Titans trial against Cowboys
Titans NRLW coach Karyn Murphy says Sunday's trial against the Cowboys is a genuine audition for Round 1 spots.
Murphy's side will feature a host of young talent, with some of the Titans Origin contingent to be rested from the clash.
"After the pre-season that we've had with a lot of the girls in and out with Origin commitments, this is a good opportunity for the girls that have been training hard," she said.
"We'll rest quite a few of our Origin players for this trial, but this is a good opportunity with healthy competition for spots."
The Gold Coast coach will cast her eye over halves pairing Taliah Fuimaono and Lauren Brown who are in action together for the first time; the former getting her chance to impress in Titans colours since missing all but one game of last year's season due to an ankle injury.
The hit-out will also see a number of mainstays trialling new positions with Queensland representative Emily Bass named at fullback; whilst Niall Williams-Guthrie will start in the back-row.
Expect to see players shuffled around though during the match, with Murphy less worried about the result and more focussed on testing combinations that have been established throughout the pre-season.
"Everyone will get a pretty fair run," Murphy said.
"Our first quarter will probably be some combinations that we're looking at, but we are playing four quarters so we will mix and match a bit.
"The trial is more about not worrying what the Cowboys are going to throw at us, but more around where we're at and how we are tracking in our pre-season and then we'll have two weeks when we get back to have a look at our squad ahead of our first game against the Dragons."
New faces like Georgia Grey and Georgia Sim will be on show in the backline, while a host of future stars will get their chance to impress in Titans colours for the first time.
"This game is also a good opportunity to be able to play our development players," Murphy said.
"Estanoa (Faitala-Mariner) is coming back from an ACL so she won't play, but our other three girls in Sarina Masaga, Lailani Montgommery and Tiresa Leasuasu, it's a good opportunity to give them a game in a Titans jersey as well as they've been training with our senior squad.
"Where we are at, I know other clubs also have picked up injuries, but it is no secret that we've had three season ending injuries through the BMD competition and Sienna Lofipo is also out for an extended period of time with a knee injury from Origin.
"So with those outs, we have had to re-look at our squad and our key positions and that is why this trial becomes a genuine opportunity for players with spots up for grabs and this trial will give us a good look at them."
Watch the game live via titans.com.au.
