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Hard to believe a team will be out of finals reckoning after five rounds but that's essentially where the Titans are at after starting the season with four straight losses.

Last week they were confident of claiming their first win for 2019 against a team that had conceded 80 points in their previous two games.

But they fell asleep at crucial moments and the Warriors rolled to a 26-10 win, leaving the Titans with a measly 36 points from four games.

Coach Garth Brennan is extremely concerned with his team's inability to fire, using words like "frustration", "panicking" and "not mentally tough enough" after the loss.

The Panthers pulled off a great escape with Nathan Cleary's late-game heroics against the Tigers but the reality is they were lucky to win and still haven't been all that impressive in four games.

The Rundown

Team news

Titans: Jack Stockwell and Phillip Sami were the two players dropped from the squad an hour out from kick-off. Tyrone Roberts' Achilles pulled up well after Thursday's captain's run and he looks to be a certain starter but prop Shannon Boyd is out after pulling up with hamstring soreness. Jai Whitbread comes onto the bench. Ryley Jacks was omitted 24 hours before kick-off.

Panthers: Josh Mansour will play, meaning Malakai Watene-Zelezniak joins Tim Grant as the two players omitted an hour before game time. Wayde Egan didn't train all week under concussion protocol and was omitted from the squad 24 hours before kick-off. Egan's spot on the bench has been taken by Jarome Luai. The other player omitted on Thursday was Liam Martin. Penrith have won their past four games against the Titans.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Titans is number 1 Michael Gordon
    Fullback for Panthers is number 1 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
  • Winger for Titans is number 2 Anthony Don
    Winger for Panthers is number 2 Josh Mansour
  • Centre for Titans is number 3 Tyrone Peachey
    Centre for Panthers is number 3 Dean Whare
  • Centre for Titans is number 4 Brian Kelly
    Centre for Panthers is number 4 Waqa Blake
  • Winger for Titans is number 5 Dale Copley
    Winger for Panthers is number 5 Dylan Edwards
  • Five-Eighth for Titans is number 6 Tyrone Roberts
    Five-Eighth for Panthers is number 6 James Maloney
  • Halfback for Titans is number 7 Ashley Taylor
    Halfback for Panthers is number 7 Nathan Cleary

Forwards

  • Prop for Titans is number 8 Jarrod Wallace
    Prop for Panthers is number 8 James Tamou
  • Hooker for Titans is number 9 Mitch Rein
    Hooker for Panthers is number 9 Sione Katoa
  • Prop for Titans is number 10 Ryan James
    Prop for Panthers is number 10 Reagan Campbell-Gillard
  • 2nd Row for Titans is number 11 Kevin Proctor
    2nd Row for Panthers is number 11 Viliame Kikau
  • 2nd Row for Titans is number 12 Bryce Cartwright
    2nd Row for Panthers is number 12 Isaah Yeo
  • Lock for Titans is number 13 Jai Arrow
    Lock for Panthers is number 13 James Fisher-Harris

Interchange

  • Interchange for Titans is number 14 Alexander Brimson
    Interchange for Panthers is number 15 Tyrell Fuimaono
  • Interchange for Titans is number 15 Max King
    Interchange for Panthers is number 16 Moses Leota
  • Interchange for Titans is number 17 Keegan Hipgrave
    Interchange for Panthers is number 17 Hame Sele
  • Interchange for Titans is number 20 Jai Whitbread
    Interchange for Panthers is number 20 Jarome Luai

Match Officials

  • Referee: Dave Munro
  • Referee: Liam Kennedy
  • Touch Judge: Nick Morel
  • Senior Review Official: Steve Chiddy

Last updated:

Key match-up

He hasn't been bad but he hasn't been too good either, so maybe a clash with his former team will get Titans centre Tyrone Peachey in the mood to play the kind of football that earned him a spot on the NSW Origin bench last year. Another former Panther, Bryce Cartwright, will also be keen for a big game against Viliame Kikau.

For the Titans to win

Maybe they need a sports psychologist to get them in the right mindset, but we're now up to round five and the Titans still don't know what it feels like to start a game well. Scoring the first try of the match won't guarantee victory but it will ease the pressure of constantly playing catch-up.

For the Panthers to win

Not only were they less than two minutes from a third loss in four games, the Panthers were about to be kept try-less for the second time in as many matches before Nathan Cleary saved the day. This team looks nothing like a premiership contender at the moment and perhaps coach Ivan Cleary needs to come up with some offensive variation.

Brett Kimmorley says

It’s time for the Panthers to show some consistency and a little bit of form. (Viliame) Kikau was back last week and that’ll really help their left edge in attack. I certainly get the impression Brad Fittler would like his NSW halves to stand up. As for the Titans, they are finding ways to lose. They’ve got some big defensive deficiencies. Panthers by 12

Titans Stat Attack

The Titans' 69% completion rate was in stark contrast to the Warriors' impressive 91% (30/33) in last Friday's 26-10 loss in Auckland. Their 14 errors almost tripled that of the Warriors (5). Mitch Rein made the most tackles (46) and Jarrod Wallace the most metres (149).

Panthers Stat Attack

They hung tough and made their own luck in the end, but the Panthers were lucky to get out of jail last week against the Tigers, completing just 60% (25/42), missing 30 tackles and committing 16 errors. The Titans are due to win so the Panthers can't afford a repeat performance.

And another thing ... 

Judging by the numbers, this clash brings together two of the competition's worst attacking teams. The Titans are averaging a league-low nine points per game, while the Panthers are only slightly better at 9.5 points. It'll be interesting to see if either team reaches double figures on Friday.

Acknowledgement of Country

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.

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