Titans v Panthers: Tino named to play; Origin stars monitored
A daunting prospect for the 16th placed Titans as they host the rampaging Penrith Panthers, who have lost just once all season and sit three games clear at the top of the ladder.
The Titans were riding high after upsetting the Broncos in Round 14 but came crashing back to earth at Leichhardt Oval last Sunday in a 36-28 loss to Wests Tigers.
The last time the Titans beat the Panthers was 2019 although their last two efforts against Ivan Cleary's men have been stellar, going down by only four points at Cbus Super Stadium last year and six points the year before at Penrith.
All eyes will be on the Origin representatives from both clubs to see who backs up but such is the Panthers' depth they will go in the hottest of favourites regardless of who takes the field at the Goldie.
Match: Titans v Panthers
Round 16 -
home Team
Titans
16th Position
away Team
Panthers
1st Position
Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Team News
Titans: Coach Josh Hannay has named Maroons reps Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Jojo Fifita to back up so Klese Haas and Jaylan De Groot revert to the bench after starting against Wests Tigers. Halfback Lachlan Ilias has been added to the interchange for his first NRL appearance since Round 9.
Panthers: Isaah Yeo, Nathan Cleary and Brian To'o are listed among the reserves and will be monitored after Origin Two. Jack Cogger will slot in at halfback should Cleary be rested while Lindsay Smith would go to lock if Yeo fails to come up. Luke Garner and Izack Tago are the new centres with Casey McLean (quad) sidelined and Paul Alamoti pushing out to the wing to cover for To'o. The new faces on the interchange are Billy Phillips, Luron Patea, Jack Cole and John Fonua.
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Titans is number 1 Keano KiniFullback for Panthers is number 1 Dylan Edwards
-
Winger for Titans is number 2 Jensen TaumoepeauWinger for Panthers is number 2 Thomas Jenkins
-
Centre for Titans is number 3 Jojo FifitaCentre for Panthers is number 3 Izack Tago
-
Centre for Titans is number 4 AJ BrimsonCentre for Panthers is number 4 Luke Garner
-
Winger for Titans is number 5 Phillip SamiWinger for Panthers is number 5 Paul Alamoti
-
Five-Eighth for Titans is number 6 Jayden CampbellFive-Eighth for Panthers is number 6 Blaize Talagi
-
Halfback for Titans is number 7 Zane HarrisonHalfback for Panthers is number 7 Jack Cogger
Forwards
-
Prop for Titans is number 8 Moeaki FotuaikaProp for Panthers is number 8 Moses Leota
-
Hooker for Titans is number 9 Oliver PascoeHooker for Panthers is number 9 Freddy Lussick
-
Prop for Titans is number 10 Tino Fa'asuamaleauiProp for Panthers is number 10 Liam Henry
-
2nd Row for Titans is number 11 Arama Hau2nd Row for Panthers is number 11 Isaiah Papali'i
-
2nd Row for Titans is number 12 Beau Fermor2nd Row for Panthers is number 12 Liam Martin
-
Lock for Titans is number 13 Cooper BaiLock for Panthers is number 13 Lindsay Smith
Interchange
-
Interchange for Titans is number 14 Kurtis MorrinInterchange for Panthers is number 14 Billy Scott
-
Interchange for Titans is number 15 Josh PatstonInterchange for Panthers is number 15 Scott Sorensen
-
Interchange for Titans is number 16 Klese HaasInterchange for Panthers is number 16 Billy Phillips
-
Interchange for Titans is number 17 Jaylan De GrootInterchange for Panthers is number 17 Luron Patea
-
Interchange for Titans is number 18 Lachlan IliasInterchange for Panthers is number 18 Jack Cole
-
Interchange for Titans is number 19 Jett LiuInterchange for Panthers is number 19 Sione Fonua
Reserves
-
Reserve for Titans is number 20 Sam VerrillsReserve for Panthers is number 20 Kalani Going
-
Reserve for Titans is number 21 Adam ChristensenReserve for Panthers is number 21 Isaah Yeo
-
Reserve for Titans is number 22 Bodhi SharpleyReserve for Panthers is number 22 Brian To'o
-
Reserve for Panthers is number 23 Nathan Cleary
Titans Ins
- Bodhi Sharpley
- Jojo Fifita
- Lachlan Ilias
- Sam Verrills
- Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
Panthers Ins
- Billy Phillips
- Jack Cole
- Kalani Going
- Luron Patea
- Sione Fonua
Titans Outs
- Luke Sommerton
- Max Feagai
Panthers Ins
- Casey McLean
Match Officials
- Referee: Peter Gough
- Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Titans have not defeated the Panthers since 2019.
- The Panthers have won 11 of their last 12 games against the Titans.
- Titans winger Phillip Sami has scored seven tries in his last nine games at Cbus Super Stadium.
- Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards has scored six tries in his last six games against the Titans.
- The Titans are 0-5 against top-eight opposition this season.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
