Titans v Panthers: Jojo in, Tino out; Origin trio rested
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.
The Panthers have elected to rest their trio of Origin but such is their depth they will go in the hottest of favourites to notch a 13th win of the season.
Match: Titans v Panthers
Round 16 -
home Team
Titans
15th Position
away Team
Panthers
1st Position
Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
Team News
Titans: Centre Jojo Fifita will play against the Panthers but coach Josh Hannay has chosen to rest captain Tino Fa'asuamaleaui after an emotional Origin appearance following the passing of his father Fereti last weekend. Klese Haas will start in the front row in Fa'asuamaleaui's place with Sam Verrills added to the six-man bench. Adam Christensen also joins the bench on game day in place of Lachlan Ilias.
Panthers: The Panthers are 1-19 with no late changes. Blues stars Isaah Yeo, Nathan Cleary and Brian To'o will all be rested as coach Ivan Cleary looks to navigate a taxing period for his big names. Jack Cogger starts at halfback if Cleary while Lindsay Smith slots into lock as Yeo's replacement. Luke Garner lines up in the centres amid a wider backline reshuffle after Casey McLean injured his quad in the lead-up to Origin Two.
Match: Titans v Panthers
Round 16 -
home Team
Titans
away Team
Panthers
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 16 Klese HaasProp 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 19 Jett LiuInterchange for Panthers is number 16 Billy Phillips
-
Interchange for Titans is number 20 Sam VerrillsInterchange for Panthers is number 17 Luron Patea
Reserves
-
Reserve for Titans is number 17 Jaylan De GrootReserve for Panthers is number 18 Jack Cole
-
Reserve for Titans is number 21 Adam ChristensenReserve for Panthers is number 19 Sione Fonua
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.
