Titans v Bulldogs: Tino in, Bai out; Preston in the frame
The clash of last-start winners the Titans and Bulldogs promises to be an absolute cracker in front of a heaving crowd on the Gold Coast.
The home side are riding high after taking down ladder leaders Penrith in a thrilling contest decided in the final minute by a Zane Harrison field goal.
The Bulldogs also got home by a solitary point in Round 16, knocking off Manly in golden point thanks to Stephen Crichton's cooly taken field goal.
The Titans now boast wins over the 2024 and 2025 premiers in their past three matches and have attacking weapons across the park to trouble a Bulldogs side that has won just one of seven away from home.
With seven out of their last 10 matches at Cbus Super Stadium the Titans have a golden opportunity to finish strong and build momentum for a genuine crack at finals footy in 2027.
Match: Titans v Bulldogs
Round 17 -
home Team
Titans
15th Position
away Team
Bulldogs
12th Position
Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Team News
Titans: Co-captain Tino Fa'asuamaleaui returns to the starting side after being rested last weekend. The prop is joined in the forward pack by Chris Randall, who makes his return from a concussion at lock and replaces Cooper Bai (head knock). Fa'asuamaleaui’s return will see Klese Haas shift to the six-man bench. A season-ending ankle injury to Jensen Taumoepeau has seen Jaylan De Groot come on to the wing in an otherwise unchanged backline.
Bulldogs: With Stephen Crichton's move to five-eighth proving success last week, the skipper lines up in the No.6 again with Matt Burton in the centres. The loss of Sitili Tupouniua to a hamstring injury sees Josh Curran start in the back row and Lipoi Hopoi join the bench. Back-rower Jacob Preston is listed among the reserves as he looks to return from an arm injury suffered in Round 12 against the Storm.
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Titans is number 1 Keano KiniFullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Connor Tracey
-
Winger for Titans is number 2 Jaylan De GrootWinger for Bulldogs is number 2 Jacob Kiraz
-
Centre for Titans is number 3 Jojo FifitaCentre for Bulldogs is number 3 Matt Burton
-
Centre for Titans is number 4 AJ BrimsonCentre for Bulldogs is number 4 Enari Tuala
-
Winger for Titans is number 5 Phillip SamiWinger for Bulldogs is number 5 Jethro Rinakama
-
Five-Eighth for Titans is number 6 Jayden CampbellFive-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Stephen Crichton
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Halfback for Titans is number 7 Zane HarrisonHalfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Lachlan Galvin
Forwards
-
Prop for Titans is number 8 Moeaki FotuaikaProp for Bulldogs is number 8 Max King
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Hooker for Titans is number 9 Oliver PascoeHooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Bailey Hayward
-
Prop for Titans is number 10 Tino Fa'asuamaleauiProp for Bulldogs is number 10 Leo Thompson
-
2nd Row for Titans is number 11 Arama Hau2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Josh Curran
-
2nd Row for Titans is number 12 Beau Fermor2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Jaeman Salmon
-
Lock for Titans is number 13 Chris RandallLock for Bulldogs is number 13 Harry Hayes
Interchange
-
Interchange for Titans is number 14 Kurtis MorrinInterchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Kurt Mann
-
Interchange for Titans is number 15 Josh PatstonInterchange for Bulldogs is number 15 Lipoi Hopoi
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Interchange for Titans is number 16 Klese HaasInterchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Jack Underhill
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Interchange for Titans is number 17 Jett LiuInterchange for Bulldogs is number 17 Alekolasimi Jones
-
Interchange for Titans is number 18 Sam VerrillsInterchange for Bulldogs is number 19 Bronson Xerri
-
Interchange for Titans is number 19 Lachlan IliasInterchange for Bulldogs is number 20 Sean O'Sullivan
Reserves
-
Reserve for Titans is number 20 Dean IeremiaReserve for Bulldogs is number 21 Jacob Preston
-
Reserve for Titans is number 21 Adam ChristensenReserve for Bulldogs is number 22 Logan Spinks
-
Reserve for Titans is number 22 Michael MoloReserve for Bulldogs is number 23 Jed Reardon
Titans Ins
- Chris Randall
- Dean Ieremia
- Lachlan Ilias
- Michael Molo
- Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
Bulldogs Ins
- Jacob Preston
- Jed Reardon
- Lipoi Hopoi
- Logan Spinks
- Sean O'Sullivan
Titans Outs
- Cooper Bai
- Jensen Taumoepeau
Bulldogs Ins
- Alex Conti
- Sitili Tupouniua
Match Officials
- Referee: Todd Smith
- Touch Judge: Liam Kennedy
- Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Titans have improved their defensive ranking from 17th in 2025 to ninth in 2026.
- The Bulldogs have won five of their past six games against the Titans.
- Titans winger Phillip Sami has scored a try in his last four games.
- Bulldogs prop Max King will play his 150th NRL game and his 100th for the Bulldogs.
- Titans forward Kurtis Morrin has scored four tries in his last five games.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
The Titans need your support when they host the resurgent Bulldogs on Friday night. Tickets are selling fast, so click here to secure your seats before they are gone.
