Titans v Cowboys: Brimson handed keys; Nanai sidelined
Beaten by a combined score of 124-18 in Round 22, the Titans and Cowboys are out to restore pride when they square off at Cbus Super Stadium.
Despite their embarrassing 82-12 loss to the Roosters, Todd Payten's men are very much in finals contention and with all their remaining games against teams below them on the ladder they have a legitimate shot at September.
The Titans hit a hurdle against the rampaging Warriors but they had won three of their previous five games to move well clear of wooden spoon territory and can still cause some headaches for finals contenders in the run home.
Four of the Titans' final five games are at Cbus Super Stadium so they get a great opportunity to build momentum for next year and give their loyal fans renewed hope of a first finals berth since 2021.
Match: Titans v Cowboys
Round 23 -
home Team
Titans
15th Position
away Team
Cowboys
8th Position
Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
Team News
Titans: Mass changes to the Titans in the 90-minute squad update. Lachlan Ilias has been shifted back to the bench, with AJ Brimson moving into the halfback position vacated after Zane Harrison's season-ending hamstring strain. Jaylan De Groot comes in at centre after initially being named in the reserves. Sam Verrills starts the game at hooker with Oliver Pascoe reverting to the pine. Arama Hau has also been demoted to the bench in favour of Josh Patston. Winger Phil Sami has scored eight tries in his last nine games.
Cowboys: No late changes for the Cowboys, with John Bateman recovering from a hamstring injury to take his place on the interchange bench. Prop Griffin Neame returns from suspension but hooker Reed Mahoney will be given another week off after suffering a concussion in Round 21, his second of the season. Kai O'Donnell comes in for Jeremiah Nanai (hamstring). The Cowboys have won seven of their last nine games against the Titans.
Match: Titans v Cowboys
Round 23 -
home Team
Titans
away Team
Cowboys
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Titans is number 1 Keano KiniFullback for Cowboys is number 1 Scott Drinkwater
-
Winger for Titans is number 2 Dean IeremiaWinger for Cowboys is number 2 Braidon Burns
-
Centre for Titans is number 3 Jojo FifitaCentre for Cowboys is number 3 Zac Laybutt
-
Centre for Titans is number 20 Jaylan De GrootCentre for Cowboys is number 4 Tom Chester
-
Winger for Titans is number 5 Phillip SamiWinger for Cowboys is number 5 Murray Taulagi
-
Five-Eighth for Titans is number 6 Jayden CampbellFive-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Jake Clifford
-
Halfback for Titans is number 4 AJ BrimsonHalfback for Cowboys is number 7 Jaxon Purdue
Forwards
-
Prop for Titans is number 8 Moeaki FotuaikaProp for Cowboys is number 8 Griffin Neame
-
Hooker for Titans is number 18 Sam VerrillsHooker for Cowboys is number 9 Soni Luke
-
Prop for Titans is number 10 Tino Fa'asuamaleauiProp for Cowboys is number 10 Jason Taumalolo
-
2nd Row for Titans is number 12 Beau Fermor2nd Row for Cowboys is number 11 Heilum Luki
-
2nd Row for Titans is number 15 Josh Patston2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 Kai O'Donnell
-
Lock for Titans is number 13 Chris RandallLock for Cowboys is number 13 Reuben Cotter
Interchange
-
Interchange for Titans is number 9 Oliver PascoeInterchange for Cowboys is number 14 Ethan King
-
Interchange for Titans is number 14 Kurtis MorrinInterchange for Cowboys is number 15 Thomas Mikaele
-
Interchange for Titans is number 16 Klese HaasInterchange for Cowboys is number 17 Coen Hess
-
Interchange for Titans is number 17 Cooper BaiInterchange for Cowboys is number 20 John Bateman
-
Reserve for Titans is number 7 Lachlan IliasReserve for Cowboys is number 16 Matthew Lodge
-
Reserve for Titans is number 11 Arama HauReserve for Cowboys is number 18 Sam McIntyre
Match Officials
- Referee: Adam Gee
- Senior Review Official: Wyatt Raymond
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Titans have conceded 104 points in their last three games at Cbus Super Stadium.
- The Cowboys have won seven of their last nine games against the Titans.
- Titans winger Phillip Sami has scored eight tries in his last nine games.
- Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater has scored five tries in his last five games against the Titans.
- Titans centre AJ Brimson has scored six tries in his last six games against the Cowboys at Cbus Super Stadium.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
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