DRAGONS
The Dragons broke a fourteen year hoodoo when recording a win in Canberra last week over the Raiders 34 – 16.
It was the first win for the Dragon in three weeks after competitive losses to in form outfits the Roosters (30 – 22) and Panther (16 – 4) in rounds 21 and 22 respectively.
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Heading into the break, it appeared the Canberra curse may still be at play as the Dragons trialled but five unanswered tries in the second half saw them home with Brett Morris bagging a treble and fellow winger Jason Nightingale, a double.
The Dragon return to Jubilee oval for the first time since their 21 – 12 defeat at the hands of Manly back in round 19. That was their first loss in three matches played at the venue this year with the other two games resulting in wins over the Warriors and North Queensland.
Ben Creah and Dan Hunt haven’t been named in the side as of Tuesday but both will be monitored. The Titans field a big forward pack so their inclusion or absence, could have a significant bearing.
TITANS
The Titans ran out for the first time under new Coach Neil Henry against Manly last week and whilst the final result wasn’t what team, coach or fans, who haven’t seen the Titans win at CBUS Stadium since round 6 this year, had hoped for, it was a spirited display.
The Titans pushed the competition front-runners for the entire minutes losing narrowly in the end 15 – 12.
It followed a similar spirited display against the Roosters the week before (26 – 18) and although they’ve only won two from their last thirteen games, the Titans have signalled that they’ll leave the 2014 season swinging.
Henry has gone with the same side that ran out last week and will be hoping that a similar performance will see them come away with the prize.
HEAD TO HEAD
When the sides last met in round 15 of this year, all that separated them was a field goal to the Dragons’ Gareth Widdop (19 – 18). The win levelled the ledge 4 – 4 in games played since 2009.
It was the second time in as many games that the result was decided by a point and the third time in the past six matches.
In fact a field goal has been potted by at least either side in four of the last six matches, signally just how precious points in these contests can be.
The Titans have taken the points their last two visits to Jubilee Stadium and there has been enough in their last two efforts, against top sides, to warrant a close look at the price on offer here.
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Teams:
Dragons: Gerard Beale, Brett Morris, Josh Dugan, Peter Mata’utia, Jason Nightingale, Gareth Widdop, Benji Marshall, Mike Cooper, Mitch Rein, Jack de Belin, Leeson Ah Mau, Joel Thompson, Trent Merrin.
Interchange: Tyson Frizell, Will Matthews, Jack Stockwell, Kyle Stanley, Bronson Harrison (one to be omitted).
Titans: William Zillman, Kalifa Faifai Loa, James Roberts, Brad Takairangi, Anthony Don, Aidan Sezer, Daniel Mortimer, Luke Bailey, Beau Falloon, Luke Douglas, Mark Minichiello, Nate Myles, Greg Bird.
Interchange: Matthew White, Mark Ioane, Cody Nelson, Paul Carter, Tom Kingston (one to be omitted).
