Today’s first NRL Round 3 match is between Gold Coast Titans and Manly Sea Eagles. The match is set to commence at 4:30pm local time with the game being played at Skilled Stadium in Queensland. Away team Manly are the current favourites for the match. View the preview and teams.
Titans v Sea Eagles
Skilled Park
Saturday 4.30pm (Qld)
Odds:
Gold Coast Titans $2.35 vs Manly Sea Eagles $1.60 at Sportsbet Australia
Gold Coast Titans $2.35 vs Manly Sea Eagles $1.61 at Luxbet Australia
Preview:
An intriguing early evening match-up at Skilled Park sees undefeated Manly travelling north to face a Gold Coast outfit quickly growing in confidence following strong performances against Cronulla and Canberra.
Having very nearly spoiled the party against a fired-up Sharks outfit in Round 1, falling by a single missed conversion, the Titans hit top gear last Sunday as they whitewashed the Raiders 36-0.
There is a lot to like about the Gold Coast if the football they have dished up so far is a taste of what we can expect all season. Their big men are full of running, they are eager in defence and new halves pairing Aidan Sezer and Albert Kelly look to have provided some much-needed spark.
And of course while much of the focus this season has been on the forward packs fielded by Canterbury, South Sydney and this week’s opponents, it’s hard to go past the Titans forwards as the most rounded in the competition – having Luke Bailey, Ryan James and of course Dave Taylor coming off the bench is a truly scary proposition!
While the Sea Eagles have enjoyed solid wins over Brisbane and Newcastle to start their campaign, most pleasing for them would be the fact that they have done so with a number of telling injury problems up front, including the absence of NSW back-rower Glenn Stewart and co-captain Jason King as well as impact prop George Rose.
They will no doubt be sweating on their return, although former Titan Brenton Lawrence has been one of the buys of the year so far while fellow arrival Justin Horo has impressed on the left edge. Their efforts have certainly limited the impact of the side’s injury woes.
The early signs suggest that we can expect more of the same from Manly in 2013 – a powerful, well-drilled outfit that will challenge for the top four – so the question this week becomes whether the Gold Coast has improved enough to join them amongst the NRL’s elite.
The Titans have named an identical side to the one that thrashed Canberra last week, with Luke O’Dwyer added as the extra cog on a five-man bench.
Manly coach Geoff Toovey has also refrained from making changes following their big win over Newcastle.
Teams:
GOLD COAST TITANS:
William Zillman, Kevin Gordon, Brad Takairangi, Jamal Idris, David Mead, Aidan Sezer, Albert Kelly, Luke Douglas, Matt Srama, Nate Myles, Greg Bird, Ben Ridge, Ashley Harrison Interchange: Dave Taylor, Luke Bailey, Ryan James, Beau Falloon, Luke O’Dwyer (one to be omitted)
MANLY SEA EAGLES:
Brett Stewart, Jorge Taufua, Jamie Lyon, Steve Matai, David Williams, Kieran Foran, Daly Cherry-Evans, Brenton Lawrence, Matt Ballin, Brent Kite, Anthony Watmough, Justin Horo, Jamie Buhrer
Interchange: Richie Fa’aoso, Joe Galuvao, David Gower, Tom Symonds
