Sunday’s only NRL Round 12 match is between Gold Coast Titans and Nth Queensland Cowboys with the opening kick to commence at 3:00pm local time. The game is to be played at Skilled Park with the home team Gold Coast Titans holding favouritism in the match. View our preview and teams for the game between Gold Coast Titans and Nth Queensland Cowboys.

Skilled Park

Sunday 3:00pm

Featured Bookmakers:

Gold Coast Titans $1.32 vs Nth Queensland Cowboys $3.50 at Sportsbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match

Gold Coast Titans $1.32 vs Nth Queensland Cowboys $3.50 at Luxbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match

Odds Comparison by NRL Odds:

Gold Coast Titans	1.32	1.30	1.32	1.30	1.32	1.32
Nth Queensland Cowboys	3.50	3.65	3.50	3.65	3.50	3.50

Preview:

Sunday’s game is a Qld affair that, with several key players missing from both sides due to Origin duty.

The Titans are missing highly rated forwards, Nate Myles and Ashley Harrison whereas the Cowboys will be without star playmaker Jonathon Thurston, Matt Scott and centre, Brent Tate.

These players leave big holes in their respective teams.

The Titans put a poor performance against an under-manned Broncos team in round 10 (beaten 32-6) well and truly behind them last week with a 42-4 point win over the struggling Parramatta Eels.

They take a winning record of 3-2 when playing at home this year and won both encounters against the Cowboys last year by margins of 16 and 18.

It’s well documented how poor of a strike rate the Cowboys have minus Thurston however, that will be accentuated this game given the recent poor form of the Cowboys, even with Thurston in the line-up.

Poor form has the Cowboys supporting a 4-7 record this year and last week they were defeated by the West Tigers 22-20, the Tigers first win in seven weeks and only their third of the year.

It also highlighted the Cowboys’ poor form when playing away from home – this year they’ve lost five of their seven away games with the only wins coming over Parramatta and in the opening round of the competition, against Canterbury.

The Titans at home, should be too good.

Teams:

Gold Coast Titans:
William Zillman, Kevin Gordon, Brad Takairangi, Jamal Idris, Anthony Don, Aidan Sezer, Albert Kelly, Luke Bailey, Matt Srama, Luke Douglas, David Taylor, Mark Minichiello, Luke O’Dwyer. Interchange: Ryan James, Mark Ioane, Jamie Dowling, Sam Irwin

Nth Queensland Cowboys:
Clint Greenshields, Ashley Graham, Antonio Winterstein, Kane Linnett, Kalifa Faifai Loa, Michael Morgan, Robert Lui, Ashton Sims, Rory Kostjasyn, Scott Bolton, Tariq Sims, Glenn Hall, Dallas Johnson. Interchange: Ray Thompson, Joel Riethmuller, Ricky Thorby, Jason Taumalolo, Ethan Lowe, Blake Leary

Titans call up Taylor for Cowboys clash

Gold Coast are hoping Dave Taylor can recover from a calf injury in time for Sunday’s NRL clash with North Queensland.

The giant forward was named in the Titans’ line-up to take on the Cowboys at Skilled Park despite still struggling with the calf strain that forced him to miss last Sunday’s win over Parramatta at Mudgee.

Titans coach John Cartwright said Taylor would be given every chance to prove his fitness with the club’s back-row stocks depleted following Nate Myles, Greg Bird and Ashley Harrison’s State of Origin selections.

“You’re taking guys that play big minutes out of the squad and a lot of experience,” Cartwright said.

“You can’t hide from it, they’re going to be a major blow.”

Apart from Taylor, the Titans have also chosen utility Luke O’Dwyer as he makes a comeback from a broken jaw while Mark Minichiello is restored to the starting line-up to cover for the Origin absentees.

Utility Jamie Dowling will start on the bench in what will be just his second NRL appearance for the Titans while fullback Will Zillman will take over the captaincy in the absence of co-captains Bird and Myles.

The match will also be Jamal Idris’ 100th NRL appearance.

Titans: Will Zillman (capt), Kevin Gordon, Brad Takairangi, Jamal Idris, Anthony Don, Aidan Sezer, Albert Kelly, Luke Bailey, Matt Srama, Luke Douglas, David Taylor, Mark Minichiello, Luke O’Dwyer. Interchange: Ryan James, Mark Ioane, Jamie Dowling, Sam Irwin.

AAP ej/r