Sunday’s second NRL Round 9 match is between Gold Coast Titans and St George Illawarra Dragons with the opening kick to commence at 3pm local time. The game is to be played at Skilled Park which see’s home team Gold Coast Titans hold favouritism in the market. View our match preview and teams for the game between Gold Coast Titans and St George Illawarra Dragons.

Skilled Park

Featured Bookmakers:

Gold Coast Titans $1.55 vs St George Illawarra Dragons $2.45 at Sportsbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match

Gold Coast Titans $1.51 vs St George Illawarra Dragons $2.60 at Luxbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match

Odds Comparison by NRL Odds:

Gold Coast Titans	1.55	1.54	1.51	1.54	1.55	1.60
St George Illawarra Dragons	2.45	2.45	2.60	2.45	2.45	2.47

Preview:

The Titans have struggled over the past month with their only win coming against a struggling Parramatta outfit and heavy losses to Brisbane and Newcastle, tarnishing their 3-1 start to the season and they now sit sixth on the ladder.

Last week they travelled to New Zealand and with 15 minutes to go, trailed 24-6 before making the score-line look better than it should have by scoring twice late, but coming up a point short in the end 25-24.

With several Titan players in line for a sport in the Origin teams, the Titans will need to secure wins over the next three rounds to ensure their position on the ladder heading into the second half of the competition.

This week, they welcome back wingers David Mead and Kevin Gordon from their respective injuries.

St. George will be backing up from a physical affair against Manly Sea Eagles on Monday night were Saints were able to claw back an 18 point deficit and tie the game up with 12 minutes to go. A late try to the Sea Eagles proving the ultimate difference with the final score 24-18

It was a tenacious effort by the Dragons who lost star winger Brett Morris in the first half with a suspected knee injury in the first half. They have grounded out several wins in the past month and will prove more than a handful for the Titans.

It was a dour 8-6 point win to the Dragons when the two sides met (8-6) in Round 16 last year and another close encounter here would not surprise despite the market leaning heavily in the Titan’s favour.

Teams:

Gold Coast Titans:
William Zillman, Kevin Gordon, Brad Takairangi, Jamal Idris, David Mead, Aidan Sezer, Albert Kelly, Luke Bailey, Beau Falloon, Luke Douglas, Greg Bird, Mark Minichiello, Nate Myles
Interchange: Dave Taylor, Ryan James, Ben Ridge, Sam Irwin, Mark Ioane (one to be omitted)

St George Illawarra Dragons:
Jason Nightingale, Brett Morris, Chase Stanley, Matt Cooper, Daniel Vidot, Jamie Soward, Nathan Fien, Dan Hunt, Mitch Rein, Jack Stockwell, Tyson Frizell, Ben Creagh (c), Trent Merrin
Interchange: Bronson Harrison, Matt Prior, Jack de Belin, Michael Weyman

Harrison cleared to play for Titans

Representative forward Ashley Harrison has been given the all-clear to play for Gold Coast in Sunday’s NRL clash against St George Illawarra.

The Queensland State of Origin player has been sidelined since April 29 after injuring his ankle in the Titans’ 30-6 round seven loss to Newcastle.

But Harrison, who wasn’t expected to return until round 11, has come through a fitness test on Saturday unscathed and will line-up against the Dragons at Skilled Park.

Interchange forward Ben Ridge is the man to make way for Harrison and will now play for the Tweed Head Seagulls in the Queensland Cup.

Halfback Albert Kelly will also take on the Dragons after completing Saturday’s training run with no ill-effects from the head knock suffered in last week’s one-point loss to the Warriors.