The second of Saturday night’s NRL Round 23 matches is between Nth Queensland Cowboys and Gold Coast Titans. The opening kick is set to commence at 5:30PM local time with the game to be played at 1300SMILES Stadium. The home team the Nth Queensland Cowboys are the current favourites in the market. View our preview and teams for the game between Nth Queensland Cowboys and Gold Coast Titans.

1300SMILES Stadium

Saturday, 5.30pm

Featured Bookmakers:

Nth Queensland Cowboys $1.35 vs Gold Coast Titans $3.20 at Sportsbet Australia get a $250 FREE BET on this match

Nth Queensland Cowboys $1.30 vs Gold Coast Titans $3.65 at Luxbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match

Odds Comparison by NRL Odds:

Nth Queensland Cowboys	1.33	1.33	1.31	1.33	1.33	1.34
Gold Coast Titans	3.30	3.35	3.55	3.35	3.30	3.30

Preview:

These two teams were struggling to find form and both looked as though a win was well off the horizon however, the Queensland sides have somehow turned it around in the past fortnight with both registering good wins.

The home-side defeated the Rabbitohs no less before travelling to Penrith last week and consolidating the previous week’s win with a dominating 36 – 4 win.

The Titans gained confidence from a strong 36 – 6 win over the struggling West Tigers in round 21 and went right on with the job on Monday night with a strong win over Canterbury at ANZ Stadium.

The win sees the Titans enter the top half of the competition and claim eight spot but with a horror run into the semis that sees the Titans having to face Melbourne and Roosters in the final two weeks of the season, the Titans must keep on winning to ensure they finish inside the eight.

They hold a strong record over the Cowboys, having won the past three clashes by margins of 19, 16 and 18 points however, the Cowboys – who have nothing to lose and some winning form to their credit, will pose a dangerous threat for the Titans.

Another great clash in a round full of them and expect a close contest and that makes the $2.95 on offer about the Titans, worth consideration.

Teams:

Nth Queensland Cowboys: Matthew Bowen, Kyle Feldt, Brent Tate, Kane Linnett, Antonio Winterstein, Johnathan Thurston, Robert Lui, Matthew Scott, Ray Thompson, James Tamou, Gavin Cooper, Glenn Hall, Joel Riethmuller. Interchange: Rory Kostjasyn, Tariq Sims, Ricky Thorby, Ashton Sims

Gold Coast Titans: David Mead, Kevin Gordon, Brad Takairangi, Jamie Dowling, Anthony Don, Ashley Harrison, Aidan Sezer, Luke Douglas, Beau Falloon, Nate Myles, Ben Ridge, Mark Minichiello, Greg Bird. Interchange: David Taylor, Ryan James, Luke O’Dwyer, Sam Irwin

Titans thriving during tough NRL run-in

Gold Coast’s daunting NRL run home is proving to be just the motivation the club needed as they chase a finals berth.

The Titans moved back into the top eight on Monday night with an upset 26-16 win over fifth-placed Canterbury in Sydney.

But with four tough matches to complete their home-and-away campaign, it’s far from certain if the Titans can stay in the finals race.

After a short turnaround North Queensland lie in wait in Townsville on Saturday before the final home match against the Warriors the following weekend.

Away matches against in-form reigning premiers Melbourne and minor premiership hunting Sydney Roosters cap off the year.

“I think our boys are relishing the challenge of playing these better teams,” Titans assistant coach Steve Murphy told reporters on Tuesday.

“It seems to bring out the best in our boys and I’m sure this week will be no different.”

The Titans named an unchanged squad on Tuesday for Saturday’s clash with the Cowboys, though Jamie Dowling is in doubt after hurting his knee against the Bulldogs.

Injured fullback William Zillman will also be given a chance to prove his fitness as he tries to return from a groin complaint.

One makeshift option that won’t be changing for the Titans is the switch of former Queensland Origin backrower Ashley Harrison to five-eighth, which Murphy said had lot to do with Gold Coast rediscovering winning ways.

“I think Ash’s strength can’t be underestimated in terms of what he does for the group, what he does for the younger players,” Murphy said.

“I don’t think it’s any co-incidence that Aidan Sezer’s played two of his better games … Ash has a wealth of experience and Aidan can only benefit from being around someone like that.”

Titans: David Mead, Kevin Gordon, Brad Takairangi, Jamie Dowling, Anthony Don, Ashley Harrison, Aidan Sezer, Luke Douglas, Beau Falloon, Nate Myles, Ben Ridge, Mark Minichiello, Greg Bird. Interchange: David Taylor, Ryan James, Luke O’Dwyer, Sam Irwin.