Roar Guru
After a narrow loss to a Sharks outfit in crisis last week, the Gold Coast Titans will be looking to get their first win of the year against a Canberra Raiders side that have had their own tumultuous week. Join us for live scores and commentary from 2.00pm AEDT.
The Raiders this week announced that star backs Josh Dugan and Blake Ferguson have been sacked and stood down respectively following ongoing off-field indiscretions.
The troubled pair will be replaced by Reece Robinson and Edrick Lee in the starting line-up.
It’s poor timing for Raiders fans, who suffered through a dismal showing against the Panthers last week as the Green Machine proved why they’re one of the toughest teams to back on the road.
For the Titans’ part, they must be wondering why they keep getting drawn against clubs in turmoil. The Sea Eagles will no doubt be looking over their shoulder after drawing them in round three (as if they weren’t already).
But while the Sharks fielded a full strength lineup and must have felt they had something to prove, you get the sense that the Raiders are more in disarray, and it’s hard to imagine them taking the points off the Titans on the road.
Gold Coast surprised many pundits last week with the quality of their performance, even in defeat. The inexperienced halves pairing of Aidan Sezer and Albert Kelly showed some great signs.
Their big men looked hungry too, particularly Ryan James, Dave Taylor and Jamal Idris. With about 360 kilos between them, they’re going to take some stopping this year.
If Raiders are to be a chance today they’ll need a much better effort from their forwards, who struggled to make metres against the Panthers.
They tired quickly in the sweltering early-season heat, and the conditions at Robina are unlikely to be any better.
For mine, Gold Coast will be too good and will win this one comfortably.
Can the Titans get their first runs on the board for 2013, or will the Raiders shrug off their mid-week drama to post their own maiden victory of the year? Join us this afternoon at 2.00pm AEST for live score updates and debate on our live blog.