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The Gold Coast Titans have continued their march to finals with a very comfy 20-point win over the Parramatta Eels.
» Click here for the full match report
Final score
Titans 34
Eels 14
The Gold Coast Titans have performed well above expectations this season and will look to keep things going in Round 20 when they take on the trainwreck that is the Parramatta Eels. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 5:30pm (AEST).
The Titans have got themselves inside what is an ever changing top eight given the closeness of the competition and log jam of teams around the middle coming into this round.
A loss could see them slip all the way down to tenth from seventh, while a win would simply leave them in seventh with a four point gap to the Brisbane Broncos.
They enter this match against the Eels in strong form, having defeated the St George-Illawarra Dragons in convincing fashion last week, 32-12. Their halves, Ashley Taylor and Tyrone Roberts controlled the game strongly while their forwards dominated up the middle.
It has been a similar style the Titans have aimed for all season, and they have surprised many with how well they have been able to execute pulling off some huge wins throughout the season.
Simply put, Ashley Taylor in his debut year has been outstanding and on the back of their forward pack which includes Agnatius Passi and Ryan James along with the experience of Luke Dougals and Zeb Taia they have played outstanding football.
The same could have been said for Parramatta at one point, but they have unravelled with salary cap indiscretions costing them 12 competition points and numerous off field issues which has all come to a head this week with Corey Norman being suspended for eight weeks by the NRL.
While their finals hopes are dashed, the spirit of the side can’t be questioned as they continue to show up week in and week out, putting on good displays and competing hard.
They have won one of their last three, although could have easily gotten the upper hand last week against the Penrith Panthers. With Clint Gutherson in the halves, which seemed to be a left field move he played expertly and if not for a second-half collapse they would have gotten the win.
In team news, Greg Bird is out for the Titans, replaced by Agnatius Passi at lock with Nathaniel Peteru joining the bench. For the Eels, Corey Norman remains out with Gutherson still in the halves while Brad Takairangi returns in the centres for the injured Michael Jennings.
When they earlier this season in Darwin it was the Eels, under similar adversity to what they have faced for much of the season managing to take a 10 point win in tough conditions.
Prediction
The Titans have been playing good footy, even when you consider some of the losses they have had recently. Parramatta will fight hard, but ultimately fall short away from home.
Titans by 6.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this Round 20 fixture from 5:30pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add your own comments in the section below.
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde