Expert
The Gold Coast Titans kept their finals dream alive today with a one-point win over the Wests Tigers, thanks to a field goal from their new superstar Jarryd Hayne.
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Final score
Tigers 18
Gold Coast 19
The Wests Tigers will be looking to keep a hot run of form going at Campbelltown Stadium when they take on the Gold Coast Titans with Jarryd Hayne in his second game, one that could have huge finals implications. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 3pm (AEST).
Hayne, who made his club debut last week now plays his first game in Sydney against the Tigers and wow oh wow is it an important one.
Both the Tigers and the Titans sit just outside the top eight with the Tigers on 24 points – locked with the Penrith Panthers and New Zealand Warriors, in seventh and eighth respectively while the Titans are on 23 competition points.
With just three remaining matches after this one, a win is absolutely crucial and resembles a ‘four point turnaround’ in the battle for the final two spots in the eight.
The Wests Tigers, since dropping Robbie Farah have been in absolutely outstanding form and really rose to prominence last week. After wins against the lowly St George Illawarra Dragons and Parramatta Eels, they managed to defeat competition heavyweights the North Queensland Cowboys.
It was an brilliant performance, and their defence is finally standing up. Not only that, but the form of Mitchell Moses and James Tedesco has been out of this world.
The Titans have been well above expectations all season, but with Hayne as an x-factor player they could be a real force heading into the back end of the season. However, that is only going to happen if they stick to structures that work for them.
Last week, they took on the New Zealand Warriors and went down by ten – and while Hayne was their best player it was concerning that Ashley Taylor who has been one of the form halves of the competition had limited impact.
However, the Titans certainly have it in them to challenge better sides, after a couple of wins in a row and then a draw against the Cronulla Sharks which broke their 15 match winning streak.
In team news apart from Hayne, the Tigers are unchanged while the Titans travel south with a six man interchange bench which includes Nathan Friend and Ryan Simpkins.
These sides have played 16 times since the inception of the Titans, who hold the ledger nine games to seven, so not a massive difference there.
Prediction
What a ripper of a game this is set to be. If the Titans can include Ashley Taylor in their attack more than they did last week, then they win. I’m not sure they will though, or that their defence can contain Mitchell Moses.
Titans by 8 in a high scoring match.
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Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde