The Parramatta Eels are massive favourites when they host the Gold Coast Titans. Join The Roar from 2:45pm (AEST) for live coverage of the match.
The Eels have been patchy this season, but looking at their injured list it’s not hard to see why. So far the injury toll includes Kaysa Pritchard, Semi Radradra, Beau Champion, Vai Toutai, Kenny Edwards, Brad Takairangi and Pauli Pauli.
Combine this with the suspension of Junio Paulo and the Eels have had a severely disrupted opening month or so.
Currently in 10th place on the table, with two wins and three losses, this game is an important one for the Eels to win and spark a run of victories.
Meanwhile, the Titans have only managed to record the single victory, against the Cronulla Sharks. They sit 15th on the ladder only ahead of the Manly Sea Eagles.
In team news, the Eels welcome back winger Reece Robinson after missing last week’s game against the Tigers. This is a huge plus for the Eels as he has been one of their early season best. It also allows Manu Ma’u to shift back to the second row, where he has absolutely dominated this season. David Gower will resume his spot on the bench and Peni Terepo becomes 18th man.
The Titans have been able to name the same 17 players from last week’s loss to the Brisbane Broncos, with Dave Taylor named to come back into the starting side in a straight swap for Eddy Petybourne.
Having a look at the on-field battles and there will be none bigger than Chris Sandow versus Aidan Sezer. So far this season it has seemed whenever Sandow has been on his game then so are the Eels, while the Titans will be relying on a monster performance from Sezer to help them get over the line.
Another factor the Titans will look to use throughout their clash with the Eels is the speed of their outside backs. With James Roberts, arguably the fastest man in the NRL, being joined by the likes of David Mead and Anthony Don, getting these players into space and using their awesome speed could create a huge advantage.
Prediction
The Eels should be far to strong for the struggling Titans.
Eels by 12.
Join The Roar from 2:45pm (AEST) for our live coverage of the clash, and don’t forget to leave your comments as the game unfolds.
i grimshaw
Guest
Can,t believe it, I'm not a Titans fan however wake up this morning and no sports news coverage or mention of Titans win over Eels on chanell Seven or Nine Just Panthers and Warriors. Media should give credit when due. By the way a full coverage of AFL results. Feel sorry for Titans fans!!!
Scott Pryde
Expert
Yep, But its not going to matter how much strike power they have out wide if they play like they did today.
Bluebag
Guest
Eels lack strikepower out wide. Faraimo goes OK but Reece Robinson too inconsistent, Folau more a backrower and Morgan a NSW Cup player. Beau Champion no answer and Takairangi more a utility than a specialist centre.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining the Roar for our live coverage of the first game on Super Saturday which saw the Gold Coast Titans convincingly defeat the Parramatta Eels. I'm off for a short break before I'll be back to bring you live coverage of the next game of Super Saturday between the New Zealand Warriors and the Wests Tigers from Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland. That should go live shortly. Hopefully you enjoyed my coverage this afternoon of this one. Goodbye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
What a win for the Gold Coast Titans as their good record continues. They have now won 8 from 12 against the Eels since the club began in the NRL. After being the better team throughout the first half but being fractionally behind on the scoreboard they have dominated the second half scoring 26 points unanswered. The Eels however did not help their cause, coughing up the ball at regular intervals and being penalised heavily for some very poor discipline. When the Eels did get their hands on the ball points were not coming as the forward pack for the Titans stood very strongly. For the Titans, it was a real team effort today. No one seemed to be out there to make up the numbers at any stage. Their forwards dominated during the second half and set it up brilliantly for the likes of Sezer and Elgey. Sezer's kicking game was excellent but the real star of the show for the Titans was James Roberts. He was brilliant at both ends of the field and his speed is close to unmatchable in the NRL as he posted a hatrick. There were no real bright spots for the Eels in that second half what so ever. With 2 losses in a row the Eels need to bounce back as they begin to fall behind the pack. For the Titans if they continue to play like that they will be hard to match. Thoughts Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
CONVERSION MISSED by AIDAN SEZER from the sideline. That's it. Fulltime and a smashing at Pirtek. FULLTIME: GOLD COAST TITANS 38 defeat PARRAMATTA EELS 16
Scott Pryde
Expert
80' - TRY TITANS, ANTHONY DON This Eels side have no fight left in them here. The ball goes left to Elgey who throws a longish ball to Dave Taylor. He drew all the defenders and passes to the wing where Anthony Don runs 10 meters unmarked. Too easy. Titans 38 Eels 16
Scott Pryde
Expert
79' - Horrible here from the Eels as they work it towards halfway and a pass finds the ground. Collected by Ryan James. Titans 34 Eels 16
Scott Pryde
Expert
78' - Now Sezer bombs to the right hand side. It is batted back into the field of play to Elgey and he had White on his right but he drops the ball in the rush of trying to get it to him. Titans 34 Eels 16
Scott Pryde
Expert
78' - Aidan Sezer takes on the line and struggles to get up. Could be hurt here. Replays show an arm around the neck. But he will be fine as he plays the ball. Hasn't he been good today though Sezer. Titans 34 Eels 16
Scott Pryde
Expert
77' - Now the Eels get penalised for a foot in the ruck and the Titans will get a piggy back out of trouble. This one is just about over though. Titans 34 Eels 16
Scott Pryde
Expert
75' - Now the Titans make a mistake off the kick off. The Eels are spreading the ball around now right on the attack but are struggling to find a way through. Wicks is tackled with the ball on the last and that just about sums up the Eels day. Titans 34 Eels 16
Scott Pryde
Expert
CONVERSION MISSED by AIDAN SEZER Titans 34 Eels 16
Scott Pryde
Expert
73' - TRY TITANS, DAVID MEAD Well I said the outside backs would be a key part in the game for the Titans today and aren't they proving to be a massive one. The Titans go across halfway and then spread to the left here through Roberts who draws both outside defenders of the Eels and he gets a ball away to Mead who runs away and scores despite some scrambling defence. They send it upstairs to look at grounding, the touchline and Double Movement but nothing wrong with that and there are the green lights. Titans 34 Eels 16
George W
Guest
Having Reece in Defence is like playing one man down. He always touches his man though! Pity it ain't touch footy!
Scott Pryde
Expert
72' - Now the Eels get a scrum on halfway and they have to score here. They spread right on the third and out the back it goes to Sandow who gets a ball away to Morgan who makes a half break but gets pulled down. Not they go right again to Morgan but he cant hold the pass. 14 point game with 8 minutes to go and the its looking like a lost cause for the Eels here at the moment. Titans 30 Eels 16
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Blatant forward pass from the Titans. How can all four miss it.
Scott Pryde
Expert
71' - Replays show nothing in the tackle but the Titans making easy meters up the middle now. Myles stays down just behind half way. Now they spread left and Taylor knocks on. He will claim straight onto his boot but to no avail. Titans 30 Eels 16
Scott Pryde
Expert
71' - The Eels manage to get across half way here before a kick is sliced down the field. Sandow chased incredibly hard and Greg Bird collects it. Bird stays on the ground in pain. Titans 30 Eels 16
Scott Pryde
Expert
70' - Now the Titans go up the middle through Luke Douglas and he drops the ball. The Eels begin to go the other way before a sloppy pass that looked forward is allowed to go and the Eels work it out of their red zone. Titans 30 Eels 16