Anzac Day is upon us and what a day we have, with five games in a 10-hour NRL extravaganza. To kick things off the Gold Coast Titans travel to Auckland to take on the unpredictable New Zealand Warriors. Join The Roar for live coverage from 11:25am (AEST).
The Warriors have followed their usual formula this season, being unpredictable and unable to play for 80 minutes or close out a game.
Meanwhile, the Gold Coast Titans have really turned their fortunes around in recent weeks. After losing their opening four games on the trot, they have now won three in a row against the Cronulla Sharks, the Parramatta Eels and the Penrith Panthers.
In team news the Warriors have dropped centre Konrad Hurrell in favour of David Dusitu’a, and Albert Vete is replaced by Sam Rapira on the bench. Dominique Peyroux will be in jersey number 18 on a five-man bench, which also features debutant from last week Raymond Faitala.
The Titans have lost Agnatius Paasi (ankle), Ryan Simpkins (ACL) and Dave Taylor (suspension). Nate Myles returns to the starting side for Paasi at prop, while Lachlan Burr starts in the second row for Taylor. Matt Robinson and Eddy Pettybourne, who is returning from suspension, join the Titans’ five-man bench.
The home ground advantage could have a massive impact on this game. The Titans have an abysmal record away from home, winning just 38 games from 99 since their inception. Further, they have only won two games in New Zealand from seven. Meanwhile, the Warriors, with their passionate fans, are one of the strongest sides in the competition at home.
Chad Townsend has been exceptional for the Warriors throughout 2015, and is key to the Warriors’ chances.
The Titans will aim to win this one by letting their speedy outside backs do the damage as they have done a couple of times already this year. The key to the outside backs dominating will be Aidan Sezer’s kicking and passing game.
Prediction
The Titans have a shocking away record but their form in recent weeks has been top class. Despite the injuries they should be able to win this in a close one.
Titans in an upset to launch Anzac Day by 8.
In what promises to be a fantastic way to kick off Anzac Day, join The Roar from 11:25 am (AEST) and be sure to leave your comments throughout the game in the section below!
Scott Pryde
Expert
Any 20 meter restart is a 7 tackle set to the best of my knowledge.
TheSmak
Guest
good on ya Titans, awesome!
GTW
Guest
I wonder who's Grandpa was looking after the clock in the final minutes of this game. With 2:15 to go and with the Warriors only 4 down, while Johnson is trying to convert, Myles comes out and asks the ref something. The ref stops the clock, which is fair enough, as it's the Titans Captain who's interupting things, trying to reduce the time the Warriors have to score another try, to take the win. However, the ref doesn't restart the clock, as he should have, when Myles goes away. The clock doesn't restart until the Titans kickoff. Two minutes later, the clock has wound down slowly to show 80:00, with the Warriors just a pass away from winning the game - but the hooter doesn't go off until the Warriors throw a forward pass. It was only about 5 seconds late, but it did look suspicious to me. One thing is for sure, if Johnson could only pull his finger out a little and weave his magic a little earlier, his team would be impossible to beat.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me today on the Roar for our live coverage of the 2015 NRL Season as the Gold Coast Titans proved too good for the New Zealand Warriors. Don't forget there are still 4 more games on today and they will all be covered right here on the Roar so be sure to stick around for those. I'll be back tomorrow from 1:45pm (AEST) for live coverage of the clash between the Penrith Panthers and the Cronulla Sharks so be sure to join me then. Enjoy the rest of your day, LEST WE FORGET Goodbye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
The second game of the day between the Newcastle Knights and the North Queensalnd Cowboys is kicking off very shortly. Why not check out Alan Nicolea's blog right here: http://www.theroar.com.au/2015/04/25/newcastle-knights-vs-north-queensland-cowboys-nrl-live-scores-blog
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME: Titans 32 Warriors 28 A very high scoring game of rugby league then has prevailed with a Titans win are they went into the half time break 6 points behind. During the first half most elements of the game were fairly evenly matched but from there it just looked like the Warriors never came out of the sheds until about the last 10 minutes as the Titans took over the game with tries to Elgey, Roberts, James and Moseley in the second half. The Warriors meanwhile struggled to hold on to the ball and gave away a few to many penalties during the first half an hour of the second half as they fell behind by 14 points at one stage. For the Titans the main destroyer was Kane Elgey backed up by strike weapon James Roberts and dummy half Kierann Moseley. The trio played exceptionally but arguably the best on ground was second rower Ryan James. The Warriors then came back into the game in the last 10 minutes with tries to Solomone Kata and then Bodene Thompson making it a 4 point game with 2 minutes to go. The Warriors had one last crack but just couldn't make anything happened and it summed up their second half. In the end the score board was probably closer than the game suggested but a well deserved win for the Titans. Thoughts Roarers?
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Lame end, but just result.
up in the north
Roar Rookie
Well that sucks.
Scott Pryde
Expert
80' - The Warriors trying to throw something at the Titans but in the end it all breaks down with a forward pass. Siren goes and that will be that! FULLTIME: GOLD COAST TITANS defeat NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS 28
Scott Pryde
Expert
80' - Inside the final minute now and the Titans struggling for meters. Elgey kicks high from inside 30 meters of his own tryline. It bounces in no mans land and Lolohea comes up with it. Titans 32 Warriors 28
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Titans winger tackled in the air. No penalty?
Scott Pryde
Expert
79' - The Warriors will need to go the length here as Townsend charges on to a short kick off. Leulali and Friend link up to go over halfway now as Matulino offloads with a beauty and finds Johnson. Now on the last Mannering gets it and goes to Johnson who kicks across field. Don takes it beautifully and could have been tackled in the air here. He stays down and Elgey will play the ball. Titans 32 Warriors 28
Scott Pryde
Expert
CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL by SHAUN JOHNSON 2:15 to go Titans 32 Warriors 28
Scott Pryde
Expert
77' - TRY WARRIORS, BODENE THOMPSON Now Leulali goes straight through the line and brings the Warriors onto the attack. A penalty for the Warriors and Townsend takes the quick tap before Bodene Thompson goes close. Now Lisone goes within centimetres before Johnson takes on the line and passes to Bodene Thompson who scores untouched on the right hand side. Titans 32 Warriors 26
Scott Pryde
Expert
75' - The Warriors with a solid set but they need a lot more than that at the moment. The bomb goes up from Townsend and the chase comes through but well taken by Hoffman at the back. Titans 32 Warriors 22
Scott Pryde
Expert
CONVERSION MISSED by SHAUN JOHNSON 10 point game with 7 minutes to go. Titans 32 Warriors 22
Scott Pryde
Expert
73' - TRY WARRIORS, SOLOMONE KATA Now the Warriors come to the left and Matulino almost makes a break. Now they come right and Bodene Thompson straightens gong close. Rapira tries to crash over. Townsend kicks across the field looking for Vatuvei and it looks like he has hit it back and Kata has scored! Upstairs we go. Onside is fine and this looks fine to me. Green Lights and a try. Game setting up for a close finish then. Titans 32 Warriors 22
Scott Pryde
Expert
72' - Play back underway here and the Warriors look left. Mannering breaks a tackle but they come to a complete stop in the middle of the field. Townsend grubbers through and its come forward off Sezer by the looks of things. Warriors scrum 10 meters out. Titans 32 Warriors 18
tomo
Guest
please answer this will you do cowboys game to? :D
Scott Pryde
Expert
72' - Fusitu'a now onto the medicab to head off the field. Titans 32 Warriors 18