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Jarryd Hayne made a great return to the NRL on Sunday with the Gold Coast Titans, but it wasn’t enough to inspire them to a win.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Titans 14
Warriors 24
Plenty of storylines will unfold when the Gold Coast Titans – with Jarryd Hayne likely to make his club debut – face the inconsistent New Zealand Warriors. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 2pm (AEST).
All the NRL’s attention this week has been on the Gold Coast, and their sensational signing of superstar Jarryd Hayne on Wednesday.
Given he is allowed to play for the rest of season 2016 once he has been medically cleared, his presence will be a massive boost for an already in-form Titans team. If he can recapture the form he was in when he left the game, he’ll give the Titans the x-factor to contend for the premiership.
But first things first, and that is this clash against the Warriors, then making the top eight.
The Gold Coast currently sit seventh on 23 points, and need three wins from their last five games to lock down a spot in the finals.
They proved their class last weekend though against the Sharks, breaking Cronulla’s 15-game winning streak by drawing, and before that the Titans had won two straight.
They are playing an exciting brand of football, with Ashley Taylor leading in the halves.
But if the Titans are exciting, the Warriors are exhilirating on their day. While the Kiwi side are still the most inconsistent team in the competition, when they realise their potential they can put on a real show, and almost no team in the competition can stop them.
They were involved in their third golden point game in a row last weekend, against the Penrith Panthers. This time they finally won, with Shaun Johnson crossing for a try.
The tough losses in golden point do leave the Warriors in a tight situation, sitting a point behind the Titans on the ladder in eighth spot, hanging on by for and against, and also needing to win three from their last five.
In team news, apart from the question of who could be replaced by Hayne, Nathan Peats returns at hooker for the Gold Coast. The Warriors have extended their bench to include Bunty Afoa and Nathaniel Roache, with Jazz Tevaga missing out.
These sides have already met once this year, with the Warriors taking a nine-point win in Auckland during Round 17.
Prediction
It’s tough to tip the Warriors away from home, and against a Titans side who held the Sharks to a draw six days ago.
Titans by 8.
Be sure to join The Roar for a fascinating afternoon of rugby league from 2pm (AEST), and don’t forget to add your own comments below.
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde