Gold Coast haven’t given up hope of ending an underwhelming NRL campaign with a finals berth as they chase some elusive consistency in the closing rounds.
Their 2021 NRL season hasn’t panned out how they expected but the Titans haven’t given up hope of making a late charge to their finals.
Last weekend’s 32-10 win over St George Illawarra means the 11th-placed Titans head into their clash with rock-bottom Canterbury just one win outside the top eight.
Whether the match will take place on Sunday as scheduled remains unclear due to a snap COVID-19 lockdown in south-east Queensland but a victory over the Bulldogs will be just the second-time this year the Titans have recorded back-to-back wins.
Since beating Brisbane and North Queensland in consecutive weeks in rounds two and three, the Titans have lost the week after a victory.
It’s that lack of consistency Gold Coast are desperate to end as they look to end a five-year finals drought.
“I’m pretty confident that we can play in the finals,” prop Moeaki Fotuaika said.
“It’s definitely a motivation for all of us in the team…hopefully we can just be consistent with our games and … play some finals footy at the end.”
The Titans have made one enforced change from the team which defeated the Dragons with Esan Marsters replacing the suspended Patrick Herbert in the centres, while David Fifita is back in the starting side.
Co-captain Jamal Fogarty may make a return from a broken finger after being named as a reserve.
English international Luke Thompson starts a three-match ban for the Bulldogs, meaning Dylan Napa starts at prop and Renouf Atoni is added to the interchange bench.
Kyle Flanagan has been recalled at halfback for the match, after being dropped in Round 16, which is almost certain to be played at a different venue to the scheduled CBUS Super Stadium with Gold Coast in lockdown.
Walter Black
Guest
I had great expectations from the Titans this year. I rate Holbrook as a coach and with a couple of extra useful players added to his list, I really thought he would crack the top eight. I never expected them to do much when they got there but after their recent history, it would be a significant measure of progress. The Titans had a late run last year and if they can reproduce that, it is possible they will make it yet.