Gold Coast Titans
18
Match Complete
New Zealand Warriors
28
| 75 |  | D. Watene-Zelezniak | ||
| 74 |  | S. Johnson | ||
| 72 | | T. Harris | ||
| T. Boyd | | 64 | ||
| J. Campbell | | 63 | ||
| J. Campbell | | 53 | ||
| J. Stimson | | 51 | ||
| 43 | | S. Johnson | ||
| 42 | | J. Ford | ||
| 36 | | S. Johnson | ||
| 34 | | S. Johnson | ||
| 27 | | S. Johnson | ||
| 26 | | S. Johnson | ||
| T. Boyd | | 23 | ||
| D. Fifita | | 21 |
| 3 | Tries | 5 | ||
| 3 | Conversions | 4 | ||
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
Round 23 of the NRL premiership continues this afternoon when the Gold Coast Titans take on the New Zealand Warriors at Cbus Super Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 6pm (AEST).
Fresh off the bye, the Warriors now start a run of five games which based on their form this season should end with them firmly entrenched in the top four. They’re also still a chance of a top-two finish and a home final in week one of the playoffs, if results elsewhere go their way.
Standing in their way are a Gold Coast Titans outfit who haven’t yet been officially eliminated from playoff contention, but soon will be. While some Titans might still harbour faint hopes of surviving beyond round 27, they’re also likely to be thinking about impressing the incoming coach, a new contract or contract extension, or maybe even entertaining their long-suffering supporters.
The Titans have always been a dangerous team. They ship loads of points but they’re capable of scoring even more, and now they don’t really have much to lose. They’ve already put a significant dent in the Cowboys’ finals hopes and might just about finish off Cronulla next weekend. Can they halt the Warriors top-four charge?
To an extent it depends on which Warriors team turns up. Will it be the disciplined, methodical, ruthlessly effective machine that thrashed Cronulla, or the disciplined, methodical, restrained, almost tentative team that very nearly blew a ten-point lead with three minutes to go at home to Canberra in their last game?
Only the Warriors can answer that question and they come into tonight’s game with a well-rested squad, bolstered by the return of hard-running back rower Marata Nuikore from a head knock.
The Titans have named AJ Brimson after the fullback recovered from a knock in last week’s win over the Cowboys but are still without suspended captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui. Aaron Schoupp replaces the injured JoJo Fifita in the centres.
Prediction
Having had a week off to recover and plot the final five weeks of their regular season, the Warriors and their budding star coach Andrew Webster should be primed and ready for the Titans. There’s likely to be strong support for them on the Gold Coast, along with general goodwill from both sides of the Tasman given their pleasantly surprising season to date.
Then again, the Warriors have a poor recent record against the Titans, having lost their last three encounters against tonight’s hosts. But this is a different Warriors team. The Titans will cause them a few problems, and it won’t be a relaxing night for those watching from across the Tasman, but the Warriors will get home. Warriors by 6
Game information
Venue: Cbus Super Stadium
Kick-off: 6pm (AEST)
TV: Fox Sports
Streaming: Kayo Sports
Odds: Titans $3.14, Warriors $1.37 – odds via PlayUp
Titans: 1. AJ Brimson 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Aaron Schoupp 5. Phillip Sami 6. Kieran Foran 7. Tanah Boyd 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Isaac Liu 11. David Fifita 12. Joe Stimson 13. Erin Clark 14. Jayden Campbell 15. Chris Randall 16. Klese Haas 17. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui 18. Keano Kini 19. Jacob Alick 20. Jo Vuna 21. Kruise Leeming 22. Ken Maumalo.
Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Rocco Berry 4. Adam Pompey 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Luke Metcalf 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Jackson Ford 12. Marata Niukore 13. Tohu Harris 14. Dylan Walker 15. Bunty Afoa 16. Bayley Sironen 17. Josh Curran 18. Jazz Tevaga 20. Taine Tuaupiki 21. Freddy Lussick 22. Tom Ale 23. Ronald Volkman.
Rossi
Roar Rookie
Browns was bad, he rushed out of the line to put a hit on, and if you mess that up a send off is fair. The Mo one wasn't malicious I didn't think, and a sin bin more apt. But the thing that I hate the most is we all know certain players aren't going to be sent off even if they do worse. JWH, NAS, Carrigan, Tino etc. won't get sent off.
Pilferer
Roar Rookie
100%
WithTheDawn
Roar Rookie
Poor referring, but it benefited us at least as much as it hurt. I still don’t understand the send off.
Redcap
Roar Guru
Precisely. Very glad to see some honesty.
Pilferer
Roar Rookie
No no we are just constantly whining even if we win
Pilferer
Roar Rookie
Exactly thinks his opinion is the only one that counts
Jokerman
Roar Guru
I take the win but just the frustration around reffing. The slap binning was farcical. It’s almost a 14 point deficit every game and Warriors have to player perfectly to take the ref out. I’m hoping we play the Bronco’s in the final …and being from Queensland the ref may be neutral!? That’s the plan!
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
The Warriors won fair and square. They were the better team. I watch every Warriors game because they play good RL. I really like their coach, I really like SJ and CNK and AFB I think the Warriors making the 4 is really, really good for RL. BUT I think your constant whinging about Refs is just sad. Talk em up , they are a good side . All you do is make excuses for them . They don't need it , they are big boys.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Followed league since 1965 and never ever heard those words.
Jokerman
Roar Guru
Indeed and they are winning on the trot man. And coming third. Titans D was pretty amazing and they were getting away with a lot
Jokerman
Roar Guru
You don’t even know what a yellow and red represents, Jimmy so I’m not surprised by your noises !!
Jokerman
Roar Guru
Some major calls. - The first head high was a clear binning. - Two hair pulling right in front of the lines man. - then the slap binning which should have been just play on as Titans slapped first. - 50/50 on Warrior’s quashed try. Then the Titans clearly knocked the ball forward on their last try on the previous play up and under. Pretty major moments and happens every week. I think the Warriors are receiving more foul play because the opposition are getting away with it. DWZ received a shoulder to the chin and ref didn’t even penalise - had to reviewed. If I was the Warrior’s I’d start a discussion around safety protocols. NRL deserves to be sued.
Pilferer
Roar Rookie
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaawwn
WithTheDawn
Roar Rookie
The top teams win ugly like this sometimes. Getting the points is all that matters.
Jokerman
Roar Guru
It was a shocker. SJ kept us in. Won ugly! Against 13 would have probably lost. The attacking structure and flow was really poor. Terrible timing. Even the line breaks they couldn’t finish. Should have been no try on Titans last with a clear knock forward from previous ruck. Commenter: surely the bunker must have noticed it?” Roach: “they may have been what we’re doing, wrapped up with this kid scoring. We’re not taking it off ‘em!” ….Aussie rules huh?! Win ugly. But need to be better come finals. Against Penrith away with a dodgy ref it’s going to real hard. Still, there is time to improve.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!
Pilferer
Roar Rookie
I know je won't but gee I hope Webster has a crack at the refs
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Thanks for the call, David. Cracker of a game even if the ending was a little predictable.
Redcap
Roar Guru
FULL-TIME Thankyou everybody for joining me tonight. Stick with The Roar for coverage of Penrith and Melbourne with David Holden, who’s limbering up for the call as I write farewell. Gold Coast.....................18 NZ Warriors...................28
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Good win Warriors but gee that Titans side were brave. They kept pushing and pushing . Desi has some really fine talent to work with . They are top 8 material in 24.