Titans
38
Match Complete
Knights
14
| M. Gordon |  | 79 | ||
| M. Gordon |  | 78 | ||
| T. Roberts | | 76 | ||
| 66 | | M. Barnett | ||
| 65 | | K. Ponga | ||
| 61 | | M. Barnett | ||
| 54 | | H. Hunt | ||
| M. Gordon | | 49 | ||
| A. Don | | 48 | ||
| M. Gordon | | 39 | ||
| B. Kelly | | 38 | ||
| M. Gordon |  | 33 | ||
| M. Gordon | | 23 | ||
| T. Roberts | | 22 | ||
| M. Gordon | | 20 | ||
| P. Sami | | 18 | ||
| M. Gordon | | 13 |
| 6 | Tries | 3 | ||
| 5 | Conversions | 1 | ||
| 2 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
With the cooler weather starting to come in, NRL Sunday will begin at 2pm AEST for the first time this year with a clash between the Gold Coast Titans and the Newcastle Knights, and given the form of both sides (they are both 1-4), it’s quite frankly difficult to back either team in this contest.
The Titans have had a very disrupted start to the year with injuries, having spent plenty of time without first-choice halves Tyrone Roberts and Ash Taylor. Both have been named for this clash, although Taylor is under a fitness cloud with a knee injury.
Should he fail to prove his fitness, it’s likely that Tyrone Peachey will move to five-eighth and Roberts to halfback, while Phillip Sami will come into the starting side either on the wing or at centre.
The Titans are also missing Queensland Origin front-rower Jarrod Wallace, who pleaded guilty to a dangerous throw on Penrith’s Dallin Watene-Zelezniak last week.
For the Knights, the ending of the Kalyn Ponga five-eighth experiment three weeks ago has not reversed their fortunes as many had thought it would as they have failed to win a single game with him at fullback. One wonders how disruptive a pre-season spent training at 6 was for his development as a number one.
While he hasn’t been as good as he was last year, he has shown glimpses of that form, particularly against the Dragons in Round 4 when he came up with two try-assists.
Of more concern to Knights fans will be the recent form of star halfback Mitchell Pearce. In addition to coming up with 11 errors (the 5th most in the NRL) he’s set up just two tries in five games. The Knights really need more from him if they’re to make a return to the finals this season.
Prediction
I can see the Knights returning to the winner’s circle in this one.
The Titans look thin in the forwards without Wallace, and they look light on attacking options without AJ Brimson. Even if Ash Taylor plays, he will struggle to have much of an impact on one leg.
The Knights for me are due. Ponga will be three games back in the fullback role, and will be starting to find his groove there again. They have more strike out wide than the Titans do – Jesse Ramien and Edrick Lee are particularly threatening.
But it ultimately comes down to the forwards, and while the Knights pack have not been at their best, they should be able to account for the Titans without their spearhead Jarrod Wallace.
Knights by 10
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 2pm AEST.
Where: Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
When: 2pm
TV: Fox League
Streaming: NRL Digital Pass, Kayo Sports
Titans
1. Michael Gordon 2. Anthony Don 3. Tyrone Peachey 4. Brian Kelly 5. Dale Copley 6. Tyrone Roberts 7. Ash Taylor 8. Shannon Boyd 9. Mitch Rein 10. Ryan James 11. Kevin Proctor 12. Bryce Cartwright 13. Jai Arrow Interchange: 14. Phillip Sami 15. Keegan Hipgrave 16. Max King 17. Jai Whitbread Reserves: 18. Moeaki Fotuaika 19. Jack Stockwell 20. Jesse Arthars 21. Ryley Jacks.
Knights
1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Edrick Lee 3. Hymel Hunt 4. Jesse Ramien 5. Shaun Kenny-Dowall 6. Mason Lino 7. Mitchell Pearce 8. David Klemmer 9. Danny Levi 10. James Gavet 11. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 12. Mitch Barnett 13. Tim Glasby Interchange: 14. Connor Watson 15. Herman Ese’ese 16. Daniel Saifiti 17. Josh King Reserves: 18. Sione Mata’utia 19. Jamie Buhrer 20. Brodie Jones 21. Tautau Moga.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
If Toovey could find a way to inject the kind of passion he displayed for the Sea Eagles into the Knights with their current roster I have no doubt he and the Knights would do well.
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
There has already been a precedent set for a resurrection today, and now it appears the Titans are following suit.
Ja ja klazo
Guest
Certainly not the first place I've heard it but I think you might be right about brown. Seems like he's more suited to a roster management type roll similar to what Millward does for Saints. Has built a couple strong squads through his career but never had the results on the park. It will be very interesting to see how the next coach goes. I'd love to see Toovey get a shot.
Daniel Szabo
Roar Guru
Fulltime The Titans have come away with their second win of the season against a bitterly disappointing Newcastle side, putting 38 points on the scoreboard and conceding just 14. The Titans didn't come out of the blocks firing, but it was clear from the get go that the Knights were seriously lacking in intensity - particularly in defence. Their line speed was poor, which allowed the Titans to dominate territory early. They scored first with a penalty goal in the 13th minute, before an error from Connor Watson gifted the Titans their first try as Phillip Sami pounced on a loose and went 60m to score. Their second try was almost identical, with Daniel Saifiti putting the ball down on halfway before Ash Taylor picked it up, passed to Tyrone Roberts who cut through and scored. Roberts was dominating for the Titans. He did the bulk of the general play kicking and was highly prominent in their attacking plays too. After another penalty goal in the 33rd minute, Roberts picked up his first try assist for the game, throwing the final pass to Brian Kelly who got past two Knights defenders who barely put a challenge up, and the Titans took a 22-0 lead into the break. The second half picked up where the first left off, with the Knights barely showing any signs of fight. They continuously looked for the easy way out, which backfired in the 49th minute as Shaun Kenny-Dowall threw a shocking pass to Edrick Lee on his own 10m line. Lee put the ball down, Copely picked it up and passed to Anthony Don who scored easily, extending the lead by a further 4 points (6 after Gordon's successful conversion). The Knights finally showed some signs of life at 28-0 down as the Titans began to take their foot off the gas. Newcastle began to dominate possession and made big inroads through the Titans middle with their outside backs. They manged three tries in the space of about 12 minutes to Hymel Hunt, Mitch Barnett, and a brilliant individual effort from Kalyn Ponga. However, with Ponga missing the first two conversions, the comeback never looked that serious. The Titans wrestled momentum back and scored two more tries before fulltime to Tyrone Roberts and Michael Gordon, putting the score out to 38-14 in what was a well deserved win. For the Knights, the pressure is seriously on now for coach Nathan Brown. Many had the Knights in their top 8 to start the season, yet they've now lost 5 games in a row and sit in 15th place on the ladder. With the players they've got now (Pearce, Ponga, Klemmer etc) after a number of lean years, they are out of excuses - it's time to put up or shut up for Newcastle. Titans - 38 Knights - 14
jeandetroyes
Guest
I think patience might have just about run out for Brown's Cows. Too bad - likable team and likable coach.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
That's a 1-4 record Joe. Wins before losses mate. No doubt both teams would take that though. ;-)
Joe
Roar Rookie
Titans score 68 points in two weeks. Knights were very very bad today. I don't think they can blame the cattle because they have some handy players including an out and out star in Ponga. Hate to say it but I think Brown is in some real trouble.
WYNYARD RAUPITA
Guest
Way to go boys yes good job too yous all
Daniel Szabo
Roar Guru
80' Gordon misses the conversion for his own try but it matters not as the Titans have put a huge score on the Knights for two wins in a row. Very disappointing afternoon from the Knights - they'll be shattered by that performance. Match report to come. Titans - 38 Knights - 14
79
Daniel Szabo
Roar Guru
80' Beautiful play to finish the match. Titans shift right on the final play of the game. Roberts to Taylor, Taylor face ball to Cartwright who taps it back on the inside to Gordon who scores untouched! Titans - 38 Knights - 14
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
You heard it here first. Nathan Brown is GONE! He should have given himself a slap in the face before it got to this. Too late now.
78
Daniel Szabo
Roar Guru
79' Short kick off by Danny Levi. SKD is penalised for offside and the Titans will get one last opportunity to improve their for and against. Titans - 34 Knights - 14
Daniel Szabo
Roar Guru
79' Gordon converts. Titans - 34 Knights - 14
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Congrats Titans! This one is in the bag. You are about to end up in 11th position after round 6 assuming the Broncos lose to the Raiders next.
76
Daniel Szabo
Roar Guru
78' That's all good. Try! Just reward for Roberts - he's had a magnificent game! Titans - 32 Knights - 14
Daniel Szabo
Roar Guru
77' Peachey makes a break on the right and gets brought down by Ponga just short of the line. They shift left and Roberts grubbers for himself and scores. We're checking the grounding. Titans - 28 Knights - 14
Daniel Szabo
Roar Guru
76' Pearce goes for a chip but it's really well read by Don who gets back there to take it with plenty of time up his sleeve. Titans - 28 Knights - 14