Titans
4
Match Complete
Cowboys
6
| 50 |  | J. Kahu | ||
| 49 |  | J. Taumalolo | ||
| D. Copley | | 21 |
| 1 | Tries | 1 | ||
| 0 | Conversions | 1 | ||
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
The Gold Coast Titans will look to flip a horrific historical record against the North Queensland Cowboys when the sides clash during an Origin-interrupted Round 12. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 4:05pm (AEST).
While both teams have struggled through the first half of the year, they will both be looking for major improvements during the Origin window with a view to building a successful second half of the season and possible finals appearance.
The Titans are completely unaffected by Origin this year after Jarrod Wallace missed out, while the Cowboys only lose Michael Morgan and Josh McGuire, although coupling that with an injury to Matt Scott isn’t going to help matters.
That all being said, it’s on the Cowboys back-up forward brigade to stand up and do a job on the Titans today.
They lose a stack of experience without McGuire and Scott, and while Jason Taumalolo has been in good form, they need to see continued improvement out of names like Coen Hess and Jordan McLean, while Scott Bolton slots back into the starting 13.
The Cowboys have actually improved their position to 13th on the ladder in the last couple of weeks on the back of victories over the Titans, Eels and Raiders, meaning they have now won three of their last four.
They are starting to reach the potential it seemed certain they were capable of in the pre-season and a win today will leave them equal on points with the bottom of the top eight.
As mentioned, the Titans are virtually at full strength, minus the injury of Ryan James, who is out for the season.
They are in a virtual must-win position today because of it. For all the positivity surrounding Gareth Brennan’s side at the start of the season, they have been failing to execute on simple skills, and the form of Ashley Taylor has been woeful.
The Gold Coast did get the better of the Manly Sea Eagles last week at Brookvale in a surprise, but they are still second last on the table and anything that could go wrong, has.
Taylor’s form is what will get the Titans into this game – his kicking game and any dominance he can have over the Titans structure – will determine how they play with the ball, although their work in defence has been at best questionable this year.
The Cowboys have also won their last eight matches against the Titans, including a match just four weeks ago.
Prediction
I’ll take the Cowboys. Jason Taumalolo will prove to be a real menace up the middle, and the form of the Cowboys in general has been on the improve.
Cowboys by 8.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this Round 12 NRL match from 4:05pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Game information
Kick-off: 4:05pm (AEST)
Venue: CBus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
TV: Live, Fox League 502, Channel 9
Online: Live, Kayo Sports, Foxtel App, Foxtel Now, 9Now, NRL Digital Pass
Betting: Titans $1.70, Cowboys $2.15
Overall record Played 22, Cowboys 14, Titans 8
Last meeting: Round 8, 2019 – Cowboys 28 defeat Titans 14 at 1300 Smiles Stadium
Last five: Cowboys 5, Titans 0
Record at venue: Played 9, Cowboys 5, Titans 4
Referees: Henry Perenara, Jon Stone
Gold Coast Titans
1. Alexander Brimson 2. Anthony Don 3. Jesse Arthars 4. Brian Kelly 5. Dale Copley 6. Tyrone Roberts 7. Ash Taylor 8. Jarrod Wallace 9. Mitch Rein 10. Moeaki Fotuaika 11. Kevin Proctor 12. Keegan Hipgrave 13. Jai Whitbread
Interchange: 14. Tyrone Peachey 15. Shannon Boyd 16. Bryce Cartwright 17. Jack Stockwell 18. Max King 19. Will Matthews
North Queensland Cowboys
1. Jordan Kahu 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Mitchell Dunn 4. Tom Opacic 5. Gideon Gela-Mosby 6. John Asiata 7. Jake Clifford 8. Scott Bolton 9. Jake Granville 10. Jordan McLean 11. Gavin Cooper 12. Coen Hess 13. Jason Taumalolo
Interchange: 14. Kurt Baptiste 15. Shane Wright 16. Corey Jensen 17. Francis Molo 18. Peter Hola 19. Enari Tuala
Insider
Roar Rookie
Mmmm, he is the same place DCE was, he is very talented and has the skills, he is missing a good coach, Easts, Melb, Sharks, Tigers even Canberra would be a better fit
Griffo
Guest
Titans player contesting in the air knocked it on first
Rellum
Roar Guru
If they don't know how to play off the cuff now they aren't going to learn it at training under Green. That is something you learn as a kid in the backyard. Your best hope of off the cuff footy is if Green is telling them to put it away and a new coach gives them the green light to give it more air. Green just doesn't play attacking footy. His style is very dire in an attacking sense and defense orientated.
Scott
Guest
He's on $1M a year and playing worse than a park footballer, he's not going anywhere except Burleigh Bears and then the UK when his contract is up
Scott
Guest
Roberts and Brimson didn't do much near the try line but it was still better than Ash Taylor passing to Kevin Proctor with 2 defenders on him every play. For the love of god can't Taylor come up with something else
damo
Roar Rookie
Val would change any team for the better. If his NFL dream ends any time soon (I hope he makes it & becomes the absolute legend he dreams of) then please come home to the Cowboys. My fingers are crossed firstly for his personal goals but secondarily for the Cowboys.
damo
Roar Rookie
Clifford will need this season & probably next just to gain confidence & really come into his own after JT retiring. Everyone else will need a similar time scale to learn to run new lines, react instinctively to plays/kicks/off the cuff etc & therefore I look for effort over actual results for the team this year. GGM & his bung shoulder defensive effort is exactly what we're after right now- we're not going to beat the Rooters or Storm & win a premiership in the next few years but we will build a new squad on the back of JT1, JT2, Josh M, Jordan M, MM, KF, JK, MS, all unsung heroes & the legend that is Gavin Cooper (possibly a vampire & will play forever).
a
Roar Rookie
That was awesome defence by the Cowboys they deserve the win
Succhi
Roar Rookie
How did the Titans lose that game? That will be a real confidence killer for them moving forward. I can’t see the coach lasting the season.
Rellum
Roar Guru
I am still hoping the Broncs can pinch Holmes :)
Rob
Guest
The Cowboys were desperate to get Holmes back to Townsville but then they lost Barba. Kahu is a safe catcher of the ball but he gives the Cowboys very little in bringing the ball back. Compared to Tedesco, Turbo, Ponga, Storm back 3, Dugan, TMS, Gutherson and even Brimson the Cowboys are well behind the top sides in the full back position.
Rellum
Roar Guru
In saying that they should have kicked at least on of those penalties and converted that last second try. Plus that no try off the bomb was overturned extemely quickly. That did look a fair try to me. It needed at least another look.
Rellum
Roar Guru
The Titans definitely need to do better. It should be them on the rise this season
Concerned Observer
Roar Rookie
But to have lost the chief half who organises the attack and a forward considered good enough to be the QLD lock before the start is one problem, losing a forward and a speedy winger is another. Doesn’t matter if the plan was to be conservative, that took guts to keep turning up again and again. Green will likely encourage a more expansive game now that he can trust the boys will be a wall in defence The bigger questions would be on the Titans. One edge of the cowboy defence was a backrower and a centre, the other was a winger and a backrower and the best they can produce is a single try
Rellum
Roar Guru
It was a very good defensive effort no doubt but many teams loose players in games. That is not a reason to play such an extreme conservative style of attack. That is just how the cows play now.
Rob
Guest
That’s a huge boast for the Cowboys. So many injuries and during Origin period. I thought Asiata was terrific and Clifford did what he had to. Hopefully that will bring some real confidence to the young guys. Ye ha.
Concerned Observer
Roar Rookie
They should’ve Little hard on the boys considering they lost GGM and Corey Jensen at about the same time and for 50 minutes they played with 15 men Don’t mean to toot the cowboys too much here but that felt like a fantastic win against the odds. Green favours conservative play and with 15 men and exhausted players they defended to the last bloody minute
Rob
Guest
I actually think they are going to Roberts for everything inside the attacking 20 and Taylor can’t get into the game? He needs to be running the show and touching the ball consistently. I’m wondering if this is a coached plan? It’s not working if it is.
Rellum
Roar Guru
That is Greenies dream game. Winning without even trying to score. Congrats on their defense but that are rapidly becoming the most boring team to watch in a como if boring teams to watch. Titans should have won that game.
Insider
Roar Rookie
Ash will not see out season at GC, there’s no way he is happy