Gold Coast Titans vs Sydney Roosters: NRL live scores, blog

Round 21 of the NRL premiership continues today when the Gold Coast Titans take on the Sydney Roosters at Cbus Super Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 3pm (AEST).

For sheer tension factor alone, this is perhaps the match of the round. Both these teams sit on 20 competition points, 4 points outside the 8 along with a large points differential deficit. The winner keeps their slim finals chances alive. For the loser, it’s oblivion for 2023.

The Titans were good last weekend against the Eels but ultimately fell short courtesy of a Mitchell Moses field goal. Still they held a 24-14 lead with less than 15 minutes remaining and should have held on. Their second half defensive lapses hurt again.

At their best, the Titans have one of the strongest packs in the competition. However, with both Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and David Fifita seemingly on the market, Gold Coast will get a true test of character in the coming weeks.

Tino is out this week through suspension with Isaac Liu moving to prop and Erin Clark to lock. AJ Brimson returns at fullback after being rested against the Eels and Jayden Campbell reverts to the bench. Joe Stimson returns after passing concussion protocols.

The Roosters played some good football last weekend but went unrewarded, losing 30-16 to the Storm. Amazingly, line breaks favoured the Roosters 8-3 but they lacked the composure to finish these off against swarming cover defence.

The Roosters do have talent sidelined, however they have more than enough on the park to suggest they should be doing a lot better than they are. Players like Victor Radley and Brandon Smith are out of form and struggling to justify their price tags.

James Tedesco returns from a break, with Joey Manu moving to centre, Joseph Suaalii going to wing and Junior Pauga missing out. Terrell May comes onto the bench, with Naufahu Whyte sidelined with injury.

Prediction

The loss of Tino, leaving or not, hurts the Titans. With the exception of the starting front row, the Roosters have been a bit brittle through the middle and Tino would have been targeting there.

I saw enough last weekend to suggest the Roosters are on the improve, and eight line breaks this weekend should be enough to seal a win. Roosters by 8

Game information

Venue: Cbus Super Stadium
Kick-off: 3pm (AEST)
TV: Fox Sports
Streaming: Kayo Sports, Foxtel
Odds: Titans $2.25 Roosters $1.65 – odds via PlayUp

Titans: 1. AJ Brimson 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Jojo Fifita 5. Phillip Sami 6. Kieran Foran 7. Tanah Boyd 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Isaac Liu 11. David Fifita 12. Klese Haas 13. Erin Clark 14. Jayden Campbell 15. Chris Randall 16. Joe Stimson 17. Jacob Alick 18. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui 19. Aaron Schoupp 20. Ken Maumalo 21. Kruise Leeming 22. Thomas Mikaele

Roosters: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Joseph Manu 5. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 6. Luke Keary 7. Sandon Smith 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Jake Turpin 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Victor Radley 12. Nat Butcher 13. Nathan Brown 14. Brandon Smith 15. Egan Butcher 16. Siua Wong 17. Terrell May 18. Corey Allan 19. Dylan Napa 20. Drew Hutchison 21. Fetalaiga Pauga 22. Fletcher Baker