Titans v Rabbitohs preview: Don is good to go; Bunnies shuffle backline
This game won't come quick enough for Titans coach Justin Holbrook and his players after being whitewashed by Manly 36-0 in Mudgee.
Holbrook said his team was given a rugby league lesson last week. So restoring faith in their abilities will be uppermost as the Titans search for win number four in 2021.
The Rabbitohs have already secured five wins in a row. But their fifth was a heart-in-the-mouth moment for South Sydney fans as Tom Burgess scored in golden-point extra time against the Wests Tigers last weekend.
Titans v Rabbitohs
Match: Titans v Rabbitohs
Round 7 -
home Team
Titans
7th Position
away Team
Rabbitohs
3rd Position
Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
The rundown
Team news
Titans: Phillip Sami (head knock) will return on the wing after being named on an extended bench with veteran Anthony Don, who has been hampered by a hip injury, making way. Beau Fermor has been retained as 18th man in the final squad announced an hour before kick-off.
Tino Fa'asuamaleaui's suspension for a shoulder charge brings Moeaki Fotuaika into the starting side and Sam McIntyre onto the bench.
Pearson and Herman Ese'ese were the first two players cut from the squad on Thursday.
The Titans have not defeated the Rabbitohs at Cbus Super Stadium since 2009.
Rabbitohs: Wayne Bennett has pulled a late selection surprise by bringing Benji Marshall into the centres for Friday's clash with the Titans.
Steven Marsters, who was named in the starting side, has been relegated to 18th man duties. Jacob Host has been brought onto Marshall's interchange spot.
Latrell Mitchell's suspension had created a back-line reshuffle with Alex Johnston moving to fullback and Jaxson Paulo coming on the wing.
Dane Gagai has moved from the centres to the wing to replace Josh Mansour (hamstring).
After slicing his knee open in a mishap following his debut in round five, versatile playmaker Dean Hawkins was listed in the reserves but dropped out of the squad 24 hours before kick-off along with Hame Sele.
Marshall will equal Adam Blair’s record for most premiership games by a Kiwi-born player.
Match: Titans v Rabbitohs
Round 7 -
home Team
Titans
away Team
Rabbitohs
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Titans is number 1 Alexander BrimsonFullback for Rabbitohs is number 1 Alex Johnston
-
Winger for Titans is number 5 Corey ThompsonWinger for Rabbitohs is number 2 Dane Gagai
-
Centre for Titans is number 3 Brian KellyCentre for Rabbitohs is number 4 Campbell Graham
-
Centre for Titans is number 4 Patrick HerbertCentre for Rabbitohs is number 14 Benji Marshall
-
Winger for Titans is number 21 Phillip SamiWinger for Rabbitohs is number 5 Jaxson Paulo
-
Five-Eighth for Titans is number 6 Ashley TaylorFive-Eighth for Rabbitohs is number 6 Cody Walker
-
Halfback for Titans is number 7 Jamal FogartyHalfback for Rabbitohs is number 7 Adam Reynolds
Forwards
-
Prop for Titans is number 8 Jarrod WallaceProp for Rabbitohs is number 8 Thomas Burgess
-
Hooker for Titans is number 9 Mitch ReinHooker for Rabbitohs is number 9 Damien Cook
-
Prop for Titans is number 10 Moeaki FotuaikaProp for Rabbitohs is number 10 Tevita Tatola
-
2nd Row for Titans is number 11 Kevin Proctor2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 11 Keaon Koloamatangi
-
2nd Row for Titans is number 12 David Fifita2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 12 Jaydn Su'a
-
Lock for Titans is number 13 Tyrone PeacheyLock for Rabbitohs is number 13 Cameron Murray
Interchange
-
Interchange for Titans is number 14 Erin ClarkInterchange for Rabbitohs is number 15 Mark Nicholls
-
Interchange for Titans is number 15 Jaimin JolliffeInterchange for Rabbitohs is number 16 Liam Knight
-
Interchange for Titans is number 16 Sam LisoneInterchange for Rabbitohs is number 17 Jai Arrow
-
Interchange for Titans is number 17 Sam McIntyreInterchange for Rabbitohs is number 18 Jacob Host
Reserves
-
Reserve for Titans is number 18 Beau FermorReserve for Rabbitohs is number 3 Steven Marsters
Match Officials
- Referee: Chris Sutton
- Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
- Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein
Last updated:
Key match-up
David Fifita v Jaydn Su'A: Second-rowers Su'A and Fifita were Broncos teammates not that long ago but both find themselves in different coloured jerseys in this contest.
Trademark strong runners who like to offload, Fifita has already scored six tries so far this year while Su'A searches for his first.
Stat attack
The Titans are in the top three in the NRL for line breaks and head the list altogether when it comes to engaging the line. The Gold Coast are also just behind the Panthers and the Storm in terms of run metres, which all adds up to a tiring afternoon for the Rabbitohs defence as it seeks to contain them.
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