NRL Match Preview: Raiders v Titans

Author: Ely Corliss
Timestamp: Thu 28 Jul 2022, 10:01 AM

The Canberra Raiders will travel to the Gold Coast this weekend to take on the Titans in round 20 action at Cbus Super Stadium.

The Raiders will be looking to register their third straight win which will keep them in contention for the finals. The Raiders are currently tied with three other sides on 20 competition points.

However, there will be plenty on the line for the Titans who will be hungry to end an eight game losing streak and get some revenge after being defeated by Canberra 24-22 earlier this season.

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has made no changes to the team that defeated the Warriors last weekend at GIO Stadium. Titans strike centre Brian Kelly returns to action after being out for three weeks.

Round 20 - Round 20 - Saturday 30 Jul

Full Time

Titans

Raiders

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Titans is number 1 AJ Brimson

Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Xavier Savage
Winger for Titans is number 2 Jojo Fifita

Winger for Raiders is number 2 Nick Cotric
Centre for Titans is number 3 Phillip Sami

Centre for Raiders is number 3 Matthew Timoko
Centre for Titans is number 4 Brian Kelly

Centre for Raiders is number 4 Sebastian Kris
Winger for Titans is number 5 Patrick Herbert

Winger for Raiders is number 5 Albert Hopoate
Five-Eighth for Titans is number 6 Tanah Boyd

Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Jack Wighton
Halfback for Titans is number 7 Toby Sexton

Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Jamal Fogarty

Forwards

Prop for Titans is number 8 Moeaki Fotuaika

Prop for Raiders is number 8 Josh Papali'i
Hooker for Titans is number 9 Aaron Booth

Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Zac Woolford
Prop for Titans is number 10 Tino Fa'asuamaleaui

Prop for Raiders is number 10 Joseph Tapine
2nd Row for Titans is number 11 David Fifita

2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Hudson Young
2nd Row for Titans is number 12 Beau Fermor

2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Elliott Whitehead
Lock for Titans is number 13 Erin Clark

Lock for Raiders is number 13 Adam Elliott

Interchange

Interchange for Titans is number 14 Jayden Campbell

Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Tom Starling
Interchange for Titans is number 15 Herman Ese'ese

Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Ryan Sutton
Interchange for Titans is number 16 Isaac Liu

Interchange for Raiders is number 16 Emre Guler
Interchange for Titans is number 17 Jaimin Jolliffe

Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Corey Harawira-Naera

Reserves

Replacement for Titans is number 18 Sam McIntyre

Replacement for Raiders is number 19 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad

Match Officials

Referee: Ben Cummins
Touch Judge: Wyatt Raymond
Touch Judge: Nick Morel
Senior Review Official: Kasey Badger

Last updated: 3/4/2024 11:32:41 PM

Last Time They Met

The Raiders came back from 22 points down to beat the Titans 24-22 in round three earlier this year at GIO Stadium.

Key Matchups

Xavier Savage v AJ Brimson

When talking about the best young fullbacks in the competition, it’s hard to go past these two names. Their speed and awareness of gaps in the opposition's defensive line has provided plenty of highlights and come Saturday we’re sure to see some more.

Savage is in the midst of his breakout year, with Ricky Stuart entrusting him with the fullback role. His running game is his strongest attribute, currently averaging 132 running metres per game alongside 28 tackle breaks and five line breaks.

Brimson has also been outstanding this season for the Titans with the 23-year-old having to jump between five-eighth and fullback through the year due to injuries within the squad.

He averages 108 metres per game and has 49 tackle breaks and six line breaks in 2022.

Hudson Young v David Fifita

This mouthwatering matchup on the edge is sure to bring in a crowd at the Gold Coast this weekend, with these two wrecking balls attempting to create havoc with their strong running and deceptive foot work.

Hudson Young has been one of Canberra’s best players all season in both attack and defence. Young currently has a 91 percent tackle efficiency and an uncanny ability to get across the line, highlighted by his two match winning tries against the Sharks and Knights this year.

Fifita on the other hand has spent a lot of time on the sideline in 2022 due to recurring injuries. But when he’s been on the field he’s been a game changer for the Titans with 18 offloads, 50 tackle breaks and an average of 117 running metres.

On Saturday afternoon both teams will look to their strike backrowers to get them going forward and closer to a crucial victory.

Joe Tapine v Tino Fa'asuamaleaui

This is arguably the biggest matchup of the game with both representative forwards in fantastic form so far this year.

Joseph Tapine is having the best season of his nine year career, with the Kiwi international registering career highs in running metres, post-contact metres and offloads.

He’s currently averaging 164 metres a game along with an impressive tackle efficiency of 95 percent.

Fa’asuamaleaui has been a shining light for the struggling Gold Coast side this season with the first year captain averaging 151 metres a game along with 38 tackle breaks.

Titans coach Justin Holbrook has made the decision to shift Fa’asuamaleaui to the front row in what seems to be a strategy to try and stop Tapine’s impact on the game. Both forward packs will need to be at their best to gain momentum in the middle and help set up their outside backs.