Round 4: Titans v Eels NRLW preview
NRLW action heads to Melbourne for a double header and the first match sees two sides looking to get their first win of the season when the Gold Coast Titans take on the Parramatta Eels at AAMI Park.
The Titans have started the season poorly with three straight defeats and they have been poor across the start of the season with uncharacteristic errors hurting them including last weekend in their 26-4 defeat to the Broncos. The Gold Coast finished third last season and look a completely different side to side from last season.
A recurring theme for the Titans has been ill-discipline and errors ruining any momentum they have created and that was the case last week with 14 errors and 9 penalties conceded. The errors have been a big reason why the Gold Coast have been under pressure and they really need to find a miracle at this stage to change things especially given they almost pulled off a Round 2 upset against the Knights.
The Titans welcome back Zara Canfield from suspension and Jasmine Peters also returns to the side in the centres with Hagiga Mosby moving to the reserves. April Ngatupuna comes into the 17 with Annette Brandner dropped back to the reserves.
The Parramatta Eels have been the unluckiest side in NRLW 2022 having been in a winning position at times in all three contests this season having led against the Roosters, Dragons and then last week leading into the dying stages of their 18-16 loss to Newcastle. The Eels have been steadily improving in recent weeks and will use that effort last week to know they are getting close to a win.
Improvement has been the story of the season for the Eels despite being blown out of the water late by the Roosters in Round 1 before holding match-winning positions against the Dragons and Knights before losing those games in tight contests. The Eels have been impressive with a new look side starting to find combinations that are starting to produce good results.
The Eels have named an unchanged squad to last week with Filomina Hanisi named in the starting line-up again although the same late change swapping her with Kennedy Cherrington to start could be in the offing for Dean Widders.
Last meeting: Round 3 2021 - Eels 24 Titans 14
Who to watch: Titans halfback Lauren Brown has plenty of experience in the game and she has taken a key role for the Gold Coast but their attack has been stagnant at times and there is plenty of improvement that needs to be taken. There is a lot of faith placed in Brown at halfback but if they are wanting to get their first victory than the Titans are going to need a lot from Brown.
On the opposite end of the experience scale, Tayla Preston has only played 2 games of NRLW and made an immediate impact in the halves for the Eels. Preston is a canny ball running half and holds the x-factor that allows her to turn something into nothing. Picking up two try assists last weekend, the Eels number 7 showed she is a player to watch.
The favourite: The Titans are slight favourites.
My tip: The Titans are due for massive improvement (surely) and this could be the game where they pick up the win but there is just too much going wrong and Parramatta have shown they are not an easy team to get past and I think that's why they will win. Eels by 4.
