Round 24: Dragons v Titans preview
Dragons host Titans as Foran brings up 300
The St George Illawarra Dragons and Gold Coast Titans will be looking to secure two vital premiership points in a do-or-die contest pitting two teams clinging to hope of football beyond the regular season.
Falling outside the top eight following a controversy-laden performance last Saturday, the St George Illawarra Dragons will be hoping their inconsistent form rebounds with a win despite a number of key players being sidelined.
Going down 28-10 to the Bulldogs in a highly anticipated showdown at Kogarah last week, coach Shane Flanagan will be without Moses Suli (knee) and Hame Sele (chest pains) for the remainder of the regular season, while Kyle Flanagan will miss the next four matches after being found guilty of dangerous contact at the judiciary.
Mathew Feagai, Toby Couchman and Jack Bird have been recalled to the side with Bird or uncapped teenager Lyhkan King-Togia the most likely candidates to come into the halves; Jadyn Su'A will make his 50th appearance for the club in the second-row.
The Dragons have won three of their four matches in Wollongong this season, however their most recent appearance at the venue three weeks ago resulted in a humbling defeat at the hands of Penrith.
Needing to win all their remaining games and have other results fall favourably to qualify for the finals, the Gold Coast Titans will be determined to atone for last week's deplorable showing at home.
Suffering a 44-0 defeat at the hands of the Sharks last Friday to sit four points adrift of the top eight, coach Des Hasler has named Brian Kelly and Keenan Palasia to return with AJ Brimson reverting to the bench and Moeaki Fotuaika out through suspension.
Sunday afternoon will serve as milestone match for captain Kieran Foran who will become the 53rd player in premiership history to appear in 300 first grade matches.
The Titans have never won at WIN Stadium from five previous attempts, while the two sides have recorded four wins apiece from eight meetings at all venues throughout the 2020s.
Last meeting: Round 1 2024 - Titans 4 Dragons 28
Who to watch: As the Dragons strive to break back into finals football for the first time in six years, Zac Lomax will have his sights set on making that dream a reality as his time with the club draws to a close. Enjoying a career best campaign with 12 tries, an Origin debut and a renewed reputation as one of the hardest working outside backs in the league, the 24-year-old has been in tremendous touch ever since shifting to the wing. Running for over 170 metres on average each week and possessing the ability to nail a long-range field goal, Lomax has the potential to be the difference between winning and losing for the Dragons.
Having reached the heights of premiership success and victories on the international stage, Sunday afternoon will serve as arguably the greatest achievement of Kieran Foran's storied career. Bringing up 300 games in first grade 15 years on from his debut, the 34-year-old has demonstrated remarkable resilience to hit the triple century after a demoralising run of injuries and doubts over his durability. Providing tremendous leadership to the Titans over the past two seasons to earn a contract extension for a further 12 months, Foran stands in rarified company as one of the toughest competitors of the NRL era.
FAVOURITE: Despite the fallout of last week's loss and forced change in the halves, the Dragons are expected to get the job done on Sunday afternoon.
MY TIP: The Dragons will need to be wary of the attacking threat posed by the Titans, but should have too much to play for to let this one slip.
