Knights v Titans preview

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Two sides many predicted to pick up the Wooden Spoon battle it out after contrasting seasons. Do the Titans go one step closer to an unlikely Top 8 berth or do the Knights reward their loyal fans with a hard-earned victory?

The Knights have had a horrible 2016 campaign. We all know that. They unfortunately, and quite obviously, come into this clash with the worst attack, defence and for and against in the competition as well as holding the forgettable record for the longest losing streak in the NRL era. Despite having shown effort and desire, their defence has particularly faltered, conceding 36 plus points in 3 of their past 4 clashes. Important to this clash is complacency for the Titans, as a positive start for the home side could invite their loyal fans to raise their voices and attempt to guide their side to victory. Having only scored two tries in the opening 10 minutes of games this season, conceding early could prove costly for the Gold Coast, but seeing Newcastle's capitulation in the 2nd half last week against Penrith one would think it would not be much of an issue. If the Knights are any hope of claiming just their second victory of the year they will need to fix up their errors, making an incredibly concerning 18 last week against Penrith. Gifting the Mountain Men possession in the 2nd half as a result, the Panthers scored 36 unanswered points and buried any chance of an unlikely victory.

The Gold Coast were predicted for a similar season to that of the Knights, however, they have shown incredible commitment to come into Round 24 with a position in the Top 8 on the line. The Titans have managed to emerge victorious in 4 of their past 8, and on average have conceded just 13.6 points per game in those wins. Defence will not be as critical against a Knights side which has only scored an average of 14 points a game in their previous 8 clashes, yet the Knights still possess attacking threats in the likes of Dane Gagai and returning Nathan Ross and their input will be quite important on Saturday afternoon if the Gold Coast defence is challenged. Star recruit Jarryd Hayne has been solid in his comeback to the NRL, but against a struggling Knights outfit it will be interesting to possibly witness the Hayne Plane in full flight.

Last meeting: Round 1 2016 - Titans 30 Knights 12

Who to watch: Nathan Ross has been a shining light in an otherwise uninspiring Knights side. 7 tries, 8 line breaks and running an average of 128 metres a game, Ross has scored many spectacular tries in what will be an otherwise short Newcastle highlights reel come season's end and his finishing ability will be key if the home side gets any opportunities on Saturday afternoon.

Newcastle have proven to be rather fragile in defence, and look for mid-season recruit Konrad Hurrell to take advantage. In 6 games, Hurrell has busted 16 tackles, crossed the stripe twice and made 5 line breaks. They are solid numbers for the relatively rejuvenated Titans centre, and he looks set to cause havoc for the Newcastle edge defenders as the Titans look to cement their Top 8 spot.

The favourite: The Titans have more to play for. The Knights have officially claimed the Wooden Spoon for the second year in a row. Not much going right for the Knights, and 93% of punters with Sportsbet are opting for the Gold Coast to claim a big win.

My tip: A late season jubilation for the Newcastle faithful may be arriving soon… but not this week. The Gold Coast have simply too much to play for and have proven themselves to be simply better than the last placed Knights. If Newcastle don't aim up this could get ugly. Titans by 14.

1. Jake Mamo 2. Nathan Ross 3. Dane Gagai 4. Peter Mata'utia 5. Brendan Elliott 6. Will Pearsall 7. Trent Hodkinson 8. Sam Mataora 9. Tyler Randell 10. Korbin Sims 14. Josh King 12. Mitchell Barnett 13. Jeremy Smith
Interchange: 18. Jacob Saifiti 15. Daniel Saifiti 23. Danny Levi 17. Mickey Paea

1. David Mead 2. Anthony Don 3. Josh Hoffman 4. Konrad Hurrell 5. Nene Macdonald 6. Jarryd Hayne 20. Tyrone Roberts 16. Agnatius Paasi 9. Nathan Peats 10. Ryan James 11. Zeb Taia 12. Chris McQueen 13. Greg Bird
Interchange: 14. David Shillington 15. Ryan Simpkins 8. Luke Douglas 17. Nathan Friend

Referees: Grant Atkins, Chris Sutton; Sideline Officials: Kasey Badger, Jason Walsh; Video Referees: Bernard Sutton, Ben Galea, Jason Robinso