Titans v Panthers preview

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Gold Coast Titans v Penrith Panthers Saturday 5:30pm at Cbus Super Stadium, Robina / Yugambeh

One team is building towards September, the other looking ahead to 2024.

When the Gold Coast Titans and Penrith Panthers meet on Saturday afternoon, it will bring together two teams on two very different timelines.

For the Titans though, they are looking to get to where the Panthers are right now - perennial contenders, well-supported by a core group of players and coach with proven success at the top level.

Extending Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and David Fifita was just the start, with another 10 players currently under contract until the end of 2026 including AJ Brimson, Jayden Campbell and Sam Verrills.

And with Des Hasler on the way next season, there is cause for optimism on the Gold Coast.

For now, it is all about looking towards the future with a top-eight berth out of reach and a host of big names undergoing season-ending surgeries.

Erin Clark and Tanah Boyd (both shoulder) were the latest to have their years cut short, joining Verrills (collarbone), Beau Fermor (torn ACL), Kieran Foran (sternum) and Jojo Fifita (ankle) on the sideline.

AJ Brimson (ribs) could return in a timely boost for the Titans this week having been named in the extended squad, with the club confirming he is expected to train on Wednesday.

For the time being, Keano Kini has been named at fullback with Campbell at five-eighth and Thomas Weaver making his NRL debut at halfback.

Front rower Moeaki Fotuaika, meanwhile, returns from suspension as Fa'asuamaleaui moves to lock to cover the injured Clark.

The Titans are coming off a comprehensive 36-6 loss to Cronulla and have won just one of their past nine games against the Panthers.

Penrith has a few big contract calls of its own to make but for the time being the focus is on the present and potentially taking home another minor premiership.

The Panthers were hardly convincing in last week's 24-12 win over Manly, seemingly at risk of falling to a shock defeat before an ill-disciplined and error-prone Sea Eagles side stumbled in the second half.

Penrith will be shooting for eight-straight wins this week and welcome back Jarome Luai (illness), Mitch Kenny (hamstring) and Tyrone Peachey (suspension).

Spencer Leniu is also named on the extended bench as he targets a return from a knee injury but Izack Tago (leg) is nowhere to be seen.

Last Meeting: It was ugly but a win nonetheless for Penrith, who emerged victorious 18-4 in Round 8 last year.

Who to watch: As the Titans look towards 2024, it will be interesting to see how Jayden Campbell fares in the five-eighth jumper. The electric fullback has flashed his enormous potential when given an opportunity and his unpredictability could cause problems for a usually stout Penrith defence. While Campbell's future is probably at fullback, a strong performance in the halves could give incoming coach Hasler something to think about when considering how he fits into the 17.

As for Penrith, last Thursday's win over Manly was one to forget and exposed just how devoid of creativity the defending premiers can be without five-eighth Jarome Luai. While Luai is hardly the most conventional playmaker, he is the perfect complement for the more methodical Cleary. The 26-year-old's footwork and deception close to the line makes him a threat every time he touches the ball, while Luai's passing game has improved in the latter stages of the season. The Titans may have plenty of attacking firepower but a young, inexperienced line-up this week could be torn apart in defence by an instinctive player like Luai.

Favourite: The Panthers are well-backed to get this done in convincing fashion.

Tip: The Titans may have been a sneaky chance of causing an upset if at full-strength. As named though, the Gold Coast could score a few highlight-reel tries but Penrith's best bet is to turn this into a frustrating arm wrestle early before flipping the switch late in the first half and getting on with the job in the second. That is exactly what should happen too. Panthers by 22.

19. AJ Brimson 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Aaron Schoupp 5. Phillip Sami 6. Jayden Campbell 7. Thomas Weaver 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Chris Randall 10. Jaimin Jolliffe 11. David Fifita 12. Klese Haas 13. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui 14. Kruise Leeming 15. Isaac Liu 16. Joe Stimson 17. Jacob Alick 1. Keano Kini

1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Tyrone Peachey 4. Stephen Crichton 21. Thomas Jenkins 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 18. Jack Cogger 10. James Fisher-Harris 20. Zac Hosking 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Soni Luke 15. Lindsay Smith 22. Spencer Leniu 19. Luke Garner 17. Jaeman Salmon

Referees: Chris Butler; Sideline Officials: Nick Morel, Michael Wise; Video Referees: Kasey Badger;