Cowboys v Titans NRLW preview

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North Queensland Cowboys (W) v Gold Coast Titans (W) Saturday 12:45pm at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville / Wulgurukaba

After a strong start to the season the Titans look to overcome the horrific loss to the Broncos last weekend, whilst the Cowboys are also looking to get themselves back on the right track. 

The home side have had a mixed start to the season, with an opening loss where they were kept scoreless by the Sharks, followed by a high-scoring narrow win to the Dragons in Round 2, before losing to the Eels last weekend. Winning only two games in their inaugural 2023 season, North QLD will be looking to continue this season on a higher note.  Harata Butler returns for her second game in Cowboys colours after missing Round 2, and Jetaya Faifua plays her first game of the season, both of which will be joining the squad on the bench in place of Alisha Foord and Lillian Yarrow. 

Gold Coast will be looking to face this QLD Derby head on after losing to their "big sister", the Broncos, last weekend in the biggest ever points margin in their history. This loss sees the Titans drop to fifth after winning Round 1 and 2 and sitting in first after the last match of Round 2.  Karyn Murphy has named two rookies to make their NRLW debuts this weekend: Lalani Montgomery at centre and Matekino Gray on the bench. Montgomery is replacing Niall Williams-Guthrie who has injured her hamstring, and Gray joins the bench with Hailee-Jay Ormond-Maunsell and Ngatokotoru Arakua being dropped to the reserves. 

These two sides met once in the Cowboys inaugural 2023 season which saw the Titans come out on top, 16-6. 

Last meeting: Round 1 2023 - Titans 16 Cowboys 6

Who to watch: Moving to the Cowboys after playing at the Tigers in 2023 and the Knights in 2022, Jakiya Whitfeld has made her mark on the North QLD side. Whitfeld scored a double against the Dragons in Round 2, and has made 13 tackle breaks and one line break so far this season. 

Currently leading the Dally M leaderboard on twelve points, Lauren Brown has been massive for the Titans so far this year, which comes off the back of an incredible State of Origin series for QLD. In the three games so far this year Brown has scored one try, whilst making two try assists and four line break assists.

MY TIP: The Titans will be ready to bounce back after last week's loss, especially given how well their season started. On the other hand, the Cowboys have let too many points through across all three games and have only really succeeded in attack in 1/3 matches. I think it will be a close one, but the Titans will come up on top in the end. Titans by 12.

1. Krystal Blackwell 2. Francesca Goldthorp 3. Jakiya Whitfeld 4. Jasmine Peters 5. Libby Surha 6. Tahlulah Tillett 7. Kirra Dibb 15. Lily Peacock 9. Emma Manzelmann 10. Essay Banu 11. China Polata 12. Tiana Raftstrand-Smith 13. Bree Chester 8. Tallisha Harden 14. Jetaya Faifua 16. Sareka Mooka 18. Harata Butler 22. Shellie Long

1. Evania Pelite 2. Georgia Grey 3. Jaime Chapman 6. Taliah Fuimaono 5. Emily Bass 4. Lailani Montgomery 7. Lauren Brown 8. Shannon Mato 9. Brittany Breayley-Nati 10. Jessika Elliston 11. Rilee Jorgensen 12. Shaylee Bent 13. Georgia Hale 14. Lily-Rose Kolc 15. Laikha Clarke 16. Matekino Gray 17. Dannii Perese 21. Sarina Masaga

Referees: Nick Pelgrave; Sideline Officials: Tori Wilkie, Josh Eaton; Video Referees: Wyatt Raymond;