Titans v Panthers preview

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Gold Coast Titans v Penrith Panthers Saturday 3:00pm at Cbus Super Stadium, Robina / Yugambeh

Started from the bottom (now we're in sixteenth and fifth)

The Gold Coast Titans and Penrith Panthers have spent multiple weeks on the bottom of the NRL ladder this season. 

While the prospect of the wooden spoon remains a strong possibility for the Titans, the Panthers, in contrast, have struck form and stand an outside chance of finishing in the top four.

As the two sides meet for a Saturday afternoon clash on the Gold Coast, both sets of players will have plenty of motivation to come away with two vital premiership points. 

Returning home buoyant after claiming their fifth win of the season via an upset across the Tasman last week, the Gold Coast Titans will be aiming to claim back-to-back wins for the first time since March with a rare win over the reigning premiers.

Producing a stirring victory over the Warriors, fighting back from an early 10-0 deficit to prevail 24-16 in Auckland, coach Des Hasler will welcome back Sam Verrills in place of Chris Randall (concussion) with Tom Weaver coming onto the bench in a utility role.

Underrated forward Jaimin Jolliffe will make his 100th appearance in first grade on Saturday afternoon; the 28-year-old prop joined the Gold Coast at the start of the decade after coming through the lower grades at Cronulla and Newtown.

Brian Kelly and AJ Brimson are the only remaining members from the last Gold Coast team to defeat Penrith back in 2019; the 30-24 victory is also notable as the last time that future Clive Churchill Medallist Dylan Edwards was named on the wing in first grade.

Continuing a remarkable resurgence with their seventh successive win to climb to outright fifth on the ladder, the Penrith Panthers will be wary of the threat posed by their lowly opponents in light of last week's results.

Holding an opponent try-less for the first time in over a year during last Saturday's 36-2 victory over the Wests Tigers, coach Ivan Cleary has elevated Liam Martin back into the starting side with Isaiah Papalii reverting to the bench.

Winning ten of their past 11 matches against the Titans, including the past six in a row, the Panthers overall record at CBUS Super Stadium stands at eight wins from 12 visits.

Currently sitting three points behind the fourth-placed Warriors, albeit with a superior for-and-against differential, the Panthers' defence has drastically improved during their winning run, conceding 10 points on average compared with nearly 25 points per game earlier in the season.

Last meeting: Round 27 2024 - Panthers 18 Titans 12

Who to watch: Carrying the surname of a Penrith premiership hero from years gone by, Jayden Campbell will be striving to orchestrate his second upset in as many Saturdays. Offering no shortage of attacking spark to a side in dire need of a harder edge, the 25-year-old's natural skills have yielded nine try-assists and four tries in his first full season in the number seven jersey. Producing a dynamic showing in last week's win over the Warriors, the Titans' hopes of replicating that result on home soil will rest largely on Campbell's shoulders.

For a player who has enjoyed highlight moments against every NRL team, the Titans hold a unique place in Nathan Cleary's development into the superstar that stands before us today. Seizing the moment with a last-gasp try, conversion and golden point field goal to down the Titans back in 2018, the poise Cleary showed as a 20-year-old has served him well ever since. Coming off a tremendous performance last week - three try-assists and a season-high 178 running metres - look for the Penrith co-captain to seize the day once again.

Favourite: The Panthers are expected to make light work of the Titans, registering their eighth straight victory in the process.

My tip: The Panthers have risen from the bottom of the premiership ladder to the cusp of the top four during an undefeated run. The four-time reigning premiers will face fiercer opposition in coming weeks, but, sadly, for the Titans, there'll be nothing stopping the momentum of the mountain men on Saturday. Panthers by 20.

1. AJ Brimson 2. Jaylan De Groot 3. Brian Kelly 4. Jojo Fifita 5. Phillip Sami 6. Kieran Foran 7. Jayden Campbell 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Jaimin Jolliffe 11. Jacob Alick-Wiencke 12. Beau Fermor 13. Klese Haas 14. Tom Weaver 15. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 16. Iszac Fa'asumaleaui 17. Josh Patston 18. Arama Hau 19. Tukimihia Simpkins

1. Dylan Edwards 2. Thomas Jenkins 3. Izack Tago 4. Casey McLean 5. Brian To'o 6. Blaize Talagi 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. Lindsay Smith 11. Luke Garner 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Brad Schneider 15. Liam Henry 16. Luron Patea 17. Isaiah Papali'i 20. Daine Laurie 22. Luke Sommerton

Referees: Liam Kennedy; Sideline Officials: Michael Wise, Damian Brady; Video Referees: Kasey Badger;