Official Match Thread - Sydney Roosters vs Gold Coast Titans

[keggs1]

SYDNEY ROOSTERS vs GOLD COAST TITANS

Competition: NRL
Round: 12
Date: Saturday, 26th of May
Sydney Kick Off Time: 3:00pm
Location: Central Coast Stadium, Gosford

[keggs1]

TEAM LISTS:

Roosters: 1 James Tedesco, 2 Joseph Manu, 3 Latrell Mitchell, 4 Mitchell Aubusson, 5 Blake Ferguson, 6 Luke Keary, 7 Cooper Cronk, 8 Siosiua Taukeiaho, 9 Jake Friend (c), 10 Dylan Napa, 11 Boyd Cordner (c), 12 Ryan Matterson, 13 Isaac Liu

Interchange: 14 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, 15 Zane Tetevano, 16 Kurt Baptiste, 17 Victor Radley

Reserves: 18 Nat Butcher, 19 Sitili Tupouniua, 20 Eloni Vunakece, 21 Mitchell Cornish

The Roosters are unchanged from last week's loss to Brisbane.

Titans: 1 Michael Gordon, 2 Anthony Don, 3 Dale Copley, 4 Brenko Lee, 5 Phillip Sami, 6 AJ Brimson, 7 Ashley Taylor, 8 Jarrod Wallace, 9 Nathan Peats, 10 Ryan James (c), 11 Kevin Proctor, 12 Keegan Hipgrave, 13 Jai Arrow

Interchange: 14 Mitch Rein, 15 Max King, 16 Jack Stockwell, 17 Bryce Cartwright

Reserves: 18 Moeaki Fotuaika, 19 Konrad Hurrell, 20 Kane Elgey, 21 Morgan Boyle

Kevin Proctor's return from a groin strain pushes Ryan James to prop, Max King to the bench and Moeaki Fotuaika to the reserves.

[keggs1]

OFFICIAL MATCH PREVIEW:

Apparently last week's loss to the Broncos was harder for the Roosters to stomach than any other defeat this season – and so it should've been.

They led 22-16 with six minutes remaining and had controlled the game for the previous 15-20 minutes, only for the Broncos to snatch victory with two of the best solo tries of the season.

After that result they should be mad enough and hungry enough to return to the winner's circle this week.

Latrell Mitchell probably cemented a spot in the NSW Origin team with last week's dazzling display and will be looking for more of the same against the competition's worst defensive side.

The Titans eased the pressure slightly with last week's home win over Newcastle snapping a five-game losing streak. They are back on the road this week and will probably have to produce something special to conquer the star-studded Roosters.
Roosters v Titans - Round 12

Key match-up: Matching the Roosters in the forwards will be a focal point for the Titans and that places a lot of responsibility on the likes of Ryan James, Jai Arrow and Jarrod Wallace to make their collective presence felt. The Roosters clearly have an edge in class in the backs and the Titans will give themselves a good chance if they hold their own up front.
For the Roosters to win: No doubt the Roosters felt last week's loss was the one that got away. If nothing else they would've learned a valuable lesson that should stay in the back of their minds for the rest of their 2018 campaign - no single-digit lead is safe. If the Roosters have their way in the forwards the Mitchells and Tedescos could run riot in the backs.

For the Titans to win: After getting the monkey off their backs with last week's drought-busting win over the Knights, the Titans should be feeling good about themselves. They need to ride that positive vibe and hit the Roosters with everything they can in the first 20 minutes, try to get a lead and force the Chooks to play catch-up.

Roosters stat attack: It might come as a surprise that the Roosters have a terrible record on the Central Coast, losing nine of the 10 games they have played there. On a more positive note the Chooks have won four of their past five clashes with the Titans.

Titans stat attack: Jai Arrow made a welcome return last week against Newcastle, leading the Titans in tackles (40) and run metres (145). Arrow is desperate to play in the Origin arena and his impressive performance wouldn't have gone unnoticed by Maroons selectors.

And another thing: Roosters five-eighth Luke Keary will play his 100th NRL game when he takes on the Titans. Some Rabbitohs fans still haven't forgiven Keary for joining the enemy, but they aren't as steamed up as they once were with the way Cody Walker has been starring for the Bunnies.




Head-to-head: Played 16; Roosters 8 wins, Titans 8 wins
Matches at venue: Played 1; Titans 1 win
2017 results: Roosters won 32-18 at Cbus Super Stadium in round 1; Roosters won 20-16 at Allianz Stadium in round 26
Points per game: Roosters 19.5; Titans 18.5
Points conceded per game: Roosters 15.3; Titans 26.6
Televised: Live on Fox League

Steve Turner's prediction: Errors and missed tackles really hurt the Roosters last weekend and they will be thinking it was a game that was there to be won. Latrell Mitchell is their strike weapon and the more they keep him involved, the better they will be. Meanwhile, the Titans finally ended a five-game losing streak with a win over the Knights. Ash Taylor was brilliant along with many of their rookies, but it's consistency for the Titans which has been an issue. They need to produce those performances every week and it gets no bigger than this week against the Roosters. The Titans have only won one away game this year and I can't see them making it another on Saturday afternoon.

Tip: Roosters by 8

[eddie]

Roosters by twenty thousand points , despite being reamed by the game managers.

[keggs1]

For what it's worth, we've actually played the Gold Coast twice at Central Coast Stadium.

The first time was in 2009 (?), when i think it was Chris Walker who scored a late winner in the corner.

The second was in 2015, when we put in one of our worst performances of the year and still managed to win 20-10.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

Bent Cummins in charge ....

[Guest]

That 2009 game is what gave us the wooden spoon. Fittler said a few years later that the referees boss admitted that they got it wrong, he was highlighting on one of the shows the terrible decisions that stuffed us up that year but that one directly cost us 2 points and we were finished equal with Cronulla that year.

[Tommy Smith]

If recent history is anything to go by I suspect we'll stink it up in this game, but hopefully scrape home.

This is a crucial game with a clash against the Tigers minus our Origin players to follow.

[Frozen Chook]

i think were due for a win

[eddie]

Bent Cummins ....

lol
Can't get more bent than that.

[King Salvo]

Titans will be up for this having a win last game and will push the Chooks all the way - The Chooks bumbled their way to another predictable loss vs a very much understrength Broncos(6 out mostly internationals a player lost in the first 3 minutes but still found a way to win) - 6 and 5 currently and need to be 7 and 5 after this game - second round of 12 games are all very tough ones and the pressure will surely be on for a better second half of the season than the first half - so much for the so called easy draw and so called star studded line-up.

Roosters have to win this game but which Roosters team will turn up one that wants to finally make a statement or one worried about SOO selections if they have been tipped off they will be selected that is?.

[Johnny Tobin]

That 2009 game is what gave us the wooden spoon. Fittler said a few years later that the referees boss admitted that they got it wrong, he was highlighting on one of the shows the terrible decisions that stuffed us up that year but that one directly cost us 2 points and we were finished equal with Cronulla that year.

We all know why we got the wooden spoon that year.

[zac]

We're not at a stage where we can be confident about anything and there are no easy games in the NRL.
Still, I'm hopeful.

[roosterproud]

We all know why we got the wooden spoon that year.

was it the one marker.

was it banaster and his hate for anyone who wore his 9 jumper (which hardley ever got washed)

was it coach freddy and his lets got on the piss boys (bonding session)

5hitting in hall ways

[Guest]

We all know why we got the wooden spoon that year.

Because we finished last it’s not exactly rocket science