The Sea Eagles finally put a stop to the bleeding against Canterbury last round but an in-form Gold Coast will be confident of ending Manly's win streak at one.
The injuries keep coming but the positives are also beginning to multiply for Des Hasler with youngsters like Morgan Harper and Tevita Funa stepping up and standing out as Manly's season has cratered.
And captain Daly Cherry-Evans has never stopped trying, once again carrying the playmaking load for the Sea Eagles against the Bulldogs with three try assists after tallying four in the devastating loss to Wests Tigers the previous week.
The Titans have authored an amazing turnaround under Justin Holbrook in 2020 and with so many players in form, particularly halves Jamal Fogarty and Ash Taylor, will be looking to finish off the season in style.
Match: Sea Eagles v Titans
Round 19 -
home Team
Sea Eagles
11th Position
away Team
Titans
9th Position
Venue: 4 Pines Park, Sydney
The rundown
Team news
Sea Eagles: Tom Trbojevic (hamstring) has been cleared to play his first game since round six by Des Hasler. He will start at fullback, Tevita Funa switches to the wing, with Abbas Miski reverting to the interchange.
Taniela Paseka has been promoted to prop for Addin Fonua-Blake (knee), who has been left out of the team 24 hours from kick-off along with reserve winger Reuben Garrick.
Haumole Olakau'atu and Ben Trbojevic dropped off the extended bench on game day. The Sea Eagles have scored 64 points in their past two games.
Titans: The Gold Coast are 1-17. Captain Kevin Proctor will return from suspension in the second row in place of the injured Beau Fermor while Tanah Boyd has replaced Erin Clark on the bench. Strike centre Brian Kelly (ankle) has been included on the reserves and is a chance to return, with Treymain Spry likely to drop out if he does.
Reserves duo Nathan Peats and Toby Sexton were omitted from the squad on Friday. Darius Farmer and Brian Kelly were omitted from the reserves list an hour before kick-off.
The Titans are aiming for four consecutive wins for the first time since 2014.
Match: Sea Eagles v Titans
Round 19 -
home Team
Sea Eagles
away Team
Titans
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 21 Tom TrbojevicFullback for Titans is number 1 AJ Brimson
-
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 1 Tevita FunaWinger for Titans is number 2 Anthony Don
-
Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Brad ParkerCentre for Titans is number 3 Treymain Spry
-
Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Morgan HarperCentre for Titans is number 4 Young Tonumaipea
-
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Albert HopoateWinger for Titans is number 5 Corey Thompson
-
Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Lachlan CrokerFive-Eighth for Titans is number 6 Ashley Taylor
-
Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-EvansHalfback for Titans is number 7 Jamal Fogarty
Forwards
-
Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Martin TaupauProp for Titans is number 8 Jarrod Wallace
-
Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Danny LeviHooker for Titans is number 9 Mitch Rein
-
Prop for Sea Eagles is number 14 Morgan BoyleProp for Titans is number 10 Moeaki Fotuaika
-
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Jack Gosiewski2nd Row for Titans is number 11 Kevin Proctor
-
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Curtis Sironen2nd Row for Titans is number 12 Sam Stone
-
Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake TrbojevicLock for Titans is number 13 Tyrone Peachey
Interchange
-
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 5 Abbas MiskiInterchange for Titans is number 14 Tanah Boyd
-
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Corey WaddellInterchange for Titans is number 15 Jai Arrow
-
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Sean KeppieInterchange for Titans is number 16 Sam Lisone
-
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Taniela PasekaInterchange for Titans is number 17 Jai Whitbread
Match Officials
- Referee: Dave Munro
- Touch Judge: Liam Kennedy
- Touch Judge: Gavin Badger
- Senior Review Official: Jared Maxwell
Last updated:
Key match-up
Martin Taupau v Mo Fotuaika: They aren't perfect 10s but there's still a hell of a lot to like about the Sea Eagles veteran and his 20-year-old rival. The Titans' rising star has the advantage when it comes to churning out the metres (boasting better averages for hit-ups, average metres and metres after contact).
But the man they call Kapow busts more tackles (46-32) and pops more offloads (31-12). He would also be quick to point out he has more tries than the young pup (2-0) in 2020 including one last week in the win over Canterbury.
Stat attack
The Gold Coast are chasing their first four-game winning streak since rounds 3-6, 2014, when they knocked over Canberra, North Queensland, Melbourne and Brisbane. Victory over Manly would set the Titans up for a tilt at equalling the club record of five on the trot in the final round of the regular season. It is a feat the club has achieved twice: Between rounds 18 and 22 (Dragons, Warriors, Eels, Cowboys and the Roosters) in 2010 and from round three to round seven in 2009 (Sharks, Raiders, Eels, Broncos and Warriors).
