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Titans v Cowboys: Kiria-Ratu wins No.7 jersey; Tillett ruled out

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A new-look Titans outfit will host competition debutants the Cowboys in a new Queensland derby on Saturday at Cbus Super Stadium.

The two sides have already seen a little of what to expect having played in a trial match with the Titans coming out on top in that instance.

The Gold Coast side have recruited well with Jillaroos Taliah Fuimaono, Shaylee Bent and Jaime Chapman joined by New Zealand rugby sevens star Niall Williams-Guthrie as new faces in the squad.

Cowboys coach Ben Jeffries has assembled a talent squad for their first season, with a mix of North Queensland talent and experienced campaigners like Tallisha Harden showing the way for the relatively young side. 

Team News

Titans: No further changes on game day after Hailee-Jay Ormond-Maunsell was replaced on the bench by former Rooster and Bronco Kaitlyn Phillips on Friday. Karyn Murphy has named teenagers Chantay Kiria-Ratu and Destiny Mino-Sinapati in her starting line-up, along with Rugby sevens star Niall Williams-Guthrie, who will make her NRLW debut in the centres. Kiria-Ratu will partner new recruit Taliah Fuimaono in the halves while Evania Pelite resumes her role at fullback. Lauren Brown shifts to hooker with veterans Brittany Breayley-Nati and Steph Hancock on the bench. 

Cowboys: Sareka Mooka will start at prop and co-captain Tallisha Harden comes from the bench in a game day switch. Winger Autumn-Rain Stephens Daly and five-eighth Tahlulah Tillett (hand) came out of the starting side on Friday. Mia Middleton moves from centre to wing and Shellie Long moves from the bench to start at centre. Krystal Blackwell is the new five-eighth. Essay Banu has dropped off the bench and the new faces are April Ngatupuna, Sera Koroi and Vitalina Naikore.

English star Fran Goldthorp gets the nod at fullback and will make here NRLW debut on Saturday. Former Titan Tiana Raftstrand-Smith shifts to the middle as she prepares to take on her old side. Newcastle premiership winners Emma Manzelmann and Makenzie Weale are in the starting 13 for coach Ben Jeffries.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Titans is number 1 Evania Pelite
    Fullback for Cowboys is number 1 Francesca Goldthorp
  • Winger for Titans is number 2 Destiny Mino-Sinapati
    Winger for Cowboys is number 2 China Polata
  • Centre for Titans is number 3 Jaime Chapman
    Centre for Cowboys is number 3 Jasmine Peters
  • Centre for Titans is number 4 Niall Williams-Guthrie
    Centre for Cowboys is number 16 Shellie Long
  • Winger for Titans is number 5 Emily Bass
    Winger for Cowboys is number 4 Mia Middleton
  • Five-Eighth for Titans is number 6 Taliah Fuimaono
    Five-Eighth for Cowboys is number 14 Krystal Blackwell
  • Halfback for Titans is number 7 Chantay Kiria-Ratu
    Halfback for Cowboys is number 7 Kirra Dibb

Forwards

  • Prop for Titans is number 8 Shannon Mato
    Prop for Cowboys is number 10 Tiana  Raftstrand-Smith
  • Hooker for Titans is number 9 Lauren Brown
    Hooker for Cowboys is number 9 Emma Manzelmann 
  • Prop for Titans is number 10 Jessika Elliston
    Prop for Cowboys is number 15 Sareka Mooka
  • 2nd Row for Titans is number 11 Zara Canfield
    2nd Row for Cowboys is number 11 Shaniah Power
  • 2nd Row for Titans is number 12 Shaylee Bent
    2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 Bree Chester
  • Lock for Titans is number 13 Georgia Hale
    Lock for Cowboys is number 13 Makenzie Weale

Interchange

  • Interchange for Titans is number 14 Brittany Breayley-Nati
    Interchange for Cowboys is number 8 Tallisha Harden
  • Interchange for Titans is number 15 Steph Hancock
    Interchange for Cowboys is number 18 Sera Koroi
  • Interchange for Titans is number 17 Laikha Clarke
    Interchange for Cowboys is number 21 April Ngatupuna
  • Interchange for Titans is number 19 Kaitlyn Phillips
    Interchange for Cowboys is number 24 Vitalina Naikore

Reserves

  • Replacement for Cowboys is number 19 Jetaya Faifua
  • Reserve for Titans is number 18 Sienna Lofipo

Match Officials

  • Referee: Belinda Sharpe
  • Senior Review Official: Matt Noyen

Last updated:

Stat Attack 

  • The Titans beat the Cowboys 30-6 in a trial game a fortnight ago.
  • The Cowboys have five former Titans in their inaugural squad.
  • The Titans have the second most experienced squad in the NRLW behind the Roosters with 219 appearances.
  • The Titans averaged just 11.6 points per game in 2022. 
  • Cowboys hooker Emma Manzelmann touched the ball more than any other player in 2022 with 356 receipts while playing for the Knights.

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Acknowledgement of Country

National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.