NRL.com's match preview: Round 2 v Titans
The Dragons will look to hit the ground running after a round one bye but they face a stiff test against a Titans team that opened their season in style at Leichhardt Oval.
Having missed the finals for the past four seasons, the Dragons must get away to a good start and then find the consistency that eluded them for much of 2022 until they finished the year with three wins on the trot.
One of those victories came against the Titans at WIN Stadium in round 23 when they piled on 46 points, their highest score of the season.
The Titans were able to regroup and win their final two matches before carrying that momentum into the Pre-Season Challenge where they put 40 points on the Dolphins and then the season opener against Wests Tigers (22-10).
With star signing Kieran Foran feeding David Fifita on the left edge and fullback AJ Brimson ever present in support, the Titans' attack looked sharp and they will fancy their chances against a Dragons defence that leaked 72 points in its two Pre-Season Challenge games.
The Dragons will again rely heavily on skipper Ben Hunt to provide direction and calmness in attack and Tyrell Sloan and Mat Feagai to bring spark out wide.
Match: Dragons v Titans
Round 2 -
home Team
Dragons
4th Position
away Team
Titans
8th Position
Venue: Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Sydney
Team News
Dragons: Josh Kerr comes onto the bench with Michael Molo reverting to 18th man in the only change for the Red V. Jack Bird (knee) is back after having surgery in early February. Talatau Amone has been cleared to return to play but dropped out of the squad in Saturday's 24-hour update as he seeks more time on the training paddock before a comeback. Toby Couchman will make his NRL debut off the bench.
Titans: Jaimin Jolliffe is out with Erin Clark to start at prop. Chris Randall is the new man on the bench after overcoming a hamstring injury. Kieran Foran (cork) will play after getting through training this week. Treymain Spry will be 18th man.
Match: Dragons v Titans
Round 2 -
home Team
Dragons
away Team
Titans
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Tyrell SloanFullback for Titans is number 1 AJ Brimson
-
Winger for Dragons is number 2 Mathew FeagaiWinger for Titans is number 2 Alofiana Khan-Pereira
-
Centre for Dragons is number 3 Mosese SuliCentre for Titans is number 3 Aaron Schoupp
-
Centre for Dragons is number 4 Zac LomaxCentre for Titans is number 4 Phillip Sami
-
Winger for Dragons is number 5 Mikaele RavalawaWinger for Titans is number 5 Jojo Fifita
-
Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Jayden SullivanFive-Eighth for Titans is number 6 Kieran Foran
-
Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Ben HuntHalfback for Titans is number 7 Tanah Boyd
Forwards
-
Prop for Dragons is number 8 Francis MoloProp for Titans is number 10 Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
-
Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Moses MbyeHooker for Titans is number 9 Sam Verrills
-
Prop for Dragons is number 10 Blake LawrieProp for Titans is number 16 Erin Clark
-
2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Ben Murdoch-Masila2nd Row for Titans is number 11 David Fifita
-
2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Jaydn Su'a2nd Row for Titans is number 12 Joe Stimson
-
Lock for Dragons is number 13 Jack BirdLock for Titans is number 13 Isaac Liu
Interchange
-
Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Jacob LiddleInterchange for Titans is number 14 Jayden Campbell
-
Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Zane MusgroveInterchange for Titans is number 15 Moeaki Fotuaika
-
Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Toby CouchmanInterchange for Titans is number 17 Sam McIntyre
-
Interchange for Dragons is number 18 Josh KerrInterchange for Titans is number 18 Chris Randall
Reserves
-
Replacement for Dragons is number 17 Michael MoloReplacement for Titans is number 19 Treymain Spry
Match Officials
- Referee: Chris Sutton
- Touch Judge: Darian Furner
- Touch Judge: Nick Beashel
- Senior Review Official: Kasey Badger
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Dragons have won three of their past four games at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
- Dragons winger Mat Feagai has scored four tries in five games at Netstrata Jubilee.
- Titans centre Phillip Sami has scored three tries in three games at Kogarah.
- The Titans had the fifth most tackle breaks in the NRL in 2022 behind big guns the Sharks, Panthers, Storm and Roosters. The Titans had 882 tackle breaks compared to the Dragons' 751.
- Dragons centre Zac Lomax requires five goals to bring 200 career goals in the NRL.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
