The defending champs have won seven straight to rise 12 spots on the ladder and the dream of a fifth premiership in a row is very much alive.
The Panthers sat last after their Round 12 loss to the Knights and few gave them any hope of playing finals, let alone staking a legitimate claim to the trophy they have owned since 2021.
Some of their big guns may be nursing niggling injuries after gruelling Origin campaigns but the Panthers have momentum and belief on their side as they travel to the Gold Coast for a danger game against Dessie's enigmatic Titans.
The Titans will be massive underdogs just as they were in Auckland last weekend but any side boasting AJ Brimson, Jayden Campbell and the evergreen Kieran Foran is not to be underestimated.
Match: Titans v Panthers
Round 22 -
home Team
Titans
16th Position
away Team
Panthers
5th Position
Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
Team News
Titans: Sam Verrills returns from personal leave after the birth of his first child and takes over at hooker from Chris Randall (concussion protocols). Tom Weaver comes onto the bench with Sean Mullany suspended. Alofiana Khan-Pereira is listed among the reserves as he looks to force his way back into the side. The speedster sat on the interchange bench in Round 19 and 20 but did not make it onto the field.
Panthers: Star back-rower Liam Martin has been named to start after coming off the bench last week in his return from a wrist injury. Isaiah Papali'i slides back to the bench.
Match: Titans v Panthers
Round 22 -
home Team
Titans
away Team
Panthers
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Titans is number 1 AJ BrimsonFullback for Panthers is number 1 Dylan Edwards
-
Winger for Titans is number 2 Jaylan De GrootWinger for Panthers is number 2 Thomas Jenkins
-
Centre for Titans is number 3 Brian KellyCentre for Panthers is number 3 Izack Tago
-
Centre for Titans is number 4 Jojo FifitaCentre for Panthers is number 4 Casey McLean
-
Winger for Titans is number 5 Phillip SamiWinger for Panthers is number 5 Brian To'o
-
Five-Eighth for Titans is number 6 Kieran ForanFive-Eighth for Panthers is number 6 Blaize Talagi
-
Halfback for Titans is number 7 Jayden CampbellHalfback for Panthers is number 7 Nathan Cleary
Forwards
-
Prop for Titans is number 8 Moeaki FotuaikaProp for Panthers is number 8 Moses Leota
-
Hooker for Titans is number 9 Sam VerrillsHooker for Panthers is number 9 Mitch Kenny
-
Prop for Titans is number 10 Jaimin JolliffeProp for Panthers is number 10 Lindsay Smith
-
2nd Row for Titans is number 11 Jacob Alick-Wiencke2nd Row for Panthers is number 11 Luke Garner
-
2nd Row for Titans is number 12 Beau Fermor2nd Row for Panthers is number 17 Isaiah Papali'i
-
Lock for Titans is number 13 Klese HaasLock for Panthers is number 13 Isaah Yeo
Interchange
-
Interchange for Titans is number 14 Tom WeaverInterchange for Panthers is number 12 Liam Martin
-
Interchange for Titans is number 15 Reagan Campbell-GillardInterchange for Panthers is number 14 Brad Schneider
-
Interchange for Titans is number 16 Iszac Fa'asuamaleauiInterchange for Panthers is number 15 Liam Henry
-
Interchange for Titans is number 17 Josh PatstonInterchange for Panthers is number 16 Luron Patea
Reserves
-
Replacement for Titans is number 18 Arama HauReplacement for Panthers is number 20 Daine Laurie
Match Officials
- Referee: Liam Kennedy
- Senior Review Official: Kasey Badger
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Titans have won only one of their last 11 games against the Panthers.
- Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards has scored five tries in his last six games against the Titans.
- Titans centre Jojo Fifita has scored five tries in his last four games.
- The Panthers have conceded only 70 points in their last seven games.
- Gold Coast prop Jaimin Jolliffe will make his 100th NRL appearance.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the
