3 minute read
The battle for the top eight looks set to go right down to the wire again this season and the Gold Coast Titans’ chances of making the post-season could take a knock when they host the Cronulla Sharks on Friday night.
Winning five of their past six games, the Titans are a side in form and they will fancy their chances of beating the Cronulla when the Sharks come to Cbus Super Stadium.
However, the stadium has been a happy hunting ground for the Sharks, who have not lost there since back in 2017.
It makes for an intriguing contest on Friday night in what could be a match that goes right down to the wire.
. What: Gold Coast Titans v Cronulla Sharks
. Where: Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
. When: 18:00 (AEST), Friday 9th August
. How to watch: Kayo, Foxtel
. Odds: Gold Coast Titans 1.52, Cronulla Sharks 2.55
Titans on the march
It has been an impressive recent run by the Titans, and their improvement was demonstrated to its fullest last time out against the Brisbane Broncos.
Trailing the Broncos 18-10 at half-time, the Titans went on to score a remarkable seven second-half tries to secure a 46-18 victory at Cbus Super Stadium.
That was as near-perfect a second-half performance as you could ask for and it's why the Titans are the 1.52 favourites coming into this game against the fourth-place Sharks.
Given their recent form, it's unsurprising the Titans have made just the one enforced change to their starting lineup this week, with Klese Haas replacing Beau Fermor due to a bruised kidney.
Titans' winger Alofiana Khan-Pereira has scored 10 tries in his past six games and is 5.50 to score the first try of the game on Friday and 1.50 to score anytime.
The Titans have won four of their last five home games and are 1.91 with -5.5 in the Line market for Friday's clash with Cronulla.
Sharks in top-four battle
While the Titans battle for a top-eight place, the Sharks are hoping to keep the pace in the top four on the NRL ladder.
Cronulla find themselves level with third-palace Sydney Roosters going into this week's fixtures, while the Canterbury Bulldogs and North Queensland Cowboys are in hot pursuit of the top four.
The Sharks will be looking for revenge against the Titans after Gold Coast managed to scrape a 20-16 win in Coffs Harbour just over a month ago.
Cronulla have lost Braydon Trindall to a hamstring issue ahead of Friday's game, which means Blayke Brailey switches to the halfbacks with Cameron McInnes moving to hooker and Jack Williams starting in the pack at lock.
The bench also sees the return of prop Tom Hazelton from a foot injury in the place of Braden Hamlin-Uele who has been struggling with soreness in his knee.
Cronulla have won nine of their past 10 games against the Titans after that surprising defeat last month.
Given their record in this fixture, the Sharks are good value at 2.55 to win and give their top-four hopes a significant boost.
