Round 9: ROOSTERS vs TITANS (2022)

[DIEHARD]

ROOSTERS vs TITANS

[Titslover]

If anyone watched how did Tweed and the Titans boys go today? Saw they lost but it was a highscoring game and JC scored

[JunctionBlock]

Well this puts some pressure on us now. Dogs just rolled them, can we?

[DIEHARD]

Well this puts some pressure on us now. Dogs just rolled them, can we?

It also means they might wise up and be ready for us. I'm happy for the Dogs though. Been tough on the club.

Here are some highlights from their match.

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[DIEHARD]

Great to have CT back on the field.

[gotitans101_]

Great to have CT back on the field.

Champion. I hope we don't lose him.

[DIEHARD]

Roosters v Titans: Tupou, Momirovski back; McIntyre called up
http://www.nrl.com

The Roosters shift their fourth home game of the season to Mackay on Saturday night for a clash against the Titans at BB Print Stadium.

After a 4-4 start to the season, the Tricolours will want to find their groove soon if they're going to challenge for the title this year with Trent Robinson's side reeling after a shock loss to the Bulldogs last week.

Plenty has been made about the Roosters' attack to start the year, particularly their final play options, with stars Sam Walker and Luke Keary trying to work out their combination on the run.

The Titans haven't beaten the Roosters in their last eight starts and before we bring up last year's heart-breaking finals exit, Justin Holbrook's side has a few concerns of their own.

The visitors will have to do it without David Fifita (knee) for the next month of the competition as they look to end a four-game losing streak.

They were gallant in defeat against competition leaders Penrith last week but need to find more in attack if they're going to trouble the Roosters.

It will be a special occasion for Isaac Liu with the former Roosters prop lining up against his former club for the first time.

The Rundown

Team news

Roosters: Daniel Tupou (suspension) and Paul Momirovski (illness) are named to return in the backline, shifting Kevin Naiqama to the reserves and Adam Keighran, who will miss a couple of weeks due to an ankle injury, out of the squad altogether. Billy Smith is also nearing a comeback from a foot complaint and has been included on the extended bench.

Titans: David Fifita (knee) is out for a month, replaced by Sam McIntyre in the squad. Kevin Proctor starts in the back row alongside Beau Fermor. Phil Sami, Jamayne Isaako and Jayden Campbell remain chances to be late inclusions after being listed in the reserves.

Match: Roosters v Titans
ROUND 9 - SATURDAY 7TH MAY 5:30pm

Key match-up
Victor Radley v Tino Fa'asuamaleaui: The clash of the lock forwards will be among the highlights of the game with neither player one to take a backward step. Radley has eased into his 2022 campaign but the Roosters' attack looks noticeably better when he plays the link man in the middle. Big Tino is having an impressive personal season stats wise is and with Fifita out for a month he is the leader of the pack.

Stat attack
The Titans (85) and Roosters (81) sit in the top five for most handling errors but it is the Roosters who have been forced to make an additional 241 tackles this season taking some juice out of their attack. The Tricolours' 2,754 tackles for the year so far is third most behind the Knights and Broncos while the Titans haven't had to do as much defensive work and sit alongside the Eels and Dragons.

[DIEHARD]

Plenty to play for up against the Roosters
https://www.titans.com.au/news/2022/...-the-roosters/

There are plenty of motivators to get the Titans up for Saturday's clash against the Roosters in Mackay.

The Round 9 encounter will be the first time both teams have met since the dramatic elimination final in Townsville, where the Chooks progressed by a mere point in a crazy finish in the Gold Coast's first finals appearance since 2016.

It'll also be the first time the Titans have hit the road to regional Queensland since their emphatic 32-20 win against Manly in Gladstone four years ago.

If that's not enough, the blue and gold will be hoping to snap a four-game drought to get back on track with their finals hopes, and there's no better way to get back in the winner's circle than defeating the might and power of Sydney, according to Moeaki Fotuaika.

"Both sides are trying to get their seasons back on track with a win, so it'll be a good match on Saturday. Hopefully we can we can come away with the win," Fotuaika said on 4BC's Wide World of Sports.

Knowing the side have been close to the two points on several occasions this season, the squad is still up and about knowing they need to just keep working hard and sticking to their structures.

"This week, all the boys have been pretty enthusiastic at training and that because we know that we've been in most of the games this year. We just haven't been good enough to close out the game," Fotuaika said.

"I think we do know that a win is within our reach, so we've just got to keep working hard and sticking together because we will get a win if we just stick at it."

Up against high-quality and experienced forwards such as Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Angus Crichton and Victor Radley, the Origin prop is looking forward to the test in the middle third this weekend.

"I think coming up against a good forward pack like the Roosters, you always want to test yourself. They've been one of the top teams for the majority of the last couple of year," Fotuaika said.

"It'll be good as a forward pack and as a team to test ourselves against the great players that they have in that Roosters side."

Getting the chance to play in front of fans who don't usually experience week-in, week-out NRL action, Fotuaika is looking forward to plenty of support in the grandstands.

"It'll be a good match to play out in the country in Mackay and I'm sure all the locals up there love their footy and it'll just be a great game.

"It'll be good to get up there and play in front of the locals that don't really get that much footy up there."

The trek north begins a six-week Titans bonanza in Queensland, with the side not leaving the state with games in Mackay, Brisbane and at Cbus Super Stadium up until Round 15.

"It will definitely be a good thing for us, playing at home in front of our family, friends and fans that get behind us," Fotuaika said.

"Travelling does take a toll on your body but we get to play here over the next couple of weeks and hopefully we can play some good footy and get some back-to-back wins."

[GCTTSD]

Maybe Mal meninga needs to come and spray some of the boys at a video session and take over like Gould then we will win

[JunctionBlock]

Maybe Mal meninga needs to come and spray some of the boys at a video session and take over like Gould then we will win

Never heard of him. Does he work for the Titans?

[Croc]

Well Fifita is out for 4 weeks and Herbert will be out too with a fractured cheek bone.. I’m going to guess Sami will return to centre..

[JunctionBlock]

Hmmmmmm I wonder who will play in Fifita spot. This is a hard one to work out.

[willhelm]

Fermor/Proctor starting, Sam Mac on the bench, Marsters in for Herbert. If Sami is fit, would like to see Kelly dropped to Cup for a bit as that penalty was unforgivable and gave the momentum back to Penrith. Ese'ese and Lisone played well enough to keep their spots on the bench.

[Titanic]

2 premierships coming up … how ridiculous that sounds right now

[Titslover]

2 premierships coming up … how ridiculous that sounds right now

Can’t wait for that to be used to roast us for the next 10 years