Titans v Dragons preview

Gold Coast Titans v St. George Illawarra Dragons
Cbus Super Stadium - Sunday 4:00pm

Dragons look to confirm finals position in Queensland.

St George Illawarra head up to the sunshine state, knowing that a win on Sunday will confirm their first finals appearance since 2011. The Dragons are inching their way into the eight after their explosive start to the season which saw them sit first after nine rounds. Thankfully this start has helped them to stay within the hunt.

After the promising opening gambit, the Dragons have plummeted down the ladder with a brief interlude where they bashed up on the Knights and Warriors. The Broncos game was indicative of their abilities this season and the Panthers game failed to allay those conceptions. The problem headed into the finals for the Dragons is leaning on their forwards to match their opponents and allow Benji Marshall and Gareth Widdop room to work their early season magic.

It isn't all doom and gloom though - the forward pack as mentioned before can match it with most teams led by the two-headed attack of Mike Cooper and Tyson Frizell. The forwards have been two of the best players for the joint venture this season alongside electric fullback Josh Dugan will be key to prising open the lacklustre Titans.

For the home side - 2015 has been another forgettable year for a team stung by contract back-flips, scandals and losses in front of almost empty stadia despite recording a 28-12 win over fellow strugglers Canberra showing that with the pressure off, the Titans can produce some electric football and put paid to the Dragons finals hopes.

The play of young half Kane Elgey, who the Titans have invested their future with the imminent departure of Aiden Sezar, has been encouraging when he can make the field. Elgey has a stocked backline featuring James Roberts, Josh Hoffman and Kalifa Fai Fai Loa to play some free-flowing football against the defensive minded Dragons.

Last meeting: Round 24 2014 - St. George Illawarra Dragons 34 Gold Coast Titans 6

Who to watch: Last week saw the return of former New Zealand halfback - Benji Marshall who gave some adequate support for five-eighth Gareth Widdop after the disaster that was Jack De Belin playing there against Brisbane.

Marshall usually is the barometer for the St George Illawarra side. If the half can get his kicking and passing game going (and not into the third row of the grandstand) it will leave space for the Dragons backline featuring Nightingale for the first time in a month to open their shoulders and possibly pile on points to improve their for-and-against.

The favourite: Dragons because to use the old cliché, they have more to play for.

My tip: St George Illawarra to continue their 2015 trend of beating up on bad football teams and win this game by 13+.

1. Josh Hoffman 2. David Mead 3. James Roberts 4. Nene Macdonald 5. Kalifa Faifai Loa 6. Daniel Mortimer 7. Kane Elgey 8. Luke Douglas 9. Beau Falloon 10. Nate Myles 11. Agnatius Paasi 12. Dave Taylor 13. Lachlan Burr
Interchange: 14. Matt White 15. Eddy Pettybourne 16. Nathaniel Peteru 17. Kierran Moseley 18. Brad Tighe

1. Josh Dugan 2. Dylan Farrell 3. Euan Aitken 4. Peter Mata'utia 5. Jason Nightingale 6. Gareth Widdop 7. Benji Marshall 8. Leeson Ah Mau 9. Mitch Rein 10. Mike Cooper 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Joel Thompson 13. Trent Merrin
Interchange: 14. Ben Creagh 15. Mark Ioane 16. Craig Garvey 17. Jack de Belin 18. Justin Hunt 20. Eto Nabuli 25. George Rose

Referees: Ashley Klein, Gavin Morris; Sideline Officials: Michael Wise, Belinda Sleeman; Video Referees: Steve Clark, Luke Patten;

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