Two teams who let two competition points slip through their fingers last week meet on a mid-winter Monday night desperate to keep their finals flame flickering.
Sitting on the outside of the top eight only on for-and-against, this represents the first of two games at home in the space of a week for the Titans who are without Greg Bird due to Origin commitments and may be missing Konrad Hurrell with a calf complaint.
A three-game winning streak came to a halt with a disappointing display against the Eels in Darwin last Saturday and with the Raiders, Bulldogs and Panthers all enjoying a bye this weekend Gold Coast needs to return to winning ways in order to stay in touch with the top eight.
Manly's prospects of a late season surge appeared to have been bolstered when they raced out to a 24-4 lead against Penrith at Brookvale last Sunday but inexplicably conceded 27 unanswered points to sit in 14th place on the Telstra Premiership ladder through 14 rounds.
After a starring role in the first half against the Panthers Dylan Walker has returned to Blues Origin camp but the Sea Eagles have found a capable replacement with Jamie Lyon returning from a hamstring injury to partner Apisai Koroisau in the halves.
The loss of Nate Myles to a knee injury has been softened somewhat by Martin Taupau's return from suspension with outstanding prop forward prospect Liam Knight included on an 18-man bench for what would be his NRL debut.
Sitting on the outside of the top eight only on for-and-against, this represents the first of two games at home in the space of a week for the Titans who are without Greg Bird due to Origin commitments and may be missing Konrad Hurrell with a calf complaint.
A three-game winning streak came to a halt with a disappointing display against the Eels in Darwin last Saturday and with the Raiders, Bulldogs and Panthers all enjoying a bye this weekend Gold Coast needs to return to winning ways in order to stay in touch with the top eight.
Manly's prospects of a late season surge appeared to have been bolstered when they raced out to a 24-4 lead against Penrith at Brookvale last Sunday but inexplicably conceded 27 unanswered points to sit in 14th place on the Telstra Premiership ladder through 14 rounds.
After a starring role in the first half against the Panthers Dylan Walker has returned to Blues Origin camp but the Sea Eagles have found a capable replacement with Jamie Lyon returning from a hamstring injury to partner Apisai Koroisau in the halves.
The loss of Nate Myles to a knee injury has been softened somewhat by Martin Taupau's return from suspension with outstanding prop forward prospect Liam Knight included on an 18-man bench for what would be his NRL debut.
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