NRL Round 16 St George Illawarra Dragons v Gold Coast Titans Preview

The Titans are a team that have been climbing up the table as well as my Power Rankings in recent weeks. They are playing some very good football and perhaps finally living up to their hefty price tag that some of their players are getting. While on the other hand you have a Dragons team that is definitely struggling with an ageing team that is now dangerously falling back into the pre-Bennett Dragons team that was coached by Nathan Brown. But coach Steve Price definitely has his work cut out for him and has to make a few tough calls in coming weeks otherwise a tough call may be made on him. They need to get their act together very quickly otherwise they will lose touch with the Top 8 and becoming very desperate. They remain at Wollongong for this game where they lost to the Bulldogs 28-20 after being down by 28-10 late in the second half only 7 days ago. They have held teams down early but once their opposition relise that they can beat them with attacking football, they struggle to reply with any creativity in attack. I am sure that Dragons fans will be hoping that their fortunes turn around very soon.

St George Illawarra Dragons

Chase Stanley has been called into the team to replace his brother who was injured in last weeks game. This is only his second game of the year. Something which has been overlooked in this clash is also the return of Matt Prior from a five-game suspension. He was the first player to be sent of in the 2012 season and I am pretty sure he was lucky to get off with only a five match ban after almost taking Thurstons head off with his elbow. He is one of a host of Dragons players that will be pushing for selection in the NSW team in the absence of Glenn Stewart. Beau Scott is another player who has been talked about as a suitable replacement. The thing with Scott is that he has plenty of raw aggression and perhaps that could get him over the line. But first, he must look towards using that to get his club side the two points in this clash. The Dragons halves in Hornby and Soward also have to stand up and be counted in this game. They have been getting a decent platform to work off with Mitch Rein (and to a lesser extent Nathan Fien) playing well out of dummy half. They tend to look very narrow minded with their attack and almost out of idea's when they need to score points quickly. They definitely have some speed out wide as well as Morris at fullback, but unless the ball is getting out there on a regular basis, then it almost becomes irrelevant.

Gold Coast Titans

Just as the Titans are looking to push for a Top 8 spot, they suffer a whole host of injuries to key players. There are further more changes to the team that was named on Tuesday which will play havoc with their fluency in attack. Hooker Matt Srama who has been at his dynamic best this season is named to play even though he suffered a shoulder injury in last Sundays win. He only returned to the field as the Titans suffered an injury to Greg Bird as well as losing Beau Champion early to a calf injury. Both of those players are not named to play and I doubt if they will travel down with the team. Steve Michaels was named on an extended bench to cover to the possible loss of Champion. Nate Myles will now start that game after coming off the bench after SOO 2. In further news, interchange forward Michael Henderson is out of the clash after suffering from Tonsilitis. There is some good news though, bulking centre Jamal Idris is set to make a return. Some have suggested that Idris should perhaps take time away from the game to lose some extra kilos but no doubt he will be damaging out wide for the Titans. They will just have to make sure that he gets the ball with plenty of room to move.

Recent History

Overall = Dragons 7 - Titans 3

Last 5 games = Dragons 2 - Titans 3

At WIN Stadium = Dragons 3 - Titans 0

Odds
TAB Sportsbet = Dragons $1.41 Titans $3.00
Centrebet = Dragons $1.45 Titans $2.80
Sportsbet = Dragons $1.45 Titans $2.80

Verdict
I have been one person in recent weeks who has applauded the Titans for their recent performances, however I find it very hard to have them in this game. It isn't a matter of whether or not I think they are up to it, I just think that they will find this game extremely difficult with their massive injury toll to key players. The Dragons will also be desperate. They have a great record at WIN Stadium against the Titans and will look to ensure that this continues on in this game. I think with the conditions that are coming into Sydney late today, it should be very windy and cold down there. I'm not sure if this game will have a large margin when you also consider the fact that the Dragons haven't exactly shown that they can score a lot of points.

Suggested Bet
Dragons 1-12 @ $2.75

Line/OverUnder Double = St George -6.5/Under 38.5 @ $3.90 - Call it cynical, but I believe that this game will not be the most exciting game you will see, hence not a lot of points scored. Think of this option if you also agree.

First Try Scorer = Brett Morris @ $8 - He is always in and around the ball for St George. He has been playing well enough and should again reach the line for a try. Lets hope this week that he is the first player to do so.

Good luck!
Scooby
@scoobystips