2021 NRL – New Zealand Warriors vs Gold Coast Titans Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is New Zealand Warriors vs Gold Coast Titans taking place? Saturday 13th March, 2021 – 04:00 (UK)
Where is New Zealand Warriors vs Gold Coast Titans taking place? Central Coast Stadium, Central Coast
Where can I get tickets for New Zealand Warriors vs Gold Coast Titans? Click here for ticket information on 2021 NRL matches
What channel is New Zealand Warriors vs Gold Coast Titans on? Sky Sports Arena will be televising selected NRL games in the UK and you can find their schedule here. For Australian broadcasters, you can find a list here
Where can I stream New Zealand Warriors vs Gold Coast Titans? If televised on Sky Sports, then subscribers will be able to stream the match live via Sky Go. Alternatively, the match will be available to subscribers of Watch NRL
THE TEAM NEWS
NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Starting 13: Tuivasa-Sheck, Fusitu’a, Aitken, Hiku, Maumalo, Nikorima, Harris-Tavita, Fonua-Blake, Egan, Taunoa-Brown, Katoa, Sironen, Harris – Interchanges: Tevaga, Murdoch-Masila, Ah Mau, Afoa – Reserves: Pompey, O’Sullivan
Unavailable: Karl Lawton (Injured), Jackson Frei (Injured)
- New Zealand Warriors produced a remarkable turnaround after a poor start in 2020 as interim head coach Todd Payten got the best out of his troops despite being based in Australia following the restart of the campaign.
- Nathan Brown will now be tasked with backing up those efforts as he takes the reins and he is boosted by big additions to his pack in the shape of Addin Fonua-Blake, Bayley Sironen and Ben Murdoch-Masila who will all debut in this contest.
- Euan Aitken will also debut following his move from St. George Illawarra Dragons who will line-up in the centres with David Fusitu'a and Ken Maumalo back on the wings after sitting out a decent portion of last season.
GOLD COAST TITANS
Starting 13: Brimson, Don, Kelly, Herbert, Thompson, Taylor, Fogarty, Wallace, Rein, Fotuaika, Proctor, Fifita, Fa’asuamaleaui – Interchanges: Peachey, Lisone, Jolliffe, Clark – Reserves: Sami, Fermor
Unavailable:
- Gold Coast Titans showed a remarkable improvement under new head coach Justin Holbrook in 2020 but there is more to come from his side and he will be desperate for them to fulfil their promise by finishing in the top eight this time around.
- The Titans were arguably the most effective team in the player market ahead of the new season as they brought in rising Origin stars Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and David Fifita to add some serious talent to their pack.
- AJ Brimson has recovered from the injury that curtailed his Origin series having debuted for Queensland and he could be the key man in the Titans' quest to force their way into contention for the finals.
THE PREDICTION
New Zealand Warriors and Gold Coast Titans will both have aspirations of making the finals this year and this opening clash of the campaign between the two could be a good indicator of whether those hopes are realistic. The Warriors have it all to do again as they will be based in Australia for the foreseeable future while they also have a new head coach in place. Nathan Brown will hope his strong pack can set the platform for them but the Titans also boast a superb bunch of forwards making this a very intriguing Round 1 battle. Justin Holbrook’s men finished last season in superb form with five straight wins and they will look to extend that run at the start of this campaign which is something they look capable of achieving here.
