The clash of last-start winners the Titans and Bulldogs promises to be an absolute cracker in front of a heaving crowd on the Gold Coast.
The home side are riding high after taking down ladder leaders Penrith in a thrilling contest decided in the final minute by a Zane Harrison field goal.
The Bulldogs also got home by a solitary point in Round 16, knocking off Manly in golden point thanks to Stephen Crichton’s cooly taken field goal.
The Titans now boast wins over the 2024 and 2025 premiers in their past three matches and have attacking weapons across the park to trouble a Bulldogs side that has won just one of seven away from home.
With seven out of their last 10 matches at Cbus Super Stadium the Titans have a golden opportunity to finish strong and build momentum for a genuine crack at finals footy in 2027.
Team News
Titans: The Titans are 1-19 with no late changes. Co-captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui returns to the starting side after being rested last weekend. The prop is joined in the forward pack by Chris Randall, who makes his return from a concussion at lock and replaces Cooper Bai (head knock). Fa’asuamaleaui’s return will see Klese Haas shift to the six-man bench. A season-ending ankle injury to Jensen Taumoepeau has seen Jaylan De Groot come on to the wing in an otherwise unchanged backline.
Bulldogs: With Stephen Crichton’s move to five-eighth proving success last week, the skipper lines up in the No.6 again with Matt Burton in the centres. The loss of Sitili Tupouniua to a hamstring injury sees Josh Curran start in the back row and Lipoi Hopoi join the bench. Jacob Preston was listed among the reserves as he looks to return from an arm injury suffered in Round 12 against the Storm but coach Cameron Ciraldo revealed on Thursday that the back-rower won’t return until after the bye.
Stat Attack
The Titans have improved their defensive ranking from 17th in 2025 to ninth in 2026.
The Bulldogs have won five of their past six games against the Titans.
Titans winger Phillip Sami has scored a try in his last four games.
Bulldogs prop Max King will play his 150th NRL game and his 100th for the Bulldogs.
Titans forward Kurtis Morrin has scored four tries in his last five games.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
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