The iSelect Titans will monitor the fitness of five-eighth Aidan Sezer (quad) and hooker Beau Falloon (knee) over coming days in the lead-up to Sunday’s clash with the Canberra Raiders at GIO Stadium (6.30pm EST, 5.30pm in Qld). Both have been selected and hope to play but their progress will be monitored closely.
Co-captain Greg Bird has recovered well from the shoulder ‘burner’ he received against Wests Tigers and trained well today. Mark Minichiello has recovered from a virus that flattened him last weekend.
Coach John Cartwright has chosen a six-man bench, with Ryan James, who returned successfully from a shoulder injury for Tweed Heads on Sunday, and Ben Ridge included.
The only change to the 17 is in the centres where Brad Takairangi, elevated from Burleigh Bears where he has played the past two weeks, replaces Maurice Blair, who will play for the Tweed Heads Seagulls.
Cartwright revealed it was a tough selection decision between Blair and Takairangi for the first two rounds but Takairangi’s familiar combination with halfback Albert Kelly in defence on the right hand side gave him the edge for the Raiders match. Takairangi played 18 games at right centre in 2013.
The team v Canberra, round three:
1 - William Zillman
2 - Kevin Gordon
3 - Brad Tighe
4 – Brad Takairangi
5 - David Mead
6 - Aidan Sezer
7 - Albert Kelly
8 - Luke Douglas
9 - Beau Falloon
10 - Nate Myles (capt)
11 - Greg Bird (capt)
12 – David Taylor
13 - Ashley Harrison
INTERCHANGE (from)
14 - Matthew White
15 - Luke Bailey
16 - Mark Minichiello
17 - Paul Carter
18 - Ryan James
19 – Ben Ridge
The Holden Cup side to play the Raiders is:
1 – Jahrome Hughes
2 - Brian Kelly
3 - Jaiden Hawkes
4 – Connor Broadhurst
5 – Zac Spring
6 - Daniel Schwasss
7 – Deacon Fletcher
8 - Oshea Tuiasau
9 - Jenan Wedderburn-Parish
10 - Ethan Price
11 - Caleb Morehu
12 – Jackson Clarke
13 - Parahi Wilson
INTERCHANGE
15 - Perry Ioane
16 - Jackson Briskey-Luscombe
17 - Jayden Conners
18 – Sam Harrold
19 – Hayden Schwass
20 – Mitch Sharp
(NOTE: No. 14 jersey not allocated)
