The iSelect Gold Coast Titans under-20s’ task doesn’t get any easier but they will field the same 17 players for the fourth successive match tomorrow when they back up the tough loss to competition leaders Newcastle last Sunday with the clash with second-placed Parramatta at Cbus Super Stadium.
They go into the game knowing they matched the Knights for 50-60 minutes after a poor start that saw them behind 12-0 and Ben Woolf’s side know they have to be more on the pace when they take on a big, physical Eels side.
“The focus hasn’t changed much this week in training,” coach Ben Woolf said. “With a big team like this you have to make sure you handle the ball more. We just need to complete our sets and get our kicking game right.”
With the under-20s side looking healthy and having no new injuries to report. Brian Kelly who missed last week’s game against the Knights due to a hamstring injury, will return to the wing.
Prop James Iodice has improved with every match after a long layoff with injury and halves Christian Hazard and Kane Elgey have struck a dominant combination with regular time together in recent weeks. Fullback Jahrome Hughes has also shown probably his best form of the season in the past three games, so the Titans have the ammunition to match the Eels if they control the ball and meet the big Parramatta pack at the advantage line.
The Holden Cup side to play the Eels is:
1 – Jahrome Hughes (capt)
2 – Brian Kelly
3 - Jaiden Hawkes
4 – Connor Broadhurst
5 – Zac Spring
6 – Christian Hazard
7 – Kane Elgey (capt)
8 – Francis Fifita
9 - Deacon Fletcher
10 – Mitch Sharp
11 – Harrison Hughes
12 – Anthony Colman
13 – Jackson Clarke
INTERCHANGE
14 – James Iodice
15 – Caleb Morehu
16 – Shaun Hudson
17 – Karl Lawton
