The milestones keep coming for the Gold Coast Titans as they continue their fight for finals berth, with veteran prop Luke Bailey to play his 250th NRL game against premiership favourites the Roosters this Sunday at the Sydney Football Stadium.
With two rounds to go, the Titans are locked in an absorbing head-to-head tussle for eighth spot on the ladder with the North Queensland Cowboys, and only points differential separates the two Queensland teams heading into this weekend.
After an unsettled few weeks on the selection front, Titans coach John Cartwright has again been forced into a late reshuffle of his side, with strike weapons William Zillman, David Mead, Ash Harrison, Jamal Idris and Mark Minichiello all on the sideline.
In his 250th NRL game, Bailey will again come off the bench to help contain a massive Roosters pack that includes rugby league’s prodigal son, Sonny Bill Williams.
Bailey also joins a list of Titans milestone men in recent weeks, with Minichiello playing his 150th game for the Titans in last weekend’s disappointing two-point loss to the Warriors at Robina.
The week before that, Kevin Gordon scored his 50th career try, and the week before that, David Mead reached the same mark – in the same game that Luke O’Dwyer played his 100th game for the Titans.
This week though, O’Dwyer, Mead and Minichiello will all be missing as the under-strength Titans fight to stay in the finals hunt against the Roosters team captained by Minichiello’s brother Anthony.
Gordon moves to fullback in a rejigged backline that includes Brad Takairangi and Jordan Atkins in the centres, and Steve Michaels and Anthony Don on the wings.
Jamie Dowling drops back to the bench alongside Bailey, Dave Taylor and Matt Srama, while Titans co-captains Greg Bird and Nate Myles will bring a tough edge to the backrow behind starting props Luke Douglas and Ryan James.
NRL ROUND 25, 2013
SYDNEY ROOSTERS VS
GOLD COAST TITANS
SUNDAY, 1 SEPTEMBER, 3PM
SYDNEY FOOTBALL STADIUM
ROOSTERS
1. Anthony Minichiello (c)
2. Daniel Tupou
3. Michael Jennings
4. Shaun Kenny-Dowall
5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
6. James Maloney
7. Mitchell Pearce
8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
9. Jake Friend
10. Sam Moa
11. Mitchell Aubusson
12. Sonny Bill Williams
13. Frank-Paul Nu'uausala
INTERCHANGE
14. Daniel Mortimer
15. Aidan Guerra
16. Isaac Liu
17. Dylan Napa
Coach: Trent Robinson
TITANS
2. Kevin Gordon
20. Steve Michaels
3. Brad Takairangi
19. Jordan Atkins
5. Anthony Don
6. Aidan Sezer
7. Albert Kelly
8. Luke Douglas
9. Beau Falloon
10. Ryan James
11. Greg Bird (c)
12. Ben Ridge
13. Nate Myles (c)
INTERCHANGE
4. Jamie Dowling
14. Dave Taylor
15. Luke Bailey
17. Matt Srama
Coach: John Cartwright
