NRL 2022: Titans, Youngsters collide: Brimson set for battle against 20-game Amone

Author: Titans.com.au
Timestamp: Thu 12 May 2022, 07:19 PM

A scintillating match-up is set to take centre stage when the Titans face off against the Dragons on Saturday afternoon.

Round 10 - Round 10 - Saturday 14 May

Full Time

Titans

Dragons

Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Highlights Latest

The highly-anticipated return of Jayden Campbell sees AJ Brimson return to the halves - re-joining Toby Sexton as the playmakers after a two-game stint warming the seat at fullback while the 22-year-old son of a gun recovered from a rib cartilage injury.

With the Maroons star's move back to the No. 6 jumper, it sets up a very intriguing battle between the two five-eighths, with 20-game rookie Talatau Amone on the other side of the field as a key linchpin for the Red V.

Amone - who debuted for St George-Illawarra last season - has played every game this season, alternating between starting and playing off the bench in his nine appearances thus far.

Brimson has featured consistently since Round 2 after missing the season opener with a niggling groin injury, but has recovered well and has been fully fit across the entire season thus far.

Whilst the integral member of the Titans' spine hasn't crossed the white stripe on too many occasions so far this season, he has been crucial in helping set them up; with six try-assists, topping Amone's three.

The 23-year-old just pips the Dragons youngster for tackle breaks - 16 to 13 - and both No. 6's have the same number of offloads through the season to date, with four each.

Where the numbers differentiate hugely is kicking metres, with Brimson typically sharing the boot duties with Sexton; averaging 123 a game. This is in stark contrast to Amone (averaging only 19 metres), who typically is a classy runner of the football, leaving most of the responsibility to fellow playmaking partner Ben Hunt to find territory with the boot.

In saying that, the Legion have witnessed the elusive and explosive running game Brimson has to offer a number of times this season, and are hoping for that to be the case again this Saturday in front of the sell-out crowd at Suncorp Stadium.

Welcome back AJ

Liu v McGuire - two middles on the edge

Isaac Liu and Josh McGuire are channeling their inner Aerosmith this weekend, both livin' on the edge in the Magic Round clash on Saturday afternoon.

The pair are typically middle forwards, but have been tasked by their respective coaches to fill a void in the back-row - a position both will bring plenty of experience to given they are members of the 200-game club.

No stranger to wearing the No. 11 on his back, the Titans hard man last played on the edge in 2021 when in action for the tri-colours, as well as a string of games in the role back in 2018 - the year the Roosters won the premiership.

What he brings is plenty of experience, especially in defence with an average of 24 tackles a game at an incredible 95 percent efficiency and averages over 100 metres a game to help his side with plenty of go-forward.

On the other side of the fence, this clash will be McGuire's fourth in a row playing on the edge, playing a full 80 minutes on the last three occasions for the Red V.

The 32-year-old Origin representative has arguably been one of his club's best since returning from suspension, averaging 123 metres a game and making around 31 tackles each match.

With McGuire playing on the left the last few weeks, Liu is set to take on the experienced forward face-to-face, likely slotting in on the right in place of both David Fifita and Kevin Proctor who are both out due to injury.

It's set to be the exciting main meal on the three-course Saturday menu of Magic Round, in front of a full house at Suncorp Stadium.

Round 10 - Round 10 - Saturday 14 May

Full Time

Titans

Dragons

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Titans is number 1 Jayden Campbell

Fullback for Dragons is number 21 Tyrell Sloan
Winger for Titans is number 5 Jamayne Isaako

Winger for Dragons is number 2 Mathew Feagai
Centre for Titans is number 2 Phillip Sami

Centre for Dragons is number 3 Mosese Suli
Centre for Titans is number 4 Esan Marsters

Centre for Dragons is number 4 Zac Lomax
Winger for Titans is number 19 Corey Thompson

Winger for Dragons is number 5 Mikaele Ravalawa
Five-Eighth for Titans is number 6 AJ Brimson

Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Talatau Amone
Halfback for Titans is number 7 Toby Sexton

Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Ben Hunt

Forwards

Prop for Titans is number 8 Moeaki Fotuaika

Prop for Dragons is number 8 Francis Molo
Hooker for Titans is number 9 Erin Clark

Hooker for Dragons is number 1 Moses Mbye
Prop for Titans is number 10 Jarrod Wallace

Prop for Dragons is number 15 Blake Lawrie
2nd Row for Titans is number 11 Isaac Liu

2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Jack Bird
2nd Row for Titans is number 12 Beau Fermor

2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Josh McGuire
Lock for Titans is number 13 Tino Fa'asuamaleaui

Lock for Dragons is number 10 Jack De Belin

Interchange

Interchange for Titans is number 14 Tanah Boyd

Interchange for Dragons is number 13 Tariq Sims
Interchange for Titans is number 15 Sam Lisone

Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Jayden Sullivan
Interchange for Titans is number 16 Herman Ese'ese

Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Aaron Woods
Interchange for Titans is number 17 Sam McIntyre

Interchange for Dragons is number 20 Jack Gosiewski