The Gold Coast Titans will be in all-out desperation mode when they host a visiting New Zealand Warriors squad that will be looking to record consecutive victories for the first time this season. With Gold Coast looking to find a pulse in round 9 and New Zealand looking to make a move up the ladder into the top eight, let’s find out where the best value lies in this matchup, along with their NRL odds.
NRL Warriors Vs Titans Round 9
Why Bet On The Titans
Gold Coast is sitting in 15th place in the 16-team NRL standings with four points. The Titans have been limited to 106 points while allowing a whopping 233 points defensively (-127), good for the second most in the NRL this season. Gold Coast has gone an identical 1-3 at home and one the road. One week after picking up a confidence-boosting 30-12 win over Brisbane, Gold Coast looked completely overmatched in their humbling 40-10 round 8 blowout loss against the Sharks.
Corey Thompson and Anthony Don scored tries and Ashley Taylor went 1 of 2 on conversions, but it wasn’t nearly enough as the Titans gave up a whopping seven tries and six conversions in the loss. Now, heading into round 9, Corey Thompson returns to fullback with Treymain Spry set to make his debut on the wing. Tyrone Roberts moves to the reserves and Sam Stone is called up in the back row with Beau Fermor switching to center and Tyrone Peachey moving to the bench. Erin Clark starts for hooker Mitch Rein (ankle).
Why Bet On The Warriors
New Zealand is sitting in 12th place in the NRL standings with six points. The Warriors have scored just 105 points this season while allowing a generous 198 points defensively (-93). New Zealand has gone an impressive 3-1 at home, but a winless 0-4 on the road. The Warriors snapped a two-game skid by getting past Brisbane 26-16 in round 8 as Ken Maumalo scored a pair of tries, while Agnatius Paasi, Wayne Edgan and Isaiah Papali’i added solo scoring tries. Charles Harris-Tavita went 3 for 5 on conversions in the win and New Zealand limited the Broncos to three tries and a pair of conversions.
Captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck returns from a one-game suspension to fullback with Peta Hiku shifting to center and Gerard Beale out of the starting unit. Chanel Harris-Tavita starts at five-eighth for Kodi Nikorima (head knock) with Jazz Tevaga back from injury on the bench.
General Match Info New Zealand Warriors (3-0-5) vs. Gold Coast Titans (2-0-6)
- When: Friday, July 10, 2020 at 3:00 AM AEST
- Where: Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
- Warriors Vs Titans Live: Nine/Fox Sports
- Handicap: Titans -1.5
- Money Lines: Titans -111 / Warriors -106
Expert Analysis and Prediction
Now only have the Warriors won two straight and four of the last five meetings against the Titans, but Gold Coast has also lost their past 10 games at Cbus Super Stadium. While both teams in this matchup are limited offensively, Gold Coast has been absolutely abysmal defensively. While the Titans are at home in this affair and New Zealand has lost every road game this season, I think New Zealand is the better team in this matchup and that the Warriors will get the narrow win in this meeting of mediocre teams looking to make a move up the standings.
Pick: Warriors 26 Titans 22
Telstra Premiership 2020 Round 9 Matches
- Roosters vs Cowboys – Thursday 9th July, 05:50 AM | Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
- Wests Tigers vs Rabbitohs – Friday 10th July, 05:55 AM | Bankwest Stadium, Sydney
- Panthers vs Sharks – Friday 10th July, 01:00 AM | Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Sydney
- Bulldogs vs Broncos – Saturday 11th July, 03:30 AM | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
- Storm vs Raiders – Saturday 11th July, 05:35 AM | GIO Stadium, Canberra
- Eels vs Knights – Sunday 12th July, 02:05 AM | McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
- Sea Eagles vs Dragons – Sunday 12th July, 04:30 AM | Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Sydney
