Match Preview: NRL Round 12 vs Titans

It’s been a big couple of months for Manly which has seen the team soar to fourth place on the ladder after winning six of its past seven games.

The rapid turnaround in form has coincided with the appointment of Kieran Foran as interim head coach at Manly and comes less than nine months after Foran was playing for the Titans.

Manly’s defensive resolve over the past seven games has been clear for all to see with the team conceding on average a tick over 14 points per game. 

To put that into perspective, the Panthers, who are on top of the ladder, are conceding on average 13.3 points per game.

The Titans have faced some stiff opposition over the past few weeks with losses to the Knights, Roosters and Raiders, scoring just two converted tries in all three of those games.

That said, they have shown this season that they can pile on the points if given the opportunity. In Round 6 they demolished the Eels 52-10 at CommBank Stadium, with livewire half Jayden Campbell bagging a 24-point haul.

Reuben Garrick, who scored 28 points in a game against the Titans in 2021, is rapidly closing in on a major points scoring milestone. 

He is just 18 points away from equalling Jamie Lyon (1410) as the second highest points scorer in Manly’s 80-year history.

Given Reuben has averaged 13 points in the 10 games he’s played against the Titans, there is a chance that could happen on Saturday night.

This will be the 13th contest between these two clubs at 4 Pines Park with results split six apiece.

In team news Josh Feledy and Blake Wilson join the backline with Tolu Koula on Origin duty and Lehi Hopoate suspended.

Jackson Shereb starts in the back row in place of Blues rep Haumole Olakau'atu while Brandon Wakeham is back at hooker having served a one-game suspension.

For the Titans Klese Haas comes into the starting side at prop and Jaylan de Groot is the new centre with Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Jojo Fifita in Queensland camp.

Stats Zone

• The Sea Eagles have won six of their seven games under interim coach Kieran Foran.
• The Titans have won four of their last six games at 4 Pines Park.
• Sea Eagles centre Reuben Garrick has scored 12 tries in 10 games against the Titans.
• Titans prop Moeaki Fotuaika will break Mark Minichiello’s club appearance record of 173 games.
• Sea Eagles fullback Clayton Faulalo has scored five tries in his last eight games at 4 Pines Park.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.