The Eels are perched on top of the ladder after two rounds while the Titans languish at the start line yet to record a win but Friday’s game has all the uneasy makings of an ambush. Can the Eels bring the same level of intensity to a third game on the trot at Cbus Super Stadium? Will the Titans – winless and wilting under a media bombardment focused on their superstar fullback Jarryd Hayne – roll up their sleeves and get back to the gritty brand of football that saw them defy expectations in 2016? Let’s take a look at the recent history between the two franchises and see what the tale of tape says.
Recent History Last 10 Games
| Season | Round | Date | Eels | Titans | Venue name | Result |
| 2016 | 20 | 23-Jul-2016 | 14 | 34 | Cbus Super Stadium | Titans win by 20 points |
| 2016 | 14 | 11-Jun-2016 | 22 | 12 | TIO Stadium | Eels win by 10 points |
| 2015 | 21 | 03-Aug-2015 | 14 | 24 | Cbus Super Stadium | Titans win by 10 points |
| 2015 | 6 | 11-Apr-2015 | 16 | 38 | Pirtek Stadium | Titans win by 22 points |
| 2014 | 20 | 26-Jul-2014 | 24 | 18 | Cbus Super Stadium | Eels win by 6 points |
| 2013 | 11 | 26-May-2013 | 4 | 42 | Glen Willow Regional Sports Stadium | Titans win by 38 points |
| 2013 | 6 | 14-Apr-2013 | 22 | 28 | Robina Stadium | Titans win by 6 points |
| 2012 | 24 | 19-Aug-2012 | 16 | 24 | Skilled Park | Titans win by 8 points |
| 2011 | 26 | 03-Sep-2011 | 32 | 12 | Skilled Park | Eels win by 20 points |
| 2011 | 7 | 24-Apr-2011 | 22 | 18 | Pirtek Stadium | Eels win by 4 points |
The very first thing that jumps off the screen is that the Titans seem to be to be a genuine bogey team for the Eels. Since Brad Arthur became commander-in-chief for the Eels in 2014, the Titans hold a slender advantage winning three of the five exchanges between the two clubs but the overall picture is a fair bit bleaker.
Since 2011 the rivalry breaks down like this:
- The Titans hold a 6–4 lead in the past ten games.
- Points over the past ten games Eels – 186, Titans – 250
- Average points over the past ten games Eels 18 – Titans 25
In fact, in the fifteen meetings between the two clubs that share varying shades of blue and yellow on their jerseys – the Titans hold a commanding 10-5 lead in the match up. As expected given the weak head-to-head record, Robina has often been a dismal road trip for the Eels with the Western Sydney franchise only posting two victories from eight trips North of the border.
The history between the two clubs points towards a victory for the Titans but what does the respective form of the teams in 2017 have to say about the matter?
2017 may be in its infancy but Parramatta have been shot out of a cannon and are looking seriously impressive. The Gold Coast on the other hand are still stuck in neutral. Injuries and off-field distractions have played a significant role in their slow start to the season but to put it frankly – their efforts against the Roosters and Knights were substandard. On average the Eels are scoring 27 points per game while conceding 14. Conversely the Titans are posting 22 points for and 33 against. Two weeks is hardly any sort of reasonable data population for a predictive model for Friday’s score but the form between the two clubs does contrast starkly.
Where can it be won and lost for the Eels?
If you split each of our first two games into four quarters, the Eels have won three of the four quarters. Disappointingly, we have let ourselves down in the 60-80min of both Round 1 and 2 allowing our opposition to post late points. Is this due to fatigue? Did a lack of match fitness give the Sea Eagles and Dragons a chance to add a degree of respectability to the scoreboard? Or did we take our feet off the throat in both games after wrapping up each match? Brad Arthur has always been big on finishing games strongly so look for the Eels to address the issue either way.
The match-up actually plays somewhat to our strengths in that regard, mind you. The Gold Coast Titans have lost both opening exchanges in both their games to date so a lightning quick start by the Eels could very well be enough to shut the Titans out of the game.
There is no doubt we will miss the services of Corey Norman this week but I believe it is a very good move to rest him with the short turnaround and an eye to the business end of the season. Jeff Robson is a wily veteran. He knows all the Eels’ structures and is a very handy back up. With that said, look out for Clint Gutherson taking more control of the team for this week.
The Eels attack will still be a force in this game. We will be attacking the Titans through all three channels of play and the Gold Coast, as stated earlier, are leaking over 30 points in defence through their opening two games.
One last tip! Look for Josh Hoffman to have a brilliant game against his old team.
Champion Data
Stats courtesy of Champion Data. All these stats and more can be viewed on our match centre at http://mc.championdata.com/nrl/ including live game stats.
– Colmac
Champion Data
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You’d have to think this is our game to lose. Does the omission on Norman help or hinder our potential complacency?
You would have to think that the loss of Norman dispels a great deal of any potential complacency in the Eels. I am keen to see how (or if) our attacking structures change with Robson steering the team around the park. We showed a few new looks against the Dragons where Gutherson and even more so, French, were the focal points on the edges. Is that our go-to option against the Titans? Or do we look to use the likes of Matagi and Brown to ball-play around the ruck?
Last year Gutherson and French ended up developing a pretty neat connection in the absence of Norman. Clinton’s royal boot found French streaking through in what felt like every game. The Titans are going to be fielding a decidedly makeshift backline so there is potential to catch them flat-footed on Friday.
If we can continue to get through our sets and defend as aggressively as we have over the first two rounds I think we can flip the field position enough to let our attacking weapons score the requisite points to secure a victory.
Colmac its an interesting game indeed, Titans have the ascendancy over the eels in recent times, but they have lost Hayne, but do they have him may be the better thinking anyway, then of course Peats is out, so they are slightly weakened in those areas, but maybe Roberts as hooker so how that goes will be interesting to watch.
I honestly do not think the loss of Hayne will impact them that much as they really have not had any sort of real value from him, so depending on their “ordinary” players who will likely lift to show they are as good anyway may create some headaches from the backs.
Players like Proctor may also be in for a big game as well as their captain.
Eels to win but will have to compete for 80 minutes in total.
Yes agreed. We have to be smart as Titans will be up for this one. This is our third road game…..and if we win wow. Play for full 80, have a good kick and chase as being wet it is so important. Our forwards need to aim up again, and get off line quick.
I think there won’t be much in it. 4-6 points in the wet.