Gold Coast Titans vs South Sydney Rabbitohs NRL Tips - Titans to win early 'Spoon Bowl'

It's always risky business backing the Titans and this is exactly the kind of game they could easily mess up, but surely they give their home fans something to cheer about here. Gold Coast have actually been impressive over the last fortnight, taking a top four scalp over the Warriors on the road before producing a miraculous second-half comeback against the Panthers, almost pulling off a monumental upset before Nathan Cleary's extraordinary two-point field goal forced golden point and the Titans ultimately fell 30-26. Souths meanwhile have been decimated by the worst injury toll in recent memory, with more than $6 million of their salary cap on the sidelines over the last month. They fought bravely with basically a NSW Cup side in the first half against Brisbane last week before copping a 60-14 hiding.

If the Titans can pile on 26 second-half points against the four-time reigning premiers who were on a seven-match winning streak, then surely they can eclipse their team total of 28.5 and cover a measly -6.5 line in victory at home against the team coming last who leaked 60 points last week.... Alofiana Khan-Pereira is also back in the starting side and I'm tipping the winger to cross for a double.

South Sydney have won the last nine meetings between the teams, but obviously all of those were under much different circumstances. The Rabbitohs scored exactly 46 points in their last two victories over Gold Coast.

It's largely been another miserable season for the Titans and if they lose this game, the wooden spoon could be tough to avoid.

However, Gold Goast have found some spark from somewhere over the last fortnight and are perhaps playing for Des Hasler's future. Whatever the reason, the Titans have lifted to upset the Warriors 24-16 before last week's brilliant comeback against the Panthers.

On the back of some individual brilliance from Jayden Campbell, the Titans produced a stirring fightback and took the lead with five minutes remaining through a try out wide to Philipp Sami. However, the Panthers' trainer inexplicably ran in front of Campbell as he was attempting the conversion and he ultimately missed. Who knows if he would have kicked it otherwise, but if successful, it would have taken the two-point field goal that Cleary struck to force golden point out of the equation.

Alofiana Khan-Pereira comes back into the starting side on the wing in place of Phil Sami, who has entered the concussion protocols after coming from the field for two separate HIAs last week.

Chris Randall (concussion) returns in the back row, meaning Jacob Alick-Wiencke goes to the bench and Tom Weaver drops out the side.

1. AJ Brimson

2. Jaylan De Groot

3. Brian Kelly

4. Jojo Fifita

5. Alofiana Khan-Pereira

6. Kieran Foran

7. Jayden Campbell

8. Moeaki Fotuaika

9. Sam Verrills

10. Jaimin Jolliffe

11. Chris Randall

12. Beau Fermor

13. Klese Haas

14. Jacob Alick-Wiencke

15. Reagan Campbell-Gillard

16. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui

17. Josh Patston

18. Arama Hau

19. Tom Weaver

20. Tukimihia Simpkins

21. Tony Francis

22. Ryan Foran

It's been a nightmare season for the Bunnies and they come into Round 23 anchored to the bottom of the ladder after nine straight defeats and a horrific injury toll.

Souths started the season in promising fashion with four wins from their opening five games and it was looking like Wayne Bennett's return could spark a premiership challenge at Redfern.

However, it's all gone pear-shaped for the Rabbitohs and although they continue to fight admirably - the 14-12 defeat to finals-bound Cronulla two weeks ago was a huge effort - they've ran their race for 2025 and will do remarkably well to avoid the spoon from here.

There's a chance Latrell Mitchell could return from a quad injury if he passes a late fitness test, while Brandon Smith is also back on the bench.

Ryan Gray, Lewis Dodd and Tyrone Munro have all been dropped from the side that was hammered by Brisbane last week.

1. Jye Gray

2. Alex Johnston

3. Isaiah Tass

4. Tallis Duncan

5. Bayleigh Bentley-Hape

6. Ashton Ward

7. Jamie Humphreys

8. Jai Arrow

9. Siliva Havili

10. Sean Keppie

11. Euan Aitken

12. Jacob Host

13. Lachlan Hubner

14. Peter Mamouzelos

15. Liam Le Blanc

16. Brandon Smith

17. Thomas Fletcher

18. Tyrone Munro

19. Talanoa Penitani

20. Salesi Ataata

21. Shaquai Mitchell

22. Latrell Mitchell